Concepción (Santissima Concezione) (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Sergio Hernán Pérez de Arce Arriagada, SS.CC., Archbishop
Bernardo Andrés Álvarez Tapia, Auxiliary Bishop
Óscar Walter García Barreto, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 20 May 1939
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Chile
Square Kilometers: 11,400 (4,403 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://iglesiadeconcepcion.cl
Mailing Address: Caupolican 491, Casilla 65-C, Concepcion, Chile
Telephone: (41)262.61.13
Fax: (41)262.61.80

Historical Details

Diocese of La Imperial
- Latin Name: Civitatis Imperialis
- Erected: 22 May 1563
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Lima
- Country: Chile
Diocese of Concepción
- Latin Name: Sanctissimae Conceptionis
- Name Changed: 7 February 1603
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile
- Country: Chile

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antonio Avendaño y Paz, O.F.M. Obs. † (22 Mar 1564 Appointed - 9 Mar 1588 Appointed, Bishop of Quito)
Agustín de Cisneros Montesa † (9 Mar 1589 Appointed - 1596 Died)
Reginaldo de Lizárraga, O.P. † (31 Aug 1598 Confirmed - 20 Jul 1609 Appointed, Bishop of Paraguay (o Ssma Assunzione))
Carlos Marcelo Corni Velazquez † (18 Oct 1618 Appointed - 17 Aug 1620 Appointed, Bishop of Trujillo)
Luis Jerónimo Oré, O.F.M. † (17 Aug 1620 Appointed - 30 Jan 1630 Died)
Diego de Zambrana de Villalobos y Cordero † (14 Mar 1633 Appointed - 12 Dec 1652 Died)
Dionisio de Cimbrón, O. Cist. † (23 Jun 1653 Appointed - 19 Sep 1661 Died)
Francisco de Loyola y Vergara, O.E.S.A. † (15 Jul 1669 Appointed - Nov 1677 Died)
Antonio de Morales, O.P. † (25 May 1682 Confirmed - Dec 1683 Died)
Luis de Lemos y Usategui, O.S.A. † (16 Sep 1686 Appointed - 27 Nov 1692 Resigned)
Martín de Híjar y Mendoza, O.E.S.A. † (13 Apr 1693 Appointed - 15 May 1704 Died)
Diego Montero del Aguila † (3 Oct 1708 Appointed - 21 Jan 1715 Appointed, Bishop of Trujillo)
Juan de Necolalde † (1 Apr 1715 Appointed - 12 May 1723 Appointed, Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas)
Juan Francisco Antonio de Escandón, C.R. † (12 May 1723 Appointed - 18 Jun 1731 Appointed, Archbishop of Lima)
Salvador Bermúdez y Becerra † (18 Jun 1731 Appointed - 28 Feb 1742 Confirmed, Bishop of La Paz)
Pedro Felipe de Azúa e Iturgoyen † (28 Feb 1742 Confirmed - 18 Dec 1744 Confirmed, Archbishop of Santafé en Nueva Granada)
José de Toro y Zambrano † (18 Dec 1744 Confirmed - 1 May 1760 Died)
Pedro Ángel de Espiñeira, O.F.M. Obs. † (23 Nov 1761 Appointed - 9 Feb 1778 Died)
Francisco José Marán † (1 Mar 1779 Appointed - 12 Sep 1794 Appointed, Bishop of Santiago de Chile)
Tomás de Roa y Alarcón † (12 Sep 1794 Appointed - 5 Sep 1805 Died)
Diego Antonio Navarro Martín de Villodras † (26 Aug 1806 Appointed - 16 Mar 1818 Confirmed, Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas)
José Ignacio Cienfuegos Arteaga † (17 Dec 1832 Appointed - 27 Apr 1840 Retired)
Diego Antonio Elizondo y Prado † (27 Apr 1840 Appointed - 5 Oct 1852 Died)
José Hipólito Salas y Toro † (23 Jun 1854 Appointed - 20 Jul 1883 Died)
Fernando Blaitt Mariño † (17 Dec 1886 Appointed - 14 Jul 1887 Died)
Plácido Labarca Olivares † (26 Jun 1890 Appointed - 9 Oct 1905 Died)
Luis Enrique Izquierdo Vargas † (29 Jan 1906 Appointed - 7 Aug 1917 Died)
Gilberto Fuenzalida Guzmán † (20 Feb 1918 Appointed - 24 Mar 1938 Died)
Alfredo Silva Santiago † (4 Feb 1939 Appointed - 27 Apr 1963 Resigned)
Manuel Sánchez Beguiristáin † (25 Jun 1963 Appointed - 3 May 1983 Retired)
José Manuel Santos Ascarza, O.C.D. † (3 May 1983 Appointed - 29 Jul 1988 Resigned)
Antonio Moreno Casamitjana † (14 Oct 1989 Appointed - 27 Dec 2006 Retired)
Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B. (27 Dec 2006 Appointed - 15 Dec 2010 Appointed, Archbishop of Santiago de Chile)
Fernando Natalio Chomalí Garib (20 Apr 2011 Appointed - 25 Oct 2023 Appointed, Archbishop of Santiago de Chile)
Sergio Hernán Pérez de Arce Arriagada, SS.CC. (16 May 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of La Imperial
22 May 1563	Erected	Diocese of Santiago de Chile	Diocese of La Imperial (erected)
Diocese of Concepción
7 February 1603	Name Changed	Diocese of La Imperial	Diocese of Concepción
1 July 1840	Territory Lost	Diocese of Concepción	Diocese of San Carlos de Ancud (erected)
16 July 1901	Territory Lost	Diocese of Concepción	Prefecture Apostolic of Araucanía (erected)
18 October 1925	Territory Lost	Diocese of Concepción (Ñuble and parts of Maule (Cauquenes, Chanco, and Itala))	Diocese of Chillán (erected)
18 October 1925	Territory Lost	Diocese of Concepción (Linares and Constitución in Maule)	Diocese of Linares (erected)
18 October 1925	Territory Lost	Diocese of Concepción (Malleco and part of Cautín)	Diocese of Temuco (erected)
Archdiocese of Concepción (Santissima Concezione)
20 May 1939	Elevated	Diocese of Concepción	Archdiocese of Concepción (Santissima Concezione)
20 June 1959	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Concepción (Santissima Concezione) (Biobío) Diocese of Temuco (Collipulli (in Malleco))	Diocese of Los Angeles (erected)
20 July 1965	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Concepción (Santissima Concezione) (Tucapel and Quillón)	Diocese of Chillán

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

Archdiocese of Concepción (Santissima Concezione)

1950 525,000 530,000 99.1% 61 63 124 4,233 80 310 40 ap1951

1966 680,000 756,000 89.9% 56 64 120 5,666 67 350 49 ap1967

1970 689,046 798,700 86.3% 66 73 139 4,957 75 360 51 ap1971

1976 729,834 851,125 85.7% 50 66 116 6,291 6 70 324 50 ap1977

1980 740,000 885,000 83.6% 51 67 118 6,271 6 79 211 54 ap1981

1990 751,914 1,002,554 75.0% 50 65 115 6,538 5 74 240 52 ap1991

1999 649,310 1,150,000 56.5% 59 64 123 5,278 7 69 246 53 ap2000

2000 649,350 1,150,000 56.5% 60 64 124 5,236 10 68 246 53 ap2001

2001 649,350 1,150,000 56.5% 53 66 119 5,456 11 70 246 53 ap2002

2002 655,000 1,161,000 56.4% 67 68 135 4,851 17 72 246 53 ap2003

2003 648,800 1,150,000 56.4% 65 64 129 5,029 17 67 219 52 ap2004

2004 599,150 1,150,000 52.1% 69 66 135 4,438 21 94 207 53 ap2005

2006 612,000 1,176,000 52.0% 69 60 129 4,744 29 88 207 53 ap2007

2013 681,000 1,283,000 53.1% 69 55 124 5,491 42 81 176 55 ap2014

2016 809,406 1,381,346 58.6% 71 38 109 7,425 52 63 155 55 ap2017

2019 833,700 1,422,770 58.6% 68 43 111 7,510 58 62 144 55 ap2020

2021 801,150 1,367,144 58.6% 59 43 102 7,854 56 67 140 65 ap2022

2023 815,000 1,390,000 58.6% 55 48 103 7,912 56 72 117 55 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Concepción (Santissima Concezione)
1950	525,000	530,000	99.1%	61	63	124	4,233		80	310	40	ap1951
1966	680,000	756,000	89.9%	56	64	120	5,666		67	350	49	ap1967
1970	689,046	798,700	86.3%	66	73	139	4,957		75	360	51	ap1971
1976	729,834	851,125	85.7%	50	66	116	6,291	6	70	324	50	ap1977
1980	740,000	885,000	83.6%	51	67	118	6,271	6	79	211	54	ap1981
1990	751,914	1,002,554	75.0%	50	65	115	6,538	5	74	240	52	ap1991
1999	649,310	1,150,000	56.5%	59	64	123	5,278	7	69	246	53	ap2000
2000	649,350	1,150,000	56.5%	60	64	124	5,236	10	68	246	53	ap2001
2001	649,350	1,150,000	56.5%	53	66	119	5,456	11	70	246	53	ap2002
2002	655,000	1,161,000	56.4%	67	68	135	4,851	17	72	246	53	ap2003
2003	648,800	1,150,000	56.4%	65	64	129	5,029	17	67	219	52	ap2004
2004	599,150	1,150,000	52.1%	69	66	135	4,438	21	94	207	53	ap2005
2006	612,000	1,176,000	52.0%	69	60	129	4,744	29	88	207	53	ap2007
2013	681,000	1,283,000	53.1%	69	55	124	5,491	42	81	176	55	ap2014
2016	809,406	1,381,346	58.6%	71	38	109	7,425	52	63	155	55	ap2017
2019	833,700	1,422,770	58.6%	68	43	111	7,510	58	62	144	55	ap2020
2021	801,150	1,367,144	58.6%	59	43	102	7,854	56	67	140	65	ap2022
2023	815,000	1,390,000	58.6%	55	48	103	7,912	56	72	117	55	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Antonio Avendaño y Paz, O.F.M. Obs. † (Bishop: 22 Mar 1564 to 9 Mar 1588)
Pedro Felipe de Azúa e Iturgoyen † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Jul 1735; Bishop: 28 Feb 1742 to 18 Dec 1744)
Salvador Bermúdez y Becerra † (Bishop: 18 Jun 1731 to 28 Feb 1742)
Fernando Blaitt Mariño † (Priest: 8 Mar 1856; Bishop: 17 Dec 1886 to 14 Jul 1887)
José Ignacio Cienfuegos Arteaga † (Bishop: 17 Dec 1832 to 27 Apr 1840)
Dionisio de Cimbrón, O. Cist. † (Bishop: 23 Jun 1653 to 19 Sep 1661)
Agustín de Cisneros Montesa † (Bishop: 9 Mar 1589 to 1596)
Sergio Otoniel Contreras Navia † (Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Jan 1974 to 23 Dec 1977)
Carlos Marcelo Corni Velazquez † (Bishop: 18 Oct 1618 to 17 Aug 1620)
Domingo Benigno Cruz (y Quintanilla) †
Diego Antonio Elizondo y Prado † (Bishop: 27 Apr 1840 to 5 Oct 1852)
Juan Francisco Antonio de Escandón, C.R. † (Bishop: 12 May 1723 to 18 Jun 1731)
Pedro Ángel de Espiñeira, O.F.M. Obs. † (Bishop: 23 Nov 1761 to 9 Feb 1778)
Gilberto Fuenzalida Guzmán † (Bishop: 20 Feb 1918 to 24 Mar 1938)
Martín de Híjar y Mendoza, O.E.S.A. † (Bishop: 13 Apr 1693 to 15 May 1704)
José Antonio Humeres y Miranda † (Priest: Nov 1745 to 15 Dec 1777)
Luis Enrique Izquierdo Vargas † (Bishop: 29 Jan 1906 to 7 Aug 1917)
Plácido Labarca Olivares † (Bishop: 26 Jun 1890 to 9 Oct 1905)
Luis de Lemos y Usategui, O.S.A. † (Bishop: 16 Sep 1686 to 27 Nov 1692)
Reginaldo de Lizárraga, O.P. † (Bishop: 31 Aug 1598 to 20 Jul 1609)
Francisco de Loyola y Vergara, O.E.S.A. † (Bishop: 15 Jul 1669 to Nov 1677)
Francisco José Marán † (Bishop: 1 Mar 1779 to 12 Sep 1794)
Alejandro Menchaca Lira †
Arturo Mery Beckdorf † (Priest: 28 Oct 1926 to 22 Mar 1941; Coadjutor Archbishop: 20 Apr 1955 to 27 Apr 1963)
Diego Montero del Aguila † (Bishop: 3 Oct 1708 to 21 Jan 1715)
Antonio de Morales, O.P. † (Bishop: 25 May 1682 to Dec 1683)
Antonio Moreno Casamitjana † (Archbishop: 14 Oct 1989 to 27 Dec 2006)
Reinaldo Muñoz Olave † (Priest: 17 Dec 1887 to 1 Mar 1916)
Diego Antonio Navarro Martín de Villodras † (Bishop: 26 Aug 1806 to 16 Mar 1818)
Juan de Necolalde † (Bishop: 1 Apr 1715 to 12 May 1723)
Luis Jerónimo Oré, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 17 Aug 1620 to 30 Jan 1630)
Carlos Oviedo Cavada, O. de M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Mar 1964 to 25 Mar 1974)
Alonso del Pozo y Silva † (Priest: 1694 to 11 Dec 1713)
Andrés Quintian Ponte de Andrade † (Priest: 27 Jun 1778 to 9 Sep 1805)
Tomás de Roa y Alarcón † (Priest: 1760; Bishop: 12 Sep 1794 to 5 Sep 1805)
José Hipólito Salas y Toro † (Bishop: 23 Jun 1854 to 20 Jul 1883)
Manuel Sánchez Beguiristáin † (Priest: 21 Dec 1929 to 17 Dec 1959; Archbishop: 25 Jun 1963 to 3 May 1983)
José Manuel Santos Ascarza, O.C.D. † (Archbishop: 3 May 1983 to 29 Jul 1988)
Ricardo Sepúlveda Hermosilla † (Priest: 2 Apr 1881 to 1908)
Alfredo Silva Santiago † (Bishop: 4 Feb 1939; Archbishop: 20 May 1939 to 27 Apr 1963)
José de Toro y Zambrano † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1744 to 1 May 1760)
Pedro María Vivanco Ortiz † (Priest: 1 Dec 1867 to 1890)
Luis Yáñez Ruiz Tagle, O.F.M. †
Diego de Zambrana de Villalobos y Cordero † (Bishop: 14 Mar 1633 to 12 Dec 1652)

Source(s)

Diocese of Concepción
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 3, Page 174
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 4, Page 158
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 5, Page 167
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 6, Page 177
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 7, Page 159
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 8, Page 220
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 144
Archdiocese of Concepción (Santissima Concezione)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 31, Page 338, to Page 340

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Archdiocese of Concepción (Santissima Concezione)

Archidioecesis Sanctissimae Conceptionis