Esmeraldas (Vicariate Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Antonio Crameri, S.S.C., Vicar Apostolic
Eugenio Arellano Fernández, M.C.C.I., Vicar Apostolic Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic
Elevated: 14 November 1957
Vicariate
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Ecuador
Square Kilometers: 15,260 (5,894 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Calle Sucre, 24 de Mayo y Manabi, Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Telephone: (06)2724-353
Fax: 2727-006

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Esmeraldas
- Latin Name: Esmeraldensis
- Erected: 14 December 1945
- Country: Ecuador

Past and Present Ordinaries

Hieroteo de la Santissima Virgen del Carmen Valbuena Alvarez, O.C.D. † (25 Oct 1946 Appointed - 28 Jul 1954 Resigned)
Angelo Barbisotti, F.S.C.J. † (14 Nov 1957 Appointed - 17 Sep 1972 Died)
Enrico Bartolucci Panaroni, M.C.C.I. † (14 Jun 1973 Appointed - 10 Feb 1995 Died)
Eugenio Arellano Fernández, M.C.C.I. (1 Jun 1995 Appointed - 5 Jul 2021 Retired)
Antonio Crameri, S.S.C. (5 Jul 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Esmeraldas
14 December 1945	Erected	Diocese of Portoviejo (Porto Vecchio) (Northern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Esmeraldas (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Esmeraldas
14 November 1957	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Esmeraldas	Vicariate Apostolic of Esmeraldas

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

Prefecture Apostolic of Esmeraldas

1950 73,000 80,000 91.3% 1 12 13 5,615 13 9 4 ap1951

Vicariate Apostolic of Esmeraldas

1966 125,000 140,000 89.3% 27 27 4,629 34 39 11 ap1967

1968 163,585 .0% 30 30 0 37 35 14 ap1971

1976 212,000 215,000 98.6% 4 33 37 5,729 48 69 16 ap1977

1980 243,736 273,827 89.0% 13 24 37 6,587 34 77 17 ap1981

1990 307,000 366,000 83.9% 14 25 39 7,871 34 82 17 ap1991

1999 370,000 415,000 89.2% 15 25 40 9,250 36 118 22 ap2000

2000 408,330 490,000 83.3% 24 26 50 8,166 34 115 22 ap2001

2001 408,330 490,000 83.3% 32 23 55 7,424 33 130 22 ap2002

2002 416,324 490,000 85.0% 27 27 54 7,709 36 130 22 ap2003

2003 425,917 490,000 86.9% 25 25 50 8,518 34 129 22 ap2004

2004 434,105 490,000 88.6% 29 23 52 8,348 8 31 117 22 ap2005

2010 493,000 542,000 91.0% 33 23 56 8,803 8 28 136 22 ap2011

2014 427,928 520,000 82.3% 37 23 60 7,132 9 29 114 24 ap2015

2017 459,934 557,263 82.5% 40 17 57 8,069 9 29 123 25 ap2018

2020 488,000 588,120 83.0% 41 16 57 8,561 9 25 128 26 ap2021

2022 492,503 605,053 81.4% 40 20 60 8,208 9 29 128 26 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Esmeraldas
1950	73,000	80,000	91.3%	1	12	13	5,615		13	9	4	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Esmeraldas
1966	125,000	140,000	89.3%		27	27	4,629		34	39	11	ap1967
1968		163,585	.0%		30	30	0		37	35	14	ap1971
1976	212,000	215,000	98.6%	4	33	37	5,729		48	69	16	ap1977
1980	243,736	273,827	89.0%	13	24	37	6,587		34	77	17	ap1981
1990	307,000	366,000	83.9%	14	25	39	7,871		34	82	17	ap1991
1999	370,000	415,000	89.2%	15	25	40	9,250		36	118	22	ap2000
2000	408,330	490,000	83.3%	24	26	50	8,166		34	115	22	ap2001
2001	408,330	490,000	83.3%	32	23	55	7,424		33	130	22	ap2002
2002	416,324	490,000	85.0%	27	27	54	7,709		36	130	22	ap2003
2003	425,917	490,000	86.9%	25	25	50	8,518		34	129	22	ap2004
2004	434,105	490,000	88.6%	29	23	52	8,348	8	31	117	22	ap2005
2010	493,000	542,000	91.0%	33	23	56	8,803	8	28	136	22	ap2011
2014	427,928	520,000	82.3%	37	23	60	7,132	9	29	114	24	ap2015
2017	459,934	557,263	82.5%	40	17	57	8,069	9	29	123	25	ap2018
2020	488,000	588,120	83.0%	41	16	57	8,561	9	25	128	26	ap2021
2022	492,503	605,053	81.4%	40	20	60	8,208	9	29	128	26	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Eugenio Arellano Fernández, M.C.C.I. (Vicar Apostolic: 1 Jun 1995 to 5 Jul 2021)
Antonio Crameri, S.S.C. (Vicar Apostolic: 5 Jul 2021 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Angelo Barbisotti, F.S.C.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Nov 1957 to 17 Sep 1972)
Enrico Bartolucci Panaroni, M.C.C.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jun 1973 to 10 Feb 1995)
Hieroteo de la Santissima Virgen del Carmen Valbuena Alvarez, O.C.D. † (Prefect: 25 Oct 1946 to 28 Jul 1954)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Esmeraldas
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 38, Page 338, and Page 339
Vicariate Apostolic of Esmeraldas
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 50, Page 349, to Page 351

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Vicariate Apostolic of Esmeraldas

Vicariatus Apostolicus Esmeraldensis