Arauca (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jaime Cristóbal Abril González, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 19 July 1984
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Nueva Pamplona
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Colombia
Square Kilometers: 23,505 (9,078 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Casa Episcopal, Calle 21 N. 19-23, Arauca, Intendencia de Arauca, Columbia
Telephone: (7) 885.20.82; 885.20.90

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca
- Latin Name: Araucensis
- Erected: 26 May 1915
- Country: Colombia
Vicariate Apostolic of Arauca
- Latin Name: Araucensis
- Elevated: 11 November 1970
- Vicariate
- Country: Colombia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Emilio Larquère, C.M. † (16 Nov 1915 Appointed - 9 Nov 1923 Appointed, Prefect of Tierradentro)
Giuseppe Potier, C.M. † (7 May 1924 Appointed - 1950 Died)
Graziano Martínez, C.M. † (27 Oct 1950 Appointed - 1956 Died)
Luís Eduardo García Rodríguez, M.X.Y. † (31 Jul 1956 Appointed - 8 Jan 1970 Died)
Bl. Jesús Emilio Jaramillo Monsalve, M.X.Y. † (11 Nov 1970 Appointed - 2 Oct 1989 Died)
Rafael Arcadio Bernal Supelano, C.SS.R. † (29 Mar 1990 Appointed - 10 Jan 2003 Appointed, Bishop of Líbano-Honda)
Carlos Germán Mesa Ruiz (20 Mar 2003 Appointed - 2 Feb 2010 Appointed, Bishop of Socorro y San Gil)
Jaime Muñoz Pedroza (22 Oct 2010 Appointed - 11 Jul 2018 Appointed, Bishop of Girardot)
Jaime Cristóbal Abril González (18 Nov 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca
26 May 1915	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Casanare (Northern part, to the left of the river Casanare)	Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca (erected)
8 July 1944	Territory Added	Apostolic Administration of Valdivia (Loncoche, Gorbea, and Pitrufquén)	Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca
8 July 1944	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca (Los Lagos, Futrono, Trumao, San Pablo, Quilacahuin, San Juan de la Costa, Rahue, and part of Panguipulli)	Apostolic Administration of Valdivia
15 June 1945	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca Diocese of Nueva Pamplona (Eastern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Labateca (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Arauca
11 November 1970	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca	Vicariate Apostolic of Arauca
Diocese of Arauca
19 July 1984	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Arauca	Diocese of Arauca

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca

1950 32,000 34,000 94.1% 9 9 3,555 13 17 4 ap1951

1966 60,000 60,000 100.0% 4 19 23 2,608 21 23 11 ap1967

Vicariate Apostolic of Arauca

1968 69,700 75,000 92.9% 10 16 26 2,680 18 30 12 ap1971

1976 153,102 158,000 96.9% 17 9 26 5,888 11 50 12 ap1977

1980 131,800 135,200 97.5% 17 7 24 5,491 7 59 13 ap1981

Diocese of Arauca

1990 151,000 174,000 86.8% 17 6 23 6,565 8 59 15 ap1991

1999 198,945 248,681 80.0% 22 10 32 6,217 10 57 17 ap2000

2000 202,000 248,750 81.2% 23 7 30 6,733 8 56 15 ap2001

2001 202,000 248,750 81.2% 31 7 38 5,315 7 55 20 ap2002

2002 220,000 260,000 84.6% 34 9 43 5,116 9 53 21 ap2003

2003 230,000 260,000 88.5% 35 5 40 5,750 5 52 22 ap2004

2004 232,000 262,000 88.5% 35 5 40 5,800 5 51 22 ap2005

2006 238,000 268,000 88.8% 31 6 37 6,432 6 49 22 ap2007

2012 264,000 288,000 91.7% 43 4 47 5,617 4 46 24 ap2013

2015 273,000 298,100 91.6% 52 2 54 5,055 2 19 24 ap2016

2018 250,938 320,478 78.3% 53 53 4,734 32 25 ap2019

2020 256,400 327,500 78.3% 45 45 5,697 30 28 ap2021

2022 264,670 338,200 78.3% 49 49 5,401 26 27 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca
1950	32,000	34,000	94.1%		9	9	3,555	13	17	4	ap1951
1966	60,000	60,000	100.0%	4	19	23	2,608	21	23	11	ap1967
Vicariate Apostolic of Arauca
1968	69,700	75,000	92.9%	10	16	26	2,680	18	30	12	ap1971
1976	153,102	158,000	96.9%	17	9	26	5,888	11	50	12	ap1977
1980	131,800	135,200	97.5%	17	7	24	5,491	7	59	13	ap1981
Diocese of Arauca
1990	151,000	174,000	86.8%	17	6	23	6,565	8	59	15	ap1991
1999	198,945	248,681	80.0%	22	10	32	6,217	10	57	17	ap2000
2000	202,000	248,750	81.2%	23	7	30	6,733	8	56	15	ap2001
2001	202,000	248,750	81.2%	31	7	38	5,315	7	55	20	ap2002
2002	220,000	260,000	84.6%	34	9	43	5,116	9	53	21	ap2003
2003	230,000	260,000	88.5%	35	5	40	5,750	5	52	22	ap2004
2004	232,000	262,000	88.5%	35	5	40	5,800	5	51	22	ap2005
2006	238,000	268,000	88.8%	31	6	37	6,432	6	49	22	ap2007
2012	264,000	288,000	91.7%	43	4	47	5,617	4	46	24	ap2013
2015	273,000	298,100	91.6%	52	2	54	5,055	2	19	24	ap2016
2018	250,938	320,478	78.3%	53		53	4,734		32	25	ap2019
2020	256,400	327,500	78.3%	45		45	5,697		30	28	ap2021
2022	264,670	338,200	78.3%	49		49	5,401		26	27	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Jaime Cristóbal Abril González (Bishop: 18 Nov 2019 - )
Carlos Germán Mesa Ruiz (Bishop: 20 Mar 2003 to 2 Feb 2010)
Jaime Muñoz Pedroza (Bishop: 22 Oct 2010 to 11 Jul 2018)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Rafael Arcadio Bernal Supelano, C.SS.R. † (Bishop: 29 Mar 1990 to 10 Jan 2003)
Luís Eduardo García Rodríguez, M.X.Y. † (Prefect: 31 Jul 1956 to 8 Jan 1970)
Bl. Jesús Emilio Jaramillo Monsalve, M.X.Y. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Nov 1970; Bishop: 19 Jul 1984 to 2 Oct 1989)
Emilio Larquère, C.M. † (Prefect: 16 Nov 1915 to 9 Nov 1923)
Graziano Martínez, C.M. † (Prefect: 27 Oct 1950 to 1956)
Giuseppe Potier, C.M. † (Prefect: 7 May 1924 to 1950)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 7, Page 288
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 36, Page 321, to Page 324
Vicariate Apostolic of Arauca
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 63, Page 259, and Page 260
Diocese of Arauca
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 76, Page 948, to Page 950

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Diocese of Arauca

Dioecesis Araucensis