M​ost Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, D.D. was born in Miami, Florida. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from Montclair State University in 1983 then entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. He was ordained a priest in 1989. In 1998, he was named a Chaplain to His Holiness and in 2009 a Prelate of Honor.

He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre in 2012; Bishop of Cleveland in 2017; and Archbishop of Philadelphia in 2020.

Archbishop Pérez served as chair of the USCCB’s Standing Committee on Cultural Diversity and the Sub-Committee for Hispanic Affairs and also served as Chair of the Board of Catholic Relief Services. He was the lead bishop for the V Encuentro and served on the USCCB’s Administrative and Religious Liberty Committees.

Archbishop Pérez is currently the bishop liaison for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. In addition, on December 7, 2020, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Pérez to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.