Tarija (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jorge Ángel Saldías Pedraza, O.P., Bishop
Francisco Javier Del Río Sendino, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 11 November 1924
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Sucre
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Bolivia
Square Kilometers: 20,192 (7,799 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Obispado, Casilla 1192, Calle General Bernardo Trigo 769, Tarija, Bolivia
Telephone: (04)6643.793; 6642.659
Fax: 6113.593

Past and Present Ordinaries

Ramón Font y Farrés, C.M.F. † (17 Nov 1924 Appointed - 16 Aug 1947 Died)
Juan Niccolai, O.F.M. † (16 Aug 1947 Succeeded - 11 Dec 1974 Retired)
Abel Costas Montaño † (11 Dec 1974 Appointed - 20 Oct 1995 Retired)
Adhemar Esquivel Kohenque † (20 Oct 1995 Succeeded - 2 Jun 2004 Retired)
Francisco Javier Del Río Sendino (10 Jan 2006 Appointed - 11 Oct 2019 Retired)
Jorge Ángel Saldías Pedraza, O.P. (11 Oct 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
11 November 1924	Erected	Archdiocese of La Plata o Charcas (Tarija)	Diocese of Tarija (erected)
21 December 1926	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Chaco Diocese of Tarija (Boundaries Adjusted)

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

1950 89,500 90,000 99.4% 10 14 24 3,729 15 21 10 ap1951

1966 98,000 100,500 97.5% 5 19 24 4,083 21 24 11 ap1967

1970 106,000 109,000 97.2% 3 20 23 4,608 21 23 11 ap1971

1976 109,000 116,000 94.0% 4 19 23 4,739 35 32 13 ap1977

1980 183,000 188,000 97.3% 6 21 27 6,777 2 31 37 13 ap1981

1990 219,000 228,000 96.1% 6 23 29 7,551 1 29 52 14 ap1991

1999 285,907 291,607 98.0% 13 21 34 8,409 27 69 16 ap2000

2000 282,155 403,079 70.0% 13 19 32 8,817 26 84 15 ap2001

2001 288,962 410,287 70.4% 17 21 38 7,604 1 33 96 19 ap2002

2002 294,675 391,226 75.3% 18 21 39 7,555 1 32 95 19 ap2003

2003 295,496 392,047 75.4% 19 23 42 7,035 1 35 95 20 ap2004

2004 301,785 391,226 77.1% 22 23 45 6,706 1 35 95 21 ap2005

2010 348,034 492,000 70.7% 27 21 48 7,250 28 95 22 ap2011

2014 437,100 470,000 93.0% 24 18 42 10,407 2 30 99 26 ap2015

2017 458,000 484,000 94.6% 26 25 51 8,980 2 32 100 26 ap2018

2020 471,630 504,520 93.5% 30 26 56 8,421 2 34 97 27 ap2021

2022 484,000 518,000 93.4% 30 17 47 10,297 2 25 97 22 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	89,500	90,000	99.4%	10	14	24	3,729		15	21	10	ap1951
1966	98,000	100,500	97.5%	5	19	24	4,083		21	24	11	ap1967
1970	106,000	109,000	97.2%	3	20	23	4,608		21	23	11	ap1971
1976	109,000	116,000	94.0%	4	19	23	4,739		35	32	13	ap1977
1980	183,000	188,000	97.3%	6	21	27	6,777	2	31	37	13	ap1981
1990	219,000	228,000	96.1%	6	23	29	7,551	1	29	52	14	ap1991
1999	285,907	291,607	98.0%	13	21	34	8,409		27	69	16	ap2000
2000	282,155	403,079	70.0%	13	19	32	8,817		26	84	15	ap2001
2001	288,962	410,287	70.4%	17	21	38	7,604	1	33	96	19	ap2002
2002	294,675	391,226	75.3%	18	21	39	7,555	1	32	95	19	ap2003
2003	295,496	392,047	75.4%	19	23	42	7,035	1	35	95	20	ap2004
2004	301,785	391,226	77.1%	22	23	45	6,706	1	35	95	21	ap2005
2010	348,034	492,000	70.7%	27	21	48	7,250		28	95	22	ap2011
2014	437,100	470,000	93.0%	24	18	42	10,407	2	30	99	26	ap2015
2017	458,000	484,000	94.6%	26	25	51	8,980	2	32	100	26	ap2018
2020	471,630	504,520	93.5%	30	26	56	8,421	2	34	97	27	ap2021
2022	484,000	518,000	93.4%	30	17	47	10,297	2	25	97	22	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Abel Costas Montaño † (Bishop: 11 Dec 1974 to 20 Oct 1995)
Adhemar Esquivel Kohenque † (Coadjutor Bishop: 10 Nov 1992; Bishop: 20 Oct 1995 to 2 Jun 2004)
Ramón Font y Farrés, C.M.F. † (Bishop: 17 Nov 1924 to 16 Aug 1947)
Juan Niccolai, O.F.M. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 20 Feb 1944; Bishop: 16 Aug 1947 to 11 Dec 1974)

Source(s)

Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 17, Page 501, to Page 503
Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 20, and Page 21

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Diocese of Tarija

Dioecesis Tariiensis