El Beni o Beni (Vicariate Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Aurelio Pesoa Ribera, O.F.M., Vicar Apostolic
Roberto Bordi, O.F.M., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
Julio María Elías Montoya, O.F.M., Vicar Apostolic Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic
Erected: 1 December 1917
Vicariate
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Bolivia
Square Kilometers: 150,686 (58,202 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Residencia Episcopal, Plaza Ballivian, acera Sur 2, Casilla 34, Trinidad [Beni], Bolivia
Telephone: (03)4620.246
Fax: 4652.015

Past and Present Ordinaries

Ramón Calvó y Martí, O.F.M. † (13 Aug 1919 Appointed - 5 Mar 1926 Died)
Pedro Francisco Luna Pachón, O.F.M. † (10 Jul 1926 Appointed - 1953 Resigned)
Carlos Anasagasti Zulueta, O.F.M. † (29 Jun 1953 Appointed - 17 Nov 1986 Retired)
Julio María Elías Montoya, O.F.M. (17 Nov 1986 Appointed - 22 Feb 2020 Retired)
Aurelio Pesoa Ribera, O.F.M. (28 Nov 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
1 December 1917	Erected	Diocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (El Beni, Colonia, Caupolican, and Yuracarès)	Vicariate Apostolic of El Beni o Beni (erected)
20 May 1921	Territory Added	Diocese of La Paz (Coven and St. Anna)	Vicariate Apostolic of El Beni o Beni
29 April 1942	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of El Beni o Beni (North and West)	Vicariate Apostolic of Pando (erected)
1 September 1942	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of El Beni o Beni (West and South)	Vicariate Apostolic of Reyes (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 44,500 47,260 94.2% 8 8 5,562 8 ap1951

1965 75,000 80,000 93.8% 20 20 3,750 11 ap1967

1970 90,100 95,000 94.8% 22 22 4,095 22 24 ap1971

1976 92,000 100,000 92.0% 1 21 22 4,181 25 27 14 ap1977

1980 95,600 109,800 87.1% 25 25 3,824 33 25 19 ap1981

1990 123,363 152,300 81.0% 1 18 19 6,492 24 43 25 ap1991

1999 132,000 165,900 79.6% 6 20 26 5,076 2 25 43 28 ap2000

2000 133,800 168,300 79.5% 7 20 27 4,955 2 26 49 30 ap2001

2001 137,266 170,100 80.7% 7 15 22 6,239 2 21 52 30 ap2002

2002 149,400 185,000 80.8% 6 15 21 7,114 3 21 54 30 ap2003

2003 142,340 177,926 80.0% 6 13 19 7,491 3 19 49 30 ap2004

2004 145,898 182,372 80.0% 6 13 19 7,678 3 19 53 30 ap2005

2010 164,808 206,010 80.0% 8 14 22 7,491 2 20 49 30 ap2011

2014 173,900 217,000 80.1% 10 12 22 7,904 2 19 42 30 ap2015

2017 180,939 226,174 80.0% 12 12 24 7,539 1 15 36 30 ap2018

2020 191,598 239,498 80.0% 12 13 25 7,663 1 15 30 30 ap2021

2022 199,000 249,000 79.9% 12 12 24 8,291 1 12 32 30 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	44,500	47,260	94.2%		8	8	5,562				8	ap1951
1965	75,000	80,000	93.8%		20	20	3,750				11	ap1967
1970	90,100	95,000	94.8%		22	22	4,095		22	24		ap1971
1976	92,000	100,000	92.0%	1	21	22	4,181		25	27	14	ap1977
1980	95,600	109,800	87.1%		25	25	3,824		33	25	19	ap1981
1990	123,363	152,300	81.0%	1	18	19	6,492		24	43	25	ap1991
1999	132,000	165,900	79.6%	6	20	26	5,076	2	25	43	28	ap2000
2000	133,800	168,300	79.5%	7	20	27	4,955	2	26	49	30	ap2001
2001	137,266	170,100	80.7%	7	15	22	6,239	2	21	52	30	ap2002
2002	149,400	185,000	80.8%	6	15	21	7,114	3	21	54	30	ap2003
2003	142,340	177,926	80.0%	6	13	19	7,491	3	19	49	30	ap2004
2004	145,898	182,372	80.0%	6	13	19	7,678	3	19	53	30	ap2005
2010	164,808	206,010	80.0%	8	14	22	7,491	2	20	49	30	ap2011
2014	173,900	217,000	80.1%	10	12	22	7,904	2	19	42	30	ap2015
2017	180,939	226,174	80.0%	12	12	24	7,539	1	15	36	30	ap2018
2020	191,598	239,498	80.0%	12	13	25	7,663	1	15	30	30	ap2021
2022	199,000	249,000	79.9%	12	12	24	8,291	1	12	32	30	ap2023