Archdiocese of Tunja

Archidioecesis Tunquensis

Bishop(s)

Gabriel Ángel Villa Vahos, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 20 June 1964
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Colombia
Square Kilometers: 3,379 (1,305 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.arquidiocesisdetunja.org/
Mailing Address: Carrera 2 N. 59-390, Tunja, Colombia
Telephone: (8)745.20.94
Fax: 742.20.96

Historical Details

Diocese of Tunja
- Latin Name: Tunquensis
- Erected: 29 July 1880
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bogotá
- Country: Colombia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Severo Garcia † (18 Nov 1881 Appointed - 19 Apr 1886 Resigned)
José Benigo Perilla y Martínez † (17 Mar 1887 Appointed - 13 Mar 1903 Died)
Eduardo Maldonado Calvo † (25 Jul 1905 Appointed - 31 Mar 1932 Died)
Crisanto Luque y Sánchez † (9 Sep 1932 Appointed - 14 Jul 1950 Appointed, Archbishop of Bogotá)
Ángel María Ocampo Berrio, S.J. † (6 Dec 1950 Appointed - 20 Feb 1970 Resigned)
Augusto Trujillo Arango † (20 Feb 1970 Appointed - 2 Feb 1998 Retired)
Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga, I.M.C. † (2 Feb 1998 Appointed - 11 Feb 2020 Retired)
Gabriel Ángel Villa Vahos (11 Feb 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Tunja
29 July 1880	Erected	Archdiocese of Santafé en Nueva Granada	Diocese of Tunja (erected)
17 July 1893	Territory Lost	Diocese of Tunja	Vicariate Apostolic of Casanare (erected)
7 March 1955	Territory Lost	Diocese of Tunja (Duitama, Tibasosa, Sagamoso, Nobsa, Mongui, Tópaga, Mongua, Gámeza, Corrales, Floresta, Labranzagrande, Pisva, Paya, Morcóte, Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Cerinza, Belén, Tutasá, Paz de Rio, Betéitiva, Tasco, Socha, Socotá, Jericó, Sativasur, Sativanorte, ...)	Diocese of Duitama (erected)
Archdiocese of Tunja
20 June 1964	Elevated	Diocese of Tunja	Archdiocese of Tunja
26 April 1977	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Tunja (Sagrado Corazón and del Rosario (in Chiquinquirá); Arcabuco, Borbur, Briceño, Buenavista, Caldas, Coper, Chitaraque, Gachantiva, Leiva, Moniquirá, Muzo, Maripí, Otanche, Pauna, Ráquira, Saboyá, San Miguel de Sema, San José de Pare, Santana, Santa Sofia...)	Diocese of Chiquinquirá (erected)
26 April 1977	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Tunja (Garagoa, Almeida, Berbeo, Chivor, Chinavi ta, Campohermoso, Guateque, Guayatá, Jenesano, La Capilla de Tenza, Los Cedros, Macanal, Miraflores, Pachavita, Páez, Ramiriquí, Rondón, San Eduardo, Santa María, San Luis de Gaceno, Somondoco, Sutatenza, Tibaná..)	Diocese of Garagoa (erected)

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

Diocese of Tunja

1950 900,000 900,000 100.0% 163 69 232 3,879 244 334 110 ap1951

Archdiocese of Tunja

1966 609,950 612,200 99.6% 159 49 208 2,932 84 421 85 ap1967

1970 598,039 598,039 100.0% 146 44 190 3,147 79 286 87 ap1971

1976 700,000 720,000 97.2% 157 44 201 3,482 71 412 93 ap1977

1980 317,988 321,200 99.0% 72 21 93 3,419 38 147 42 ap1981

1990 360,000 400,000 90.0% 84 14 98 3,673 2 21 116 42 ap1991

1999 300,000 340,000 88.2% 111 16 127 2,362 3 18 156 51 ap2000

2000 280,000 320,000 87.5% 112 16 128 2,187 3 17 156 52 ap2001

2001 300,000 340,000 88.2% 102 16 118 2,542 3 17 154 52 ap2002

2002 300,000 340,000 88.2% 106 20 126 2,380 3 21 156 52 ap2003

2003 240,000 281,500 85.3% 119 21 140 1,714 3 24 151 53 ap2004

2004 260,000 300,000 86.7% 115 28 143 1,818 3 54 137 54 ap2005

2010 237,000 278,000 85.3% 121 22 143 1,657 9 44 106 56 ap2011

2014 249,000 290,000 85.9% 141 24 165 1,509 14 40 104 62 ap2015

2017 257,600 300,000 85.9% 144 26 170 1,515 13 36 92 62 ap2018

2020 265,800 309,900 85.8% 146 23 169 1,572 14 31 62 64 ap2021

2022 273,510 320,000 85.5% 146 35 181 1,511 14 39 57 64 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Tunja
1950	900,000	900,000	100.0%	163	69	232	3,879		244	334	110	ap1951
Archdiocese of Tunja
1966	609,950	612,200	99.6%	159	49	208	2,932		84	421	85	ap1967
1970	598,039	598,039	100.0%	146	44	190	3,147		79	286	87	ap1971
1976	700,000	720,000	97.2%	157	44	201	3,482		71	412	93	ap1977
1980	317,988	321,200	99.0%	72	21	93	3,419		38	147	42	ap1981
1990	360,000	400,000	90.0%	84	14	98	3,673	2	21	116	42	ap1991
1999	300,000	340,000	88.2%	111	16	127	2,362	3	18	156	51	ap2000
2000	280,000	320,000	87.5%	112	16	128	2,187	3	17	156	52	ap2001
2001	300,000	340,000	88.2%	102	16	118	2,542	3	17	154	52	ap2002
2002	300,000	340,000	88.2%	106	20	126	2,380	3	21	156	52	ap2003
2003	240,000	281,500	85.3%	119	21	140	1,714	3	24	151	53	ap2004
2004	260,000	300,000	86.7%	115	28	143	1,818	3	54	137	54	ap2005
2010	237,000	278,000	85.3%	121	22	143	1,657	9	44	106	56	ap2011
2014	249,000	290,000	85.9%	141	24	165	1,509	14	40	104	62	ap2015
2017	257,600	300,000	85.9%	144	26	170	1,515	13	36	92	62	ap2018
2020	265,800	309,900	85.8%	146	23	169	1,572	14	31	62	64	ap2021
2022	273,510	320,000	85.5%	146	35	181	1,511	14	39	57	64	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Jaime Cristóbal Abril González (Priest: 10 Feb 1996 to 16 Apr 2016)
Froilán Tiberio Casas Ortíz (Priest: 9 Dec 1972 to 4 Feb 2012)
Héctor Julio López Hurtado, S.D.B.
Carlos Germán Mesa Ruiz (Priest: 11 Nov 1967 to 20 Mar 2003)
Jaime Muñoz Pedroza (Priest: 24 Nov 1984 to 22 Oct 2010)
Francisco Antonio Nieto Súa
Jaime Uriel Sanabria Arias (Priest: 19 Nov 1994 to 16 Apr 2016)
Gabriel Ángel Villa Vahos (Archbishop: 11 Feb 2020 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga, I.M.C. † (Archbishop: 2 Feb 1998 to 11 Feb 2020)
Jesús María Coronado Caro, S.D.B. †
Norberto Forero y García † (Priest: 14 Jun 1919 to 7 Jul 1951)
Severo Garcia † (Bishop: 18 Nov 1881 to 19 Apr 1886)
Mosé Higuera †
Crisanto Luque y Sánchez † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Jan 1931; Bishop: 9 Sep 1932 to 14 Jul 1950)
Eduardo Maldonado Calvo † (Bishop: 25 Jul 1905 to 31 Mar 1932)
Juan Eliseo Mojica Oliveros † (Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Feb 1967 to 4 Jun 1970)
Ángel María Ocampo Berrio, S.J. † (Bishop: 6 Dec 1950; Archbishop: 20 Jun 1964 to 20 Feb 1970)
José Benigo Perilla y Martínez † (Bishop: 17 Mar 1887 to 13 Mar 1903)
Juan Nepomuceno Rueda Rueda † (Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Jul 1882 to 30 Jan 1892)
Augusto Trujillo Arango † (Archbishop: 20 Feb 1970 to 2 Feb 1998)

Source(s)

Diocese of Tunja
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 8, Page 572
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 9, Page 380
Archdiocese of Tunja
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 361, and Page 362

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