Alfredo José Espinoza Mateus was born on 22 April 1958 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

He earned a licentiate in education sciences from the Pontifical University of Ecuador.

He was a member of the board of directors and the economic council of the Politecnica Salesiana University and, from 2011 to 2013, head of the order's oversight board and a member of its committee for vocations.

[3] Pope Francis named him Bishop of Loja on 20 December 2013,[1] and he received his episcopal consecration from Archbishop Giacomo Guido Ottonello on 18 January 2014.

[4] Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Quito of 5 April 2019.