São Tomé e Príncipe (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

João de Ceita Nazaré, Bishop
Manuel António Mendes dos Santos, C.M.F., Bishop Emeritus
Abílio Rodas de Sousa Ribas, C.S.Sp., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 3 November 1534
Immediately Subject to the Holy See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: São Tomé and Príncipe
Square Kilometers: 1,000 (386 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://diocesestp.com/
Mailing Address: Centro Diocesano, C.P. 104, Rua P. Martinho Pinto da Rocha 1, Sao Tome, Sao Tome e Principe
Telephone: 2223.455; 9929.585

Past and Present Ordinaries

Diego de Ortiz de Vilhegas † (31 Jan 1533 Appointed - 24 Sep 1540 Appointed, Bishop of Ceuta)
Bernardo da Cruz, O.P. † (24 Sep 1540 Appointed - 28 Apr 1553 Resigned)
Gaspar Cão, O.S.A. † (6 Jul 1554 Appointed - 25 Aug 1574 Died)
Martinho de Ulhoa, O. Cist. † (29 Jan 1578 Appointed - 1592 Resigned)
Francisco de Villanova, O.F.M. Obs. † (17 Feb 1592 Appointed - 25 Dec 1602 Died)
Antonio Valente, O.P. † (30 Aug 1604 Appointed - 1608 Died)
Jeronimo Quintanilla, O. Cist. † (21 Feb 1611 Appointed - 1614 Died)
Pedro de São Agostinho Figueira de Cunha Lobo, O.S.A. † (26 Oct 1615 Appointed - 16 May 1620 Died)
Francisco do Soveral, O.S.A. † (5 Oct 1623 Appointed - 8 Feb 1627 Appointed, Bishop of Angola e Congo)
Domingos de Assumpção, O.P. † (1 Mar 1627 Appointed - Oct 1632 Died)
Manoel a Nativitate do Nascimento, O.S.H. † (16 Apr 1674 Appointed - 1677 Died)
Bernardo de Santa Maria Zuzarte de Andrade, C.R.S.A. † (30 Aug 1677 Appointed - 1680 Died)
Sebastião de São Paulo, O.F.M. † (9 Jun 1687 Appointed - 1690 Died)
Timóteo do Sacramento, O.S.P.P.E. † (2 Jan 1693 Appointed - 17 Dec 1696 Appointed, Bishop of São Luís do Maranhão)
Antonio da Penha de França, O.A.D. † (5 Oct 1699 Appointed - 1702 Died)
João de Sahagún, O.A.D. † (22 Jul 1709 Appointed - 12 Oct 1730 Died)
Leandro de Santo Agostinho da Piedade, O.A.D. † (3 Sep 1738 Confirmed - 1740 Died)
Tomas Luiz da Conceição, O.A.D. † (26 Nov 1742 Confirmed - 1744 Died)
Ludovico Das Chagas (des Saint Plaies), O.E.S.A. † (15 Dec 1745 Confirmed - 1747 Died)
Antonio Nogueira † (29 Jan 1753 Confirmed - 1758 Died)
Vicente do Espirito Santo, O.A.D. † (1 Mar 1779 Confirmed - 25 Nov 1782 Resigned)
Domingo do Rosario, O.P. † (16 Dec 1782 Confirmed - 1788 Died)
Rafael de Castello de Vide, O.F.M. Ref. † (12 Sep 1794 Confirmed - 17 Jan 1800 Died)
Cayetano Velozo, O.F.M. Ref. † (24 May 1802 Confirmed - Sep 1803 Died)
Custodio de Santa Ana d’Almeida, O.A.D. † (26 Jun 1805 Confirmed - 23 Mar 1812 Died)
Bartholomeu de Martyribus Maya, O.C.D. † (8 Mar 1816 Confirmed - 10 Nov 1819 Appointed, Prelate of Mozambico)
Moisés Alves de Pinho, C.S.Sp. † (18 Jan 1941 Appointed - 17 Nov 1966 Retired)
Abílio Rodas de Sousa Ribas, C.S.Sp. (3 Dec 1984 Appointed - 1 Dec 2006 Retired)
Manuel António Mendes dos Santos, C.M.F. (1 Dec 2006 Appointed - 13 Jul 2022 Resigned)
João de Ceita Nazaré (9 Jan 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
3 November 1534	Erected	Diocese of Funchal	Diocese of Angra (erected) Diocese of São Tomé e Príncipe (erected)
20 May 1596	Territory Lost	Diocese of São Tomé e Príncipe	Diocese of Angola e Congo (erected)
21 January 1612	Territory Lost	Diocese of São Tomé e Príncipe	Apostolic Administration of Mozambico (erected)
1741	Territory Lost	Diocese of São Tomé e Príncipe	Vicariate Apostolic of Ava e Pegù (erected)
22 January 1842	Territory Lost	Diocese of Funchal Diocese of São Tomé e Príncipe	Prefecture Apostolic of Two Guineas and Senegambia {Guinea Superiore e Inferiore e di Sierra Leone} (erected)
3 February 1977	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of São Tomé e Príncipe (from Luanda)

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

1950 36,149 60,540 59.7% 1 8 9 4,016 8 10 ap1951

1969 59,572 63,485 93.8% 15 15 3,971 17 16 6 ap1971

1978 70,000 83,000 84.3% 1 6 7 10,000 7 15 12 ap1981

1988 96,500 104,500 92.3% 8 8 12,062 15 21 12 ap1991

1999 104,753 127,500 82.2% 10 10 10,475 14 36 12 ap2000

2000 107,147 129,272 82.9% 2 9 11 9,740 18 39 12 ap2001

2001 109,300 131,425 83.2% 2 10 12 9,108 19 40 12 ap2002

2002 117,889 133,425 88.4% 8 8 14,736 15 38 12 ap2003

2003 118,800 135,000 88.0% 2 8 10 11,880 15 38 12 ap2004

2004 121,931 138,000 88.4% 2 7 9 13,547 15 36 12 ap2005

2008 115,000 160,000 71.9% 7 7 14 8,214 14 34 12 ap2011

2014 127,600 194,000 65.8% 3 8 11 11,600 11 36 14 ap2015

2017 115,000 201,000 57.2% 5 8 13 8,846 9 31 14 ap2018

2020 110,000 205,000 53.7% 7 6 13 8,461 11 28 14 ap2021

2022 115,000 219,085 52.5% 8 7 15 7,666 12 32 14 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	36,149	60,540	59.7%	1	8	9	4,016	8		10	ap1951
1969	59,572	63,485	93.8%		15	15	3,971	17	16	6	ap1971
1978	70,000	83,000	84.3%	1	6	7	10,000	7	15	12	ap1981
1988	96,500	104,500	92.3%		8	8	12,062	15	21	12	ap1991
1999	104,753	127,500	82.2%		10	10	10,475	14	36	12	ap2000
2000	107,147	129,272	82.9%	2	9	11	9,740	18	39	12	ap2001
2001	109,300	131,425	83.2%	2	10	12	9,108	19	40	12	ap2002
2002	117,889	133,425	88.4%		8	8	14,736	15	38	12	ap2003
2003	118,800	135,000	88.0%	2	8	10	11,880	15	38	12	ap2004
2004	121,931	138,000	88.4%	2	7	9	13,547	15	36	12	ap2005
2008	115,000	160,000	71.9%	7	7	14	8,214	14	34	12	ap2011
2014	127,600	194,000	65.8%	3	8	11	11,600	11	36	14	ap2015
2017	115,000	201,000	57.2%	5	8	13	8,846	9	31	14	ap2018
2020	110,000	205,000	53.7%	7	6	13	8,461	11	28	14	ap2021
2022	115,000	219,085	52.5%	8	7	15	7,666	12	32	14	ap2023