Father Pedro was born in Bilbao on June 26, 1957. He made his simple profession as a Piarist religious on the 24th August 1975 and made his solemn profession on the 25th August 1979, on the feast of Saint Joseph Calasanz.
He studied to become a teacher, and he is a graduate in Ecclesiastical Sciences, in Philosophy, and in Education. He was ordained deacon on the 24th of October 1981 and priest on the 13th June 1982, on both occasions by the laying on of hands by the then Archbishop of Pamplona, His Grace José María Cirarda.
In the Order, he assumed the functions of educator in the Piarist Schools of Pamplona and Bilbao, Master of Juniors from 1985 to 1995, Provincial Assistant of the then Province of Vasconia from 1988 to 1995, and subsequently, Superior of this Province for three four-year periods, from 1995 to 2007. With the establishment of the new Emmaus Province, he was elected Major Superior in 2007.
At the 2009 General Chapter in Peralta de la Sal, the birthplace of the Order’s founder, St Joseph Calasanz, he was elected Father General of the Pious Schools. He was re-elected in 2015 at the General Chapter in Hungary and for a third six-year term in 2022 at the 48th General Chapter in Mexico. A canonical postulation was required for this third six-year term, which was approved by the Holy See.
He combines his service to the Order as Superior General with the presidency of the Education Commission of the Union of Superiors General. Pope Francis appointed him for the second time as advisor to the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
We congratulate Fr. Pedro on his nomination and await the decisions to be made regarding the reorganisation of the General Congregation. We continue to pray for Fr. Pedro and his new ecclesial ministry and for our Order of the Pious Schools.
May everything be for the greater glory of God and the benefit of our neighbours.
Rome, 29 March 2025
