Bilbao (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Joseba Segura Etxezarraga, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 2 November 1949
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Burgos
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Spain
Square Kilometers: 2,193 (847 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.bizkeliza.org/
Mailing Address: c/Virgen de Begona 38, 48006 Bilbao, Espana
Telephone: 94.466.79.79
Fax: 94.466.79.73

Past and Present Ordinaries

Casimiro Morcillo González † (13 May 1950 Appointed - 21 Sep 1955 Appointed, Archbishop of Zaragoza)
Pablo Gúrpide Beope † (19 Dec 1955 Appointed - 18 Nov 1968 Died)
Antonio Añoveros Ataún † (3 Dec 1971 Appointed - 25 Sep 1978 Resigned)
Luis María de Larrea y Legarreta † (16 Feb 1979 Appointed - 8 Sep 1995 Retired)
Ricardo Blázquez Pérez (8 Sep 1995 Appointed - 13 Mar 2010 Appointed, Archbishop of Valladolid)
Mario Iceta Gavicagogeascoa (24 Aug 2010 Appointed - 6 Oct 2020 Appointed, Archbishop of Burgos)
Joseba Segura Etxezarraga (11 May 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
2 November 1949	Erected	Diocese of Santander (Villaverde de Trucios) Diocese of Vitoria (Vizcaya)	Diocese of Bilbao (erected)

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

1950 549,960 550,160 100.0% 704 250 954 576 213 ap1951

1959 718,187 718,710 99.9% 795 402 1,197 599 1,019 3,311 245 ap1960

1969 1,000,396 .0% 799 504 1,303 0 1,210 3,452 232 ap1971

1980 1,203,502 1,229,000 97.9% 720 500 1,220 986 850 3,900 300 ap1981

1990 1,100,000 1,185,270 92.8% 496 480 976 1,127 896 2,450 300 ap1991

1999 1,000,000 1,150,000 87.0% 438 517 955 1,047 4 716 1,611 299 ap2000

2000 1,000,000 1,141,407 87.6% 427 525 952 1,050 4 724 1,525 299 ap2001

2001 1,000,000 1,141,390 87.6% 420 525 945 1,058 4 720 1,525 298 ap2002

2002 1,000,000 1,139,012 87.8% 401 525 926 1,079 4 719 1,525 298 ap2003

2003 1,000,000 1,133,444 88.2% 385 500 885 1,129 4 669 1,525 297 ap2004

2004 1,000,000 1,129,805 88.5% 369 450 819 1,221 4 569 1,620 297 ap2005

2006 1,006,197 1,136,181 88.6% 360 420 780 1,289 1 506 1,310 298 ap2007

2012 1,146,400 1,172,900 97.7% 308 347 655 1,750 4 447 1,155 298 ap2013

2015 1,109,887 1,144,214 97.0% 278 287 565 1,964 6 379 996 297 ap2016

2018 1,088,672 1,134,034 96.0% 272 235 507 2,147 8 361 917 296 ap2019

2020 1,000,838 1,142,853 87.6% 249 220 469 2,133 8 346 907 295 ap2021

2022 1,002,000 1,144,000 87.6% 226 200 426 2,352 9 327 887 292 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	549,960	550,160	100.0%	704	250	954	576				213	ap1951
1959	718,187	718,710	99.9%	795	402	1,197	599		1,019	3,311	245	ap1960
1969		1,000,396	.0%	799	504	1,303	0		1,210	3,452	232	ap1971
1980	1,203,502	1,229,000	97.9%	720	500	1,220	986		850	3,900	300	ap1981
1990	1,100,000	1,185,270	92.8%	496	480	976	1,127		896	2,450	300	ap1991
1999	1,000,000	1,150,000	87.0%	438	517	955	1,047	4	716	1,611	299	ap2000
2000	1,000,000	1,141,407	87.6%	427	525	952	1,050	4	724	1,525	299	ap2001
2001	1,000,000	1,141,390	87.6%	420	525	945	1,058	4	720	1,525	298	ap2002
2002	1,000,000	1,139,012	87.8%	401	525	926	1,079	4	719	1,525	298	ap2003
2003	1,000,000	1,133,444	88.2%	385	500	885	1,129	4	669	1,525	297	ap2004
2004	1,000,000	1,129,805	88.5%	369	450	819	1,221	4	569	1,620	297	ap2005
2006	1,006,197	1,136,181	88.6%	360	420	780	1,289	1	506	1,310	298	ap2007
2012	1,146,400	1,172,900	97.7%	308	347	655	1,750	4	447	1,155	298	ap2013
2015	1,109,887	1,144,214	97.0%	278	287	565	1,964	6	379	996	297	ap2016
2018	1,088,672	1,134,034	96.0%	272	235	507	2,147	8	361	917	296	ap2019
2020	1,000,838	1,142,853	87.6%	249	220	469	2,133	8	346	907	295	ap2021
2022	1,002,000	1,144,000	87.6%	226	200	426	2,352	9	327	887	292	ap2023