Pope Leo XIV announced the appointment of Bishop Gabriel Narciso Escobar Ayala as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Asunción on late August 2026. His ministry has been closely associated with remote communities in the Paraguayan Chaco for more than a decade.
Escobar transferred from the Apostolic Vicariate of Chaco Paraguayo while still retaining his titular See of Media. The title refers to an ancient Catholic diocese that no longer exists as an active diocese and is assigned to bishops who do not govern a diocese of their own. He will now serve alongside Cardinal Adalberto Martínez Flores in the leadership of the Archdiocese of Asunción.
From the Chaco to Asunción
Born in Asunción on 18 June 1971, Bishop Gabriel Narciso Escobar Ayala joined the Salesians of Don Bosco and was ordained a priest in the capital on 10 February 2001. He continued his studies in Chile, earning degrees in Religious Sciences and Education.
Before becoming a bishop, he held several positions within the Salesian community, including serving as bursar of the Salesian House in Concepción and the Salesianito School in Asunción. He later directed Salesianito from 2008 to 2013 before leading the San José Salesian Institute in Concepción.
Escobar was appointed titular bishop of Media and apostolic vicar of Chaco Paraguayo on 18 June 2013 and received his episcopal ordination on 3 August that year. Escobar spent 13 years as apostolic vicar, where he led the Catholic Church’s pastoral work in the region and became a prominent advocate for communities facing social and economic challenges.
Work within the Church
Beyond his pastoral work in the Chaco, Escobar has held several positions within the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference. These have included president of the Episcopal Commission for Missionary Animation and coordinator of pastoral work concerning human mobility and education. He currently serves as coordinator of consecrated life.
His appointment to Asunción brings experience from the Chaco to Paraguay’s largest archdiocese, where he will take on a supporting role in its pastoral leadership. The appointment marks the return of an auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Asunción after more than two decades.
Also read: Restoring A Paraguayan Treasure: San Buenaventura Church Begins Historic Renewal.
