The Venezuelan bishop, 69, dies of COVID-19

The Venezuelan Bishops' Conference (CEV) announced Friday morning that the 69-year-old bishop of Trujillo, Cástor Oswaldo Azuaje, has died from COVID-19.

Several priests across the country have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic reached the country, but Azuaje is the first Venezuelan bishop to die from the disease.

Azuaje was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on October 19, 1951. He joined the Carmelites and completed his training in Spain, Israel and Rome. He professed a Discalced Carmelite in 1974 and was ordained a priest on Christmas Day 1975 in Venezuela.

Azuaje has taken on various leadership responsibilities within her religious Order.

In 2007 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Maracaibo and in 2012 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Trujillo.

"The Venezuelan episcopate joins the grief for the death of our brother in the episcopal ministry, we remain in communion with Christian hope in the promise of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ", says the brief statement.

Venezuela has 42 active bishops.