Emeritus Bishop of Tenerife's Health Worsens Amid Serious Complications
Emeritus Bishop of Tenerife, Bernardo Álvarez Afonso, has seen his health significantly worsen in hospital with serious complications, prompting calls for prayer from the Diocese of the Canary Islands.
The health of Bernardo Álvarez Afonso, the emeritus bishop of Tenerife, has taken a turn for the worse in the past few hours. Reports of his declining health spread throughout Saturday. The Diocese of the Canary Islands released a statement on social media, confirming information that had been circulating since late Friday night.
"Following yesterday's statement, and to update you on the health of our dear emeritus bishop, I regret to share that the news is not as positive as we had hoped. He remains in hospital, and serious complications have developed. His condition is therefore delicate," the statement read. The diocese also urged the Christian community to pray for him. "We repeat yesterday's invitation to pray for Don Bernardo, including during our services. He is certainly not in a condition to receive visitors or answer the phone, as I know many of you would wish. Thank you for your understanding," the message concluded.
Bernardo Álvarez was born in Breña Alta, on the island of La Palma, on July 29, 1949. He served as the bishop of Tenerife from 2005 until 2024, when he resigned due to a long-term illness. Pope Francis accepted his resignation, and the process to elect Eloy Alberto Santiago from Gran Canaria as the new bishop of Tenerife began.