José Luis Azcona Hermoso, bishop emeritus of the Prelature of Marajó, Brazil, died on November 20, 2024, at the age of 84. 
His departure has generated deep sorrow and many expressions of gratitude on the part of civil, ecclesiastical and social authorities.
The governor of the state of Pará, Helder Barbalho, decreed three days of official mourning in honor of Bishop Azcona, highlighting his tireless struggle in defense of human rights and his dedication to the most vulnerable communities of Marajó. In an official statement, Barbalho said:
“Dom Azcona’s departure leaves a legacy of justice and social commitment that will live on in the memory of our people.”
The National Conference of the Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) also issued an official note of condolence, highlighting the courage and pastoral dedication of Bishop Azcona in the Amazon. 
The president of the CNBB, Dom Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo, described him as “a true pastor who gave his life to the service of the most needy, being an example of faith and courage for all of us”. In his message, the CNBB highlighted Bishop Azcona’s role in the fight against human trafficking and the defense of the rights of children and adolescents, in addition to his valuable contribution to the bishops’ conference, particularly as preacher of the Brazilian bishops’ spiritual retreat in 2018.
Human rights organizations and social movements also remembered Bishop Azcona as an ally in the fight against exploitation and human trafficking. The Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) emphasized his support for rural communities and his firm denunciation of social injustices in the Amazon region.
“A true pastor who gave his life to the service of those most in need, being an example of faith and courage for all of us.”
The funeral ceremonies began in the church of St. Joseph of Queluz, in Belém do Pará, where hundreds of faithful and authorities gathered to bid farewell to the bishop emeritus. The Archbishop of Belém, Alberto Taveira Corrêa, together with bishops of the region and numerous priests, presided at the funeral mass on November 21, marking the last farewell to a pastor who dedicated his life to the evangelizing mission and the defense of the most vulnerable.
Afterwards, his body was transferred to the city of Soure, on the island of Marajó. There, the new bishop of the Prelature, Bishop José Ionilton Lisboa de Oliveira, presided over the funeral and burial. Simon Puertas, representing the Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, who is in Peru, accompanied the celebrations.
Azcona was buried in Soure, fulfilling his wish to rest with the communities he loved and served so much. Msgr. Cizaurre, Augustinian Recollect and bishop emeritus of Bragança, highlighted “the courage and dedication of Bishop Azcona in the defense of the most vulnerable, pointing out that his legacy will endure in the Church and in the communities he served. He also recalled moments shared in his pastoral work and the deep friendship that united them”.
During his stay in the hospital in Belem, Bishop Azcona received the Pilgrim MTA of Our Lady of Nazareth and blessed the people of Para.
The departure of Bishop José Luis Azcona Hermoso leaves an indelible mark on the Church and on Brazilian society, remembered as a tireless defender of human dignity and an example of dedication and commitment to the most disadvantaged. His legacy will remain a source of inspiration for future generations.