Francisco Javier Chavolla Ramos

Francisco Javier Chavolla Ramos (born 3 June 1946) is a Mexican Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Toluca from 2019 to 2022. He was the first metropolitan archbishop of Toluca after the Holy See elevated the Diocese of Toluca to a metropolitan archdiocese in 2019. He previously served as Bishop of Matamoros from 1991 to 2003 and Bishop of Toluca from 2003 to 2019. He became archbishop emeritus upon his retirement in 2022.

Early life and education Chavolla Ramos was born on 3 June 1946 in Autlán de la Grana, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, then within the Archdiocese of Guadalajara. He entered the Minor Seminary of the Diocese of Tijuana in 1959, where he studied secondary education and philosophy. He subsequently continued his theological studies at the Pontifical Seminary of Montezuma in the United States.

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Tijuana on 10 December 1972. As a priest he served as a parish vicar and pastor in several parishes. In 1978 he was appointed spiritual director of the Major Seminary of Tijuana, a position he held until his appointment to the episcopate.

Episcopate Bishop of Matamoros On 1 June 1991, Pope John Paul II appointed Chavolla Bishop of Matamoros. He received his episcopal consecration on 16 July 1991.

He made his canonical installation as metropolitan archbishop on 18 November 2019. The ceremony included his profession of faith and oath of fidelity, and was attended by Mexico's apostolic nuncio, Franco Coppola, and other Mexican bishops and civil officials. The establishment of the metropolitan province made Toluca the metropolitan see for the three suffragan dioceses. Chavolla consequently became the first archbishop to hold the newly created metropolitan office.

Following the end of his tenure, Chavolla entered a period of retirement or "rest" after 19 years leading the Diocese and Archdiocese of Toluca. His successor stated that Chavolla would continue to exercise his ministry as a bishop but would no longer have responsibility for a diocese or parish.