Gabriel Antonio Mestre was born on 15 September 1968 in Mar del Plata, Argentina, to Cándido Mestre y Ana Luisa Gasparoli. He has one sister. After studying at local schools, he studied social work at the National University of Mar del Plata for a year.[1] In 1989 he entered the San José Seminary, in La Plata. He obtained a licentiate in biblical theology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina,[2] while working in a local parish and living at the major seminary of Buenos Aires.[1] He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Mar del Plata on 16 May 1997[2] by José María Arancedo, Bishop of Mar del Plata.[3]
He served as parish vicar of the cathedral from 1997 to 2000; parish priest of Asunción de la Virgen and chaplain of the Maternity Hospital of Mar del Plata from 2002 to 2010. He was also a member of the priests council and the college of consulters, vice rector and professor at the University School of Theology in Mar del Plata, and a founder and councillor of the diocesan secretariat for family pastoral care from 2010 to 2014. Within CELAM, he served as a member of the Biblical Pastoral Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean. From 2012 to 2017 he was vicar general and parish priest of the Cathedral of Mar del Plata.[2]
On 18 July 2017, Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Mar del Plata.[2] He was the first bishop there to be a native of Mar del Plata.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on 16 August[3] from Antonio Marino, Bishop Emeritus of Mar del Plata.[1] He chose as his episcopal motto "Christ is our peace".[4]
Within the Argentine Episcopal Conference, he was president of the Episcopal Commission for Catechesis, Animation and Biblical Pastoral Ministry.[3][5]
On 28 July 2023, Pope Francis promoted him as Archbishop of La Plata.[5][6] His was installed on 16 September.[7] His resignation was accepted on 27 May 2024.[8]
