On December 9, 1939, in Maracaibo, Zulia state, Roberto Lückert León was born into a home with mixed religions; his father Walter, originally from Germany, was Lutheran, and his mother Carmen Alicia, from Trujillo, was Catholic.
Monsignor was always characterized by a strong character, which on multiple occasions led him to respond to the Venezuelan regime.
In August 2015, the Archbishop of Coro denounced that Venezuela had become “a communist country” as a consequence of the persistence of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro in “wanting to copy the Cuban model, which has led to a deep economic crisis,” according to an article by ACI, a service of EWTN News .
In November 2017, Monsignor Roberto Lückert warned that the Law against Hatred seeks to silence the opposition in Venezuela.
Later, in January 2019, then as president of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV), he spoke out about the allegations concerning some 80 minors who had supposedly been detained by the Nicolás Maduro regime. This action was met with the forceful condemnation that the case warranted.
How did he begin his career in the church?
On August 14, 1966, he was ordained a priest by Monsignor Domingo Roa Pérez, Archbishop of Maracaibo .
Pope John Paul II appointed him the third Bishop of the Diocese of Cabimas on April 27, 1985. Years later, His Holiness appointed him again, but this time he named him the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Coro , on July 21, 1993.
Five years later, the Diocese of Coro was elevated to a Metropolitan Archdiocese on November 23, 1998. The following year, on February 20, Monsignor was consecrated Archbishop of Coro in the Cathedral of Santa Ana.
On June 29, 1999, Pope John Paul II bestowed upon him the pallium in Vatican City, Italy.
Monsignor Roberto Lückert is the eldest of eight siblings. He studied at the Santa Rosa de Lima Interdiocesan Seminary in Caracas, holds a degree in theology , and served as Second Vice President of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference.
May the Lord grant you a happy, holy, and joyful Christmas during these festive days. May you enjoy them with your loved ones. May the Lord bless you. +Roberto de Coro. pic.twitter.com/4QHJPqabQj
— Roberto Lückert León (@MonsLuckert) November 25, 2022
Health problems
On Tuesday, April 5, 2022, his family reported on the X platform that Monsignor had suffered a mild left ischemic stroke in the early hours of the morning, for which he was treated in the emergency room and was hospitalized under constant evaluation.
Days later, on April 21, it was reported that after experiencing severe chest pain , Monsignor had been hospitalized again.
In August 2022, on the 56th anniversary of Lückert’s priestly ordination, Monsignor received recognition from various sectors of society, who highlighted his contributions to the Catholic Church and described him as a faithful servant of God, of the Virgin Mary, and a spiritual guide for Venezuelans.
Today marks the 56th anniversary of @MonsLuckert ‘s priestly ordination . He has made many contributions to the Catholic Church during his years of service and dedication to the Lord. Monsignor Luckert is a faithful servant of God, of the Virgin Mary, and a spiritual guide for Venezuelans. #14A pic.twitter.com/7imXFYDSZh
— Manuel Rosales (@manuelrosalesg) August 14, 2022
On November 16, 2016, in a statement, the family reported that he had been admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to a lower respiratory infection.
On May 29, 2024, the Archbishop Emeritus of Coro, Monsignor Roberto Lückert, was intubated after experiencing respiratory failure due to complications from COVID-19.
Several media outlets reported that he was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of the Madre Rafols hospital, in the capital of Zulia.
