Former Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Asunción, Paraguay, Monsignor Felipe Santiago Benítez Avalos was born on May 1, 1926, in Piribebuy, to Angel del Rosario Benítez García and Juana Avalos Rodríguez. He received his elementary education at Caacupé before entering the Metropolitan Seminary of Asunción in 1940. He later underwent further studies at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology of Buenos Aires and was ordained to the priesthood at 26 years of age on June 7, 1952 by Msgr. Antonio Roccha. In December 1953 he obtained his doctorate in theology.
Named vicar co-operator of the Recoleta Parish in February 1954, he founded the first Escuela Catequética within the Archdiocese of Asunción and taught theology at the Instituto Superior de Teología. Appointed as the first Secretary General of the Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción University and later its Grand Chancellor, Benítez Avalos was elected Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Asunción by Pope John XXIII at 35 years of age, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Chersonesus in Europa on September 24, 1961 from Archbishop Juan José Aníbal Mena Porta, assisted by Bishops Ramón Pastor Bogarín Argaña and Aníbal Maricevich Fleitas.
Following the appointment of Msgr. Augustin Rodríguez at Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Paraguay, Bishop Benítez was appointed as his successor as Bishop of the Diocese of Villarrica on December 4, 1965. He was later promoted to the Metropolitan See of Asunción on May 20, 1989, following the retirement of Archbishop Ismael Blas Rolón Silvero SDB., by Pope John Paul II.
Retiring from the pastoral government of his See at 76 years of age on June 15, 2002, the Archbishop died after a long and agonizing illness on Thursday, March 19, 2009, aged 82, and was interred in a specifically constructed tomb erected to house his remains at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Asunción.
Named vicar co-operator of the Recoleta Parish in February 1954, he founded the first Escuela Catequética within the Archdiocese of Asunción and taught theology at the Instituto Superior de Teología. Appointed as the first Secretary General of the Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción University and later its Grand Chancellor, Benítez Avalos was elected Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Asunción by Pope John XXIII at 35 years of age, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Chersonesus in Europa on September 24, 1961 from Archbishop Juan José Aníbal Mena Porta, assisted by Bishops Ramón Pastor Bogarín Argaña and Aníbal Maricevich Fleitas.
Following the appointment of Msgr. Augustin Rodríguez at Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Paraguay, Bishop Benítez was appointed as his successor as Bishop of the Diocese of Villarrica on December 4, 1965. He was later promoted to the Metropolitan See of Asunción on May 20, 1989, following the retirement of Archbishop Ismael Blas Rolón Silvero SDB., by Pope John Paul II.
Retiring from the pastoral government of his See at 76 years of age on June 15, 2002, the Archbishop died after a long and agonizing illness on Thursday, March 19, 2009, aged 82, and was interred in a specifically constructed tomb erected to house his remains at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Asunción.
Former Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Asunción, Paraguay, Monsignor Felipe Santiago Benítez Avalos was born on May 1, 1926, in Piribebuy, to Angel del Rosario Benítez García and Juana Avalos Rodríguez. He received his elementary education at Caacupé before entering the Metropolitan Seminary of Asunción in 1940. He later underwent further studies at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology of Buenos Aires and was ordained to the priesthood at 26 years of age on June 7, 1952 by Msgr. Antonio Roccha. In December 1953 he obtained his doctorate in theology.
Named vicar co-operator of the Recoleta Parish in February 1954, he founded the first Escuela Catequética within the Archdiocese of Asunción and taught theology at the Instituto Superior de Teología. Appointed as the first Secretary General of the Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción University and later its Grand Chancellor, Benítez Avalos was elected Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Asunción by Pope John XXIII at 35 years of age, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Chersonesus in Europa on September 24, 1961 from Archbishop Juan José Aníbal Mena Porta, assisted by Bishops Ramón Pastor Bogarín Argaña and Aníbal Maricevich Fleitas.
Following the appointment of Msgr. Augustin Rodríguez at Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Paraguay, Bishop Benítez was appointed as his successor as Bishop of the Diocese of Villarrica on December 4, 1965. He was later promoted to the Metropolitan See of Asunción on May 20, 1989, following the retirement of Archbishop Ismael Blas Rolón Silvero SDB., by Pope John Paul II.
Retiring from the pastoral government of his See at 76 years of age on June 15, 2002, the Archbishop died after a long and agonizing illness on Thursday, March 19, 2009, aged 82, and was interred in a specifically constructed tomb erected to house his remains at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Asunción.
Named vicar co-operator of the Recoleta Parish in February 1954, he founded the first Escuela Catequética within the Archdiocese of Asunción and taught theology at the Instituto Superior de Teología. Appointed as the first Secretary General of the Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción University and later its Grand Chancellor, Benítez Avalos was elected Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Asunción by Pope John XXIII at 35 years of age, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Chersonesus in Europa on September 24, 1961 from Archbishop Juan José Aníbal Mena Porta, assisted by Bishops Ramón Pastor Bogarín Argaña and Aníbal Maricevich Fleitas.
Following the appointment of Msgr. Augustin Rodríguez at Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Paraguay, Bishop Benítez was appointed as his successor as Bishop of the Diocese of Villarrica on December 4, 1965. He was later promoted to the Metropolitan See of Asunción on May 20, 1989, following the retirement of Archbishop Ismael Blas Rolón Silvero SDB., by Pope John Paul II.
Retiring from the pastoral government of his See at 76 years of age on June 15, 2002, the Archbishop died after a long and agonizing illness on Thursday, March 19, 2009, aged 82, and was interred in a specifically constructed tomb erected to house his remains at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Asunción.
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