Humaitá (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Antônio Fontinele de Melo, Bishop
Franz Josef Meinrad Merkel, C.S.Sp., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 16 October 1979
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Porto Velho
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Amazonas
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 135,000 (52,143 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Noroeste
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Praca da Matriz s/n, 69800-000 Humaita, AM, Brazil
Telephone: (097)3373-1356

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Humaitá
- Latin Name: Humaitanensis
- Erected: 26 June 1961
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Manaus
- State: Amazonas
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

José Domitrovitsch, S.D.B. † (5 Aug 1961 Appointed - 27 Feb 1962 Died)
Miguel d’Aversa, S.D.B. † (21 May 1962 Appointed - 6 Mar 1991 Retired)
José Jovêncio Balestieri, S.D.B. † (6 Mar 1991 Appointed - 29 Jul 1998 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina)
Franz Josef Meinrad Merkel, C.S.Sp. (26 Jul 2000 Appointed - 12 Aug 2020 Retired)
Antônio Fontinele de Melo (12 Aug 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Humaitá
26 June 1961	Erected	Archdiocese of Manaus (City of Manicoré) Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho (City of Humaitá)	Territorial Prelature of Humaitá (erected)
Diocese of Humaitá
16 October 1979	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Humaitá	Diocese of Humaitá
4 October 1982	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Humaitá (from Manaus)
12 February 1996	Territory Lost	Diocese of Humaitá (Manicoré)	Territorial Prelature of Borba
12 February 1996	Territory Added	Territorial Prelature of Borba (Apui)	Diocese of Humaitá
20 January 2003	Territory Added	Territorial Prelature of Borba (Manicoré)	Diocese of Humaitá

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

Territorial Prelature of Humaitá

1966 12,500 43,000 29.1% 6 6 2,083 6 12 2 ap1967

1970 45,000 45,500 98.9% 6 6 7,500 7 12 2 ap1971

1976 51,340 53,600 95.8% 1 4 5 10,268 5 17 4 ap1977

Diocese of Humaitá

1980 39,200 43,100 91.0% 1 10 11 3,563 12 16 4 ap1981

1990 77,200 91,500 84.4% 7 7 11,028 8 19 7 ap1991

1999 38,000 50,600 75.1% 1 7 8 4,750 7 12 7 ap2000

2000 38,500 51,200 75.2% 1 6 7 5,500 6 15 5 ap2001

2001 40,000 50,000 80.0% 6 6 6,666 7 15 5 ap2002

2002 40,000 50,000 80.0% 6 6 6,666 7 19 5 ap2003

2003 40,000 50,000 80.0% 7 7 5,714 8 19 5 ap2004

2004 65,000 95,000 68.4% 1 9 10 6,500 12 26 7 ap2005

2006 70,000 100,000 70.0% 3 11 14 5,000 13 20 7 ap2007

2013 75,800 109,000 69.5% 5 6 11 6,890 7 9 23 8 ap2014

2016 85,700 121,000 70.8% 5 12 17 5,041 6 13 26 8 ap2017

2019 85,000 121,800 69.8% 8 13 21 4,047 10 14 24 8 ap2020

2021 87,160 123,730 70.4% 10 10 20 4,358 14 11 14 8 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Prelature of Humaitá
1966	12,500	43,000	29.1%		6	6	2,083		6	12	2	ap1967
1970	45,000	45,500	98.9%		6	6	7,500		7	12	2	ap1971
1976	51,340	53,600	95.8%	1	4	5	10,268		5	17	4	ap1977
Diocese of Humaitá
1980	39,200	43,100	91.0%	1	10	11	3,563		12	16	4	ap1981
1990	77,200	91,500	84.4%		7	7	11,028		8	19	7	ap1991
1999	38,000	50,600	75.1%	1	7	8	4,750		7	12	7	ap2000
2000	38,500	51,200	75.2%	1	6	7	5,500		6	15	5	ap2001
2001	40,000	50,000	80.0%		6	6	6,666		7	15	5	ap2002
2002	40,000	50,000	80.0%		6	6	6,666		7	19	5	ap2003
2003	40,000	50,000	80.0%		7	7	5,714		8	19	5	ap2004
2004	65,000	95,000	68.4%	1	9	10	6,500		12	26	7	ap2005
2006	70,000	100,000	70.0%	3	11	14	5,000		13	20	7	ap2007
2013	75,800	109,000	69.5%	5	6	11	6,890	7	9	23	8	ap2014
2016	85,700	121,000	70.8%	5	12	17	5,041	6	13	26	8	ap2017
2019	85,000	121,800	69.8%	8	13	21	4,047	10	14	24	8	ap2020
2021	87,160	123,730	70.4%	10	10	20	4,358	14	11	14	8	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

José Jovêncio Balestieri, S.D.B. † (Bishop: 6 Mar 1991 to 29 Jul 1998)
Miguel d’Aversa, S.D.B. † (Prelate: 21 May 1962; Bishop: 4 Dec 1979 to 6 Mar 1991)
José Domitrovitsch, S.D.B. † (Prelate: 5 Aug 1961 to 27 Feb 1962)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of Humaitá
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 54, Page 418, to Page 420
Diocese of Humaitá
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 71, Page 1,504, and Page 1,505
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 75, Page 9, and Page 10
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 95, Page 365, and Page 366

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

✠

Diocese of Humaitá

Dioecesis Humaitanensis