Archdiocese of Antofagasta

Historical Details

• Mission "Sui Iuris" of Antofagasta
  • Latin Name: Antofagastensis
  • Erected: 1881
  • Country: Chile

• Vicariate Apostolic of Antofagasta
  • Latin Name: Antofagastensis
  • Elevated: 1887
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Chile

• Diocese of Antofagasta
  • Latin Name: Antofagastensis
  • Elevated: 3 February 1928
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of La Serena
  • Country: Chile

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Luís Silva Lezaeta † (15 May 1887 Appointed - 1896 Resigned)
• Felipe Salas Errázuriz † (4 Mar 1896 Appointed - 1905 Died)
• Luís Silva Lezaeta † (4 Nov 1904 Appointed - 21 May 1929 Died)
• Alfredo Cifuentes Gómez † (23 Dec 1933 Appointed - 5 Jun 1943 Appointed, Archbishop of La Serena)
• Hernán Frías Hurtado † (13 Jan 1945 Appointed - 29 May 1957 Resigned)
• Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos † (20 Aug 1957 Appointed - 25 Mar 1974 Appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of San Felipe)
• Carlos Oviedo Cavada, O. de M. † (25 Mar 1974 Appointed - 30 Mar 1990 Appointed, Archbishop of Santiago de Chile)
• Patricio Infante Alfonso (12 Dec 1990 Appointed - 26 Nov 2004 Retired)
• Pablo Lizama Riquelme (26 Nov 2004 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Antofagasta
1950	165,000	180,000	91.7%	7	21	28	5,892		31	61	23	ap1951
1959	201,871	266,871	75.6%	16	37	53	3,808		48	97	27	ap1960
1966	212,500	192,740	110.3%	16	35	51	4,166		35	116	16	ap1967
Archdiocese of Antofagasta
1968	164,000	192,740	85.1%	18	30	48	3,416		34	99	13	ap1971
1976	245,000	280,000	87.5%	3	32	35	7,000	6	33	60	17	ap1977
1980	200,000	215,800	92.7%	4	25	29	6,896	6	26	60	17	ap1981
1990	230,000	245,000	93.9%	12	19	31	7,419	7	27	86	18	ap1991
1999	174,360	249,085	70.0%	14	24	38	4,588	11	28	97	17	ap2000
2000	294,891	317,087	93.0%	16	25	41	7,192	16	28	83	17	ap2001
2001	294,891	317,087	93.0%	17	25	42	7,021	16	28	83	17	ap2002
2002	245,257	350,367	70.0%	14	27	41	5,981	18	30	74	17	ap2003
2003	243,558	347,939	70.0%	14	29	43	5,664	17	32	86	19	ap2004
2004	258,972	361,138	71.7%	14	38	52	4,980	17	41	91	19	ap2005
2006	239,359	341,942	70.0%	15	27	42	5,699	17	29	90	19	ap2007

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Patricio Infante Alfonso (Archbishop: 12 Dec 1990 to 26 Nov 2004)
• Pablo Lizama Riquelme (Coadjutor Archbishop: 27 Feb 2004; Archbishop: 26 Nov 2004)
• Juan Luis Ysern de Arce (Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Apr 1972 to 13 May 1974)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Alfredo Cifuentes Gómez † (Bishop: 23 Dec 1933 to 5 Jun 1943)
• Hernán Frías Hurtado † (Bishop: 13 Jan 1945 to 29 May 1957)
• Juan Bautista Herrada Armijo, O. de M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Nov 1991 to 16 Jul 1997)
• Arturo Mery Beckdorf † (Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Mar 1941; Apostolic Administrator: 8 Jun 1943 to 29 Jul 1944)
• Carlos Oviedo Cavada, O. de M. † (Archbishop: 25 Mar 1974 to 30 Mar 1990)
• Felipe Salas Errázuriz † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Mar 1896 to 1905)
• Luís Silva Lezaeta † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 May 1887 to 1896; Bishop: 3 Feb 1928 to 21 May 1929)
• Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos † (Bishop: 20 Aug 1957; Archbishop: 28 Jun 1967 to 25 Mar 1974)