Caroní (Vicariate Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gonzalo Alfredo Ontiveros Vivas, Vicar Apostolic
Felipe González González, O.F.M. Cap., Vicar Apostolic Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic
Erected: 4 March 1922
Vicariate
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Venezuela
Square Kilometers: 80,000 (30,900 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Residencia Episcopal, Calle P. Nicolas de Carmenes, Via Manacri, Santa Elena de Uairén, Urdaneta 8005, Edo. Bolivar, Venezuela
Telephone: (0289)995.10.25; 902.43.09

Past and Present Ordinaries

Benvenuto Diego Alonso y Nistal, O.F.M. Cap. † (23 Dec 1923 Appointed - 24 Mar 1938 Resigned)
Constantino Gómez Villa, O.F.M. Cap. † (14 Jul 1938 Appointed - 11 Oct 1967 Retired)
Mariano Gutiérrez Salazar, O.F.M. Cap. † (11 Mar 1968 Appointed - 28 May 1993 Retired)
Santiago Pérez Sánchez, O.F.M. Cap. † (28 May 1993 Appointed - 2 Jul 1994 Died)
Jesús Alfonso Guerrero Contreras, O.F.M. Cap. (6 Dec 1995 Appointed - 9 Apr 2011 Appointed, Bishop of Machiques)
Felipe González González, O.F.M. Cap. (26 May 2014 Appointed - 27 Apr 2021 Retired)
Gonzalo Alfredo Ontiveros Vivas (27 Apr 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
4 March 1922	Erected	Diocese of Guayana	Vicariate Apostolic of Caroní (erected)
30 July 1954	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Caroní (Delta Amacuro)	Vicariate Apostolic of Tucupita (erected)
30 July 1954	Territory Added		Diocese of Bolivar Vicariate Apostolic of Caroní

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

1950 82,897 86,554 95.8% 3 16 19 4,363 23 22 11 ap1951

1966 12,364 12,958 95.4% 1 12 13 951 14 12 5 ap1967

1970 15,311 16,776 91.3% 1 11 12 1,275 15 12 ap1971

1976 12,697 14,300 88.8% 1 11 12 1,058 15 17 5 ap1977

1980 13,202 14,230 92.8% 2 12 14 943 15 19 5 ap1981

1990 21,858 27,128 80.6% 1 7 8 2,732 11 19 5 ap1991

1999 34,000 45,000 75.6% 1 9 10 3,400 13 21 6 ap2000

2000 35,000 46,000 76.1% 1 11 12 2,916 13 21 6 ap2001

2001 36,000 48,100 74.8% 1 9 10 3,600 15 21 6 ap2002

2002 37,100 49,000 75.7% 1 8 9 4,122 10 20 6 ap2003

2003 37,800 50,000 75.6% 1 8 9 4,200 12 18 6 ap2004

2004 38,100 50,500 75.4% 1 8 9 4,233 13 15 6 ap2005

2010 41,550 56,000 74.2% 2 6 8 5,193 13 13 5 ap2011

2014 57,000 90,000 63.3% 1 6 7 8,142 16 10 5 ap2015

2017 59,375 93,685 63.4% 1 3 4 14,843 4 5 6 ap2018

2020 57,700 91,100 63.3% 2 3 5 11,540 4 3 6 ap2021

2022 59,100 93,340 63.3% 5 3 8 7,387 4 2 6 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	82,897	86,554	95.8%	3	16	19	4,363	23	22	11	ap1951
1966	12,364	12,958	95.4%	1	12	13	951	14	12	5	ap1967
1970	15,311	16,776	91.3%	1	11	12	1,275	15	12		ap1971
1976	12,697	14,300	88.8%	1	11	12	1,058	15	17	5	ap1977
1980	13,202	14,230	92.8%	2	12	14	943	15	19	5	ap1981
1990	21,858	27,128	80.6%	1	7	8	2,732	11	19	5	ap1991
1999	34,000	45,000	75.6%	1	9	10	3,400	13	21	6	ap2000
2000	35,000	46,000	76.1%	1	11	12	2,916	13	21	6	ap2001
2001	36,000	48,100	74.8%	1	9	10	3,600	15	21	6	ap2002
2002	37,100	49,000	75.7%	1	8	9	4,122	10	20	6	ap2003
2003	37,800	50,000	75.6%	1	8	9	4,200	12	18	6	ap2004
2004	38,100	50,500	75.4%	1	8	9	4,233	13	15	6	ap2005
2010	41,550	56,000	74.2%	2	6	8	5,193	13	13	5	ap2011
2014	57,000	90,000	63.3%	1	6	7	8,142	16	10	5	ap2015
2017	59,375	93,685	63.4%	1	3	4	14,843	4	5	6	ap2018
2020	57,700	91,100	63.3%	2	3	5	11,540	4	3	6	ap2021
2022	59,100	93,340	63.3%	5	3	8	7,387	4	2	6	ap2023