Leo XIV Promotes Archbishop Who Backed Vaccine Mandates and Praised Bad Bunny
He was ordained a priest in 1983 after completing studies in philosophy and theology in Puerto Rico, Mexico, the United States and Rome.
He has served as a parish priest, seminary rector, professor of dogmatic theology, Bishop of Fajardo-Humacao from 2008 to 2017, and Bishop of Caguas since 2017.
In 2024, he became President of the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference.
The Puerto Rican bishops adopted one of the world's most restrictive implementations of Traditionis Custodes (2021), ending all Masses in the Roman rite on the island.
Hard-line COVID vaccine policy
In August 2021, Bishop Ramos signed the Puerto Rican bishops' pastoral instruction declaring that COVID vaccination was a "moral duty", that Catholic conscience objections were not recognized, and that priests and deacons were forbidden from issuing religious exemption letters based on Catholic teaching.
This placed him directly opposite Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres of Arecibo, who publicly defended the legitimacy of Catholic conscience exemptions.
The conflict culminated in Pope Francis removing Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres from office in 2022.
At the time, Bishop Ramos was serving as vice-president of the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference. The conference's official response to Fernández Torres's removal was extremely restrained: it asked for "prayers", and announced that it would make no further public comment because of the ongoing canonical process.
Francis-era pastoral language of "synodal Church"
Archbishop Ramos has consistently embraced the language of "synodality". His public statements repeatedly emphasize usual buzzwords like participation, communion, listening, discernment and outreach.
He has written that "the Church is called to walk with a synodal spirit," and has called for "a synodal Church, close to the people", while urging the Church to overcome "clericalism."
Cardinal Burke incident
During the 2024 diocesan synodal assembly in Caguas, another prelate, Bishop Ángel Luis Ríos Matos delivered a presentation in the presence of Bishop Ramos.
During his talk, he mocked Cardinal Raymond Burke's Catholic vesture, including the cappa magna. Turning toward Bishop Ramos, he joked: "Don't you have one of those capes, Eusebio?"
He then continued: "We should buy him one. And if it doesn't fit him, we'll wrap him in it when he dies." The audience reportedly laughed.
Bishop Ramos was present throughout the exchange.
On Bad Bunny
Speaking to Vida Nueva in March 2026, Archbishop Ramos praised the pro-homosexual singer Bad Bunny for promoting fraternity and speaking about immigrants.
He spoke of a "point of encounter" between Bad Bunny and Christian values, adding that "the Church discerns culture, purifies what needs to be purified, and rescues every seed of truth."
On immigration
In the same interview, Ramos strongly criticized mass deportations. He stated: "The human person is not a problem to be managed; he is a face to be welcomed with justice and charity."
He also said: "No immigration policy can be built on fear, prejudice or dehumanization."
And added: "The real scandal would be for the Church to remain silent in the face of human suffering."
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