Guanare (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Owaldo Enrique Araque Valero (Valerio), Bishop
José de la Trinidad Valera Angulo, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 7 June 1954
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Barquisimeto
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Venezuela
Square Kilometers: 9,710 (3,750 Square Miles)
Description: Guanare, Guanarito, Papelón, San Genaro de Boconoito, Unda, Sucre, and Ospino
Mailing Address: Obispado, Calle 15 N. 4-49, esquina carrera 5ta, Guanare, Edo. Portuguesa, Venezuela
Telephone: (0257)251.68.25
Fax: 251.69.40

Past and Present Ordinaries

Pedro Pablo Tenreiro Francia † (23 Oct 1954 Appointed - 11 Nov 1965 Resigned)
Eduardo Herrera Riera † (30 Nov 1966 Appointed - 31 Oct 1970 Appointed, Auxiliary Bishop of Barquisimeto)
Angel Adolfo Polachini Rodriguez † (25 Mar 1971 Appointed - 16 Apr 1994 Retired)
Alejandro Figueroa Medina † (21 Feb 1995 Appointed - 29 Sep 2000 Died)
José Sótero Valero Ruz † (19 Mar 2001 Appointed - 12 Oct 2011 Retired)
José de la Trinidad Valera Angulo (12 Oct 2011 Appointed - 12 Apr 2023 Retired)
Owaldo Enrique Araque Valero (Valerio) (12 Apr 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
7 June 1954	Erected	Diocese of Barquisimeto (Portuguese) Diocese of Calabozo (Guanarito)	Diocese of Guanare (erected)
30 April 1966	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Guanare (from Caracas, Santiago de Venezuela)
27 December 2002	Territory Lost	Diocese of Guanare (Agua Blanca, Araure, Esteller, Páez, San Rafael de Onoto, Santa Rosalía, and Turén)	Diocese of Acarigua-Araure (erected)

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

1966 200,000 204,467 97.8% 10 18 28 7,142 18 39 21 ap1967

1970 293,500 304,322 96.4% 23 10 33 8,893 11 44 25 ap1971

1976 322,000 330,000 97.6% 16 7 23 14,000 8 48 27 ap1977

1980 350,300 392,600 89.2% 16 12 28 12,510 13 52 27 ap1981

1990 513,000 557,000 92.1% 18 11 29 17,689 11 39 30 ap1991

1999 700,000 760,000 92.1% 23 10 33 21,212 10 54 34 ap2000

2000 720,000 785,000 91.7% 22 10 32 22,500 10 54 35 ap2001

2001 800,000 850,000 94.1% 24 10 34 23,529 10 60 43 ap2002

2002 800,000 857,621 93.3% 21 13 34 23,529 13 61 34 ap2003

2003 373,100 406,100 91.9% 15 10 25 14,924 10 60 25 ap2004

2004 400,000 450,000 88.9% 7 3 10 40,000 3 50 15 ap2005

2006 356,000 405,000 87.9% 9 16 25 14,240 17 40 16 ap2007

2013 402,000 457,000 88.0% 10 16 26 15,461 16 35 18 ap2014

2016 418,661 476,442 87.9% 10 16 26 16,102 46 20 18 ap2017

2019 433,100 493,900 87.7% 10 16 26 16,657 46 20 18 ap2020

2021 443,750 506,000 87.7% 16 12 28 15,848 1 13 16 19 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	200,000	204,467	97.8%	10	18	28	7,142		18	39	21	ap1967
1970	293,500	304,322	96.4%	23	10	33	8,893		11	44	25	ap1971
1976	322,000	330,000	97.6%	16	7	23	14,000		8	48	27	ap1977
1980	350,300	392,600	89.2%	16	12	28	12,510		13	52	27	ap1981
1990	513,000	557,000	92.1%	18	11	29	17,689		11	39	30	ap1991
1999	700,000	760,000	92.1%	23	10	33	21,212		10	54	34	ap2000
2000	720,000	785,000	91.7%	22	10	32	22,500		10	54	35	ap2001
2001	800,000	850,000	94.1%	24	10	34	23,529		10	60	43	ap2002
2002	800,000	857,621	93.3%	21	13	34	23,529		13	61	34	ap2003
2003	373,100	406,100	91.9%	15	10	25	14,924		10	60	25	ap2004
2004	400,000	450,000	88.9%	7	3	10	40,000		3	50	15	ap2005
2006	356,000	405,000	87.9%	9	16	25	14,240		17	40	16	ap2007
2013	402,000	457,000	88.0%	10	16	26	15,461		16	35	18	ap2014
2016	418,661	476,442	87.9%	10	16	26	16,102		46	20	18	ap2017
2019	433,100	493,900	87.7%	10	16	26	16,657		46	20	18	ap2020
2021	443,750	506,000	87.7%	16	12	28	15,848	1	13	16	19	ap2022