Tulio Ramírez Padilla

Tulio Luis Ramírez Padilla was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on 28 February 1960. He studied philosophy at the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Caracas and then went to Spain to study theology at the San Ildefonso Major Seminary in Toledo, completing a bachelor's degree in sacred theology in 1984. He was ordained a deacon in Toledo on 18 December 1983. He later specialised in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned a licentiate.

He was ordained a priest on 5 August 1984 and incardinated in the Archdiocese of Valencia in Venezuela. His parish work there took him from curate of San Agustín in Guacara to parish priest of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Miranda, San Diego de Alcalá in San Diego, Nuestra Señora de Begoña in Naguanagua, and finally back to San Agustín in Guacara. Alongside parish duties he taught at the archdiocesan major seminary of Nuestra Señora del Socorro, served as a judge of the archdiocesan ecclesiastical tribunal, and became vicar general and moderator of the curia.

On 4 April 2012 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him titular bishop of Ausuccura and auxiliary bishop of Caracas. He was consecrated on 8 July 2012 in Caracas Cathedral by Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, with Archbishop Diego Padrón Sánchez and Bishop Reinaldo del Prette Lissot as co-consecrators. His episcopal motto was Servire Ecclesiam Christi, to serve the Church of Christ. In Caracas he directed Radio María Venezuela, sat on the college of consultors and the archdiocesan council for economic affairs, served as parish priest of San José, and acted as vice-postulator of the cause for the beatification of the physician José Gregorio Hernández.

On 11 December 2020 Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Guarenas, succeeding Gustavo García Naranjo. He took canonical possession in Guarenas Cathedral on 6 February 2021, becoming the diocese's second bishop. In his homily he named his priorities as promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life, getting to know the diocese and visiting its most remote communities. The diocese later credited him with driving the approval of the canonical coronation of its patroness.

Ramírez Padilla was admitted to a hospital in Caracas in early August 2026 with a serious illness, and a public appeal was made for blood donors while he was being treated. He died in Caracas on the morning of Wednesday 12 August 2026, aged 66. The specific illness was not made public.

The Diocese of Guarenas announced his death in an official statement, saying he left an indelible mark on the Venezuelan Church and would be remembered for his tireless work as vice-postulator for José Gregorio Hernández and for securing the canonical coronation of the diocesan patroness. It asked clergy and faithful to pray for him. L'Osservatore Romano reported his death the following day. His funeral was held on Friday 14 August 2026 at a church in Guatire, within his diocese.

Ramírez Padilla is remembered in Venezuela above all for his part in advancing the cause of José Gregorio Hernández, one of the most popular religious figures in the country, and in Guarenas for the coronation of the diocesan patroness. His diocese described him as a deeply devoted pastor to the people of Guarenas, Guatire and Barlovento.