(Spanish pronunciation: [xoˈse lwis laˈkunθa maestɾoˈxwan]; born 24 February 1944), is a Spanish-born Panamanian friar of the Order of Augustinian Recollects and prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

[1] At the conclusion of his studies, he professed his solemn vows as a full and permanent member of the Order on 16 September 1967 and he was ordained priest on 13 July 1969, both occurring in Pamplona.

[2] After his ordination, Lacunza was sent for a time to teach Latin and Religion at the Colegio Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo (Our Lady of Good Counsel) in Madrid, administered by the Augustinian friars.

[2] Lacunza was appointed an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese by Pope John Paul II on 30 December 1985, for which he was consecrated on 18 January 1985, with the titular see of Parthenia.

[2][4] During this time he achieved national prominence through his mediation of a violent dispute which broke out between the government and the indigenous Ngöbe–Buglé people over the mining of their ancestral lands.