Bishop Robert A. Llanos was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad on February 3, 1958, the sixth of eight children for his parents Enrique and Cynthia. Assisted in part by their maternal Grandmother, his parents raised their children in a traditional ‘Catholic’ home where prayer, study and play were the daily norm. Respect for God and others was central to developing character in each family member and a familiar sight many evenings would be the entire family kneeling around a bed (dog included) praying the Rosary.
Bishop Robert attended first a Methodist and later on an Anglican Primary School before entering Fatima College for his high school education. Both He and his younger brother were prepared for the early sacraments of the Church by their maternal grandmother during their Primary School years.
Bishop Robert considers his time at Fatima College as some of the best years of his life, years which helped to mature him in the Catholic faith.
During a youth lime one year in Cumana, Toco, he received the grace of a deep call to the Priesthood and after a long period of discernment, entered the Regional Seminary in September 1984. He was ordained a Priest on June 23,1991 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain.
His first two years of his priesthood were spent on assignment in Santa Rosa Parish in Arima. he credits this parish with providing him an excellent foundation for the years ahead as Parish Priest of several Parishes.
Between 1991 and 2000, Fr. Llanos worked in the parishes of Santa Rosa, Arima, Gran Couva/Tabaquite, Holy Cross, Princes Town and St. Peter’s Carenage.
Between 2000 and 2002 whilst studying in Maryland, USA for his Master’s Degree, he worked as a Priest-in-Residence at the Church of the Resurrection, Laurel, Maryland, USA. After completing his Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counselling Psychology specializing in Family Therapy, he joined the permanent staff at the Regional Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Ugandan Martyrs as Vice-Rector, Formator and Lecturer where he remained until the closing of the Regional Seminary in 2010.
In 2005 he was made Episcopal Vicar/Chair of the Family Life Commission and a member of the Archdiocesan Synod Implementation Team. In 2008, Fr. Robert authored an “Advent Prayer and Reflection” Booklet and in 2010 authored the “Catholic Family Become What You Are“ Booklet for the first Synod Priority.
In 2009, Fr. Llanos was appointed a Monsignor in the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI, and in 2010, the Administrator of the St. John Vianney and the Ugandan Martyrs Retreat and Workshop Centre (formerly the Regional Seminary Building) by Archbishop Edward Gilbert.
In 2012, Bishop Llanos was named Vicar General in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain by Archbishop Joseph Harris and in July 2013, Auxiliary Bishop Elect by Pope Francis. Bishop Robert Llanos was ordained Bishop at the Fatima R.C. Church, Curepe on Saturday September 14th, 2013.
In June 2016, Auxiliary Bishop Robert Llanos was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre residing in Antigua and Barbuda, and was later appointed Bishop of the Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre on 18th December, 2018. He was installed on Sunday 3rd February at the Holy Family Cathedral in Antigua and Barbuda.
Bishop Llanos is currently the Chair of the Family and Life Commission of the A.E.C. Bishops’ Conference and a member of the Finance Committee of the A.E.C.
(ordained a priest)
Auxiliary-Archdiocese of Port of Spain
Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre
Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre
Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre
