Visakhapatnam (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Jaya Rao Polimera, Apostolic Administrator
Prakash Mallavarapu, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 16 October 2001
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 28,507 (11,010 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://archdioceseofvisakhapatnam.org/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, D. No. 13-1-1/C, Maharanipeta, Visahapatnam-530002, A.P., India
Telephone: (0891)2706.428; 2704.404

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Vizagapatnam
- Erected: 3 April 1850
- Vicariate
- Country: India
Diocese of Vizagapatnam
- Latin Name: Vizagapatamensis
- Elevated: 1 September 1886
- Country: India
Diocese of Visakhapatnam
- Latin Name: Visakhapatnamensis
- Name Changed: 21 October 1950
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Hyderabad
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Sébastin-Théophille Neyret, M.S.F.S. † (31 Mar 1848 Appointed - 5 Nov 1862 Died)
Jean-Marie Tissot, M.S.F.S. † ( 1852 Appointed - 27 Sep 1890 Died)
Jean-Marie Clerc, M.S.F.S. † (19 Feb 1891 Appointed - 18 Jun 1926 Died)
Pierre Rossillon, M.S.F.S. † (18 Jun 1926 Succeeded - 22 Mar 1947 Died)
Joseph-Alphonse Baud, M.S.F.S. † (22 Mar 1947 Succeeded - 4 Oct 1966 Retired)
Ignatius Gopu, M.S.F.S. † (4 Oct 1966 Succeeded - 2 Aug 1981 Died)
Kagithapu Mariadas, M.S.F.S. † (10 Sep 1982 Appointed - 3 Jul 2012 Retired)
Prakash Mallavarapu (3 Jul 2012 Appointed - 17 Feb 2024 Retired)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Vizagapatnam
3 April 1850	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Madras	Vicariate Apostolic of Vizagapatnam (erected)
Diocese of Vizagapatnam
1 September 1886	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Vizagapatnam	Diocese of Vizagapatnam
11 July 1887	Territory Lost	Diocese of Vizagapatnam	Diocese of Nagpur (erected)
18 July 1928	Territory Lost	Diocese of Vizagapatnam (Civil districts of Ganjam and southern Orissa)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Cuttack (erected)
Diocese of Visakhapatnam
21 October 1950	Name Changed	Diocese of Vizagapatnam	Diocese of Visakhapatnam
19 September 1953	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Visakhapatnam (from Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor))
20 June 1957	Territory Added		Diocese of Cuttack Diocese of Visakhapatnam
25 April 1966	Territory Lost	Diocese of Visakhapatnam (Bhadrachellam Taluk)	Diocese of Warangal
16 June 1966	Territory Lost	Diocese of Visakhapatnam (Part of Koraput District)	Diocese of Cuttack
16 June 1966	Territory Lost	Diocese of Visakhapatnam (Bastar District)	Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur
3 January 1967	Territory Lost	Diocese of Visakhapatnam (Nugur Taluk)	Diocese of Warangal
24 January 1974	Territory Lost	Diocese of Cuttack (Parts of Ganjam and Koraput) Diocese of Visakhapatnam (Kalahandi and Parts of Ganjam and Koraput)	Diocese of Berhampur (erected)
1 July 1993	Territory Lost	Diocese of Visakhapatnam (Srikakulam and part of Vizianagram (Paravathipuram, Kurupam, and Cheepurupalli))	Diocese of Srikakulam (erected)
Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam
16 October 2001	Elevated	Diocese of Visakhapatnam	Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam

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 Visakhapatnam

1950 31,125 7,000,000 .4% 9 34 43 723 6 106 26 ap1951

1970 69,823 7,240,000 1.0% 28 43 71 983 81 121 33 ap1971

1980 90,469 8,460,000 1.1% 43 42 85 1,064 75 291 35 ap1981

1990 116,496 11,530,847 1.0% 48 57 105 1,109 87 449 56 ap1991

1999 147,934 12,014,274 1.2% 48 64 112 1,320 100 453 47 ap2000

2000 161,584 12,070,763 1.3% 51 63 114 1,417 72 477 47 ap2002

Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam

2002 214,200 12,339,058 1.7% 51 72 123 1,741 78 507 50 ap2003

2003 217,235 12,390,703 1.8% 55 72 127 1,710 76 431 50 ap2004

2004 218,806 12,403,105 1.8% 53 71 124 1,764 94 428 56 ap2005

2010 247,231 12,640,684 2.0% 64 89 153 1,615 115 470 62 ap2011

2012 113,500 11,984,000 .9% 76 92 168 675 132 558 67 ap2015

2017 110,508 11,789,359 .9% 75 64 139 795 95 570 75 ap2018

2020 120,211 13,000,171 .9% 84 64 148 812 100 604 77 ap2021

2022 122,600 13,261,000 .9% 89 64 153 801 101 850 76 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Visakhapatnam
1950	31,125	7,000,000	.4%	9	34	43	723	6	106	26	ap1951
1970	69,823	7,240,000	1.0%	28	43	71	983	81	121	33	ap1971
1980	90,469	8,460,000	1.1%	43	42	85	1,064	75	291	35	ap1981
1990	116,496	11,530,847	1.0%	48	57	105	1,109	87	449	56	ap1991
1999	147,934	12,014,274	1.2%	48	64	112	1,320	100	453	47	ap2000
2000	161,584	12,070,763	1.3%	51	63	114	1,417	72	477	47	ap2002
Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam
2002	214,200	12,339,058	1.7%	51	72	123	1,741	78	507	50	ap2003
2003	217,235	12,390,703	1.8%	55	72	127	1,710	76	431	50	ap2004
2004	218,806	12,403,105	1.8%	53	71	124	1,764	94	428	56	ap2005
2010	247,231	12,640,684	2.0%	64	89	153	1,615	115	470	62	ap2011
2012	113,500	11,984,000	.9%	76	92	168	675	132	558	67	ap2015
2017	110,508	11,789,359	.9%	75	64	139	795	95	570	75	ap2018
2020	120,211	13,000,171	.9%	84	64	148	812	100	604	77	ap2021
2022	122,600	13,261,000	.9%	89	64	153	801	101	850	76	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Innayya Chinna Addagatla † (Priest: 4 Jan 1965 to 17 Apr 1989)
Joseph-Alphonse Baud, M.S.F.S. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 23 Dec 1941; Bishop: 22 Mar 1947 to 4 Oct 1966)
Jean-Marie Clerc, M.S.F.S. † (Bishop: 19 Feb 1891 to 18 Jun 1926)
Ignatius Gopu, M.S.F.S. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 10 Dec 1963; Bishop: 4 Oct 1966 to 2 Aug 1981)
Kagithapu Mariadas, M.S.F.S. † (Bishop: 10 Sep 1982; Archbishop: 16 Oct 2001 to 3 Jul 2012)
John Mulagada † (Priest: 4 Jan 1965 to 9 Dec 1976)
Sébastin-Théophille Neyret, M.S.F.S. † (Vicar Apostolic: 31 Mar 1848 to 5 Nov 1862)
Jules-François Philippe, M.S.F.S. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 24 Aug 1886 to 27 Sep 1890)
Pierre Rossillon, M.S.F.S. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 22 Aug 1918; Bishop: 18 Jun 1926 to 22 Mar 1947)
Jean-Marie Tissot, M.S.F.S. † (Pro-Vicar Apostolic: 1852; Vicar Apostolic: 11 Aug 1863; Bishop: 25 Nov 1886 to 27 Sep 1890)