Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Ángel Antonio Recinos Lemus, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 24 June 1986
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santiago de Guatemala
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Guatemala
Square Kilometers: 5,598 (2,162 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesisdezacapa.org/
Basilica de Esquipulas: http://basilicadeesquipulas.org/
Mailing Address: Casa Episcopal, 3a Calle 3-07, Zona 1, 19001 Zacapa, Guatemala; Basilica de Esquipulas, 20007 Esquípulas, Depto. Chiquimula, Guatemala
Telephone: 7941.60.82; 7720.7050

Historical Details

Diocese of Zacapa
- Latin Name: Zacapensis
- Erected: 10 March 1951
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Guatemala
- Country: Guatemala

Past and Present Ordinaries

Costantino Cristiano Luna Pianegonda, O.F.M. † (30 Nov 1955 Appointed - 16 Feb 1980 Resigned)
Rodolfo Quezada Toruño † (16 Feb 1980 Succeeded - 19 Jun 2001 Appointed, Archbishop of Guatemala)
José Aníbal Casasola Sosa † (13 May 2004 Appointed - 27 Apr 2007 Died)
Rosolino Bianchetti Boffelli (20 Nov 2008 Appointed - 14 Sep 2012 Appointed, Bishop of Quiché)
Ángel Antonio Recinos Lemus (22 Feb 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Zacapa
10 March 1951	Erected	Archdiocese of Guatemala (Zacapa, Chiquimula, and Izabal)	Diocese of Zacapa (erected)
16 September 1956	Territory Lost	Diocese of Zacapa (Esquipulas)	Territorial Prelature of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas (erected)
30 April 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Zacapa (Izabal)	Apostolic Administration of Izabal (erected)
Diocese of Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas
24 June 1986	Name Changed	Territorial Prelature of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas Diocese of Zacapa	Diocese of Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas

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 Zacapa

1966 450,000 500,000 90.0% 6 28 34 13,235 13 34 20 ap1967

1970 233,500 250,025 93.4% 14 14 28 8,339 1 20 55 14 ap1971

1976 233,500 264,972 88.1% 12 13 25 9,340 2 25 34 15 ap1977

1980 251,600 284,500 88.4% 12 12 24 10,483 2 19 39 18 ap1981

Diocese of Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas

1990 343,000 390,500 87.8% 10 12 22 15,590 2 23 45 20 ap1991

1999 408,000 480,000 85.0% 17 10 27 15,111 1 23 47 22 ap2000

2000 419,400 493,400 85.0% 23 10 33 12,709 1 24 48 25 ap2001

2001 438,000 516,000 84.9% 26 10 36 12,166 1 18 49 25 ap2002

2002 408,000 480,000 85.0% 21 11 32 12,750 1 12 47 23 ap2003

2003 442,200 535,000 82.7% 18 23 41 10,785 1 44 59 29 ap2004

2004 436,000 547,000 79.7% 16 18 34 12,823 1 38 47 28 ap2005

2010 514,000 617,500 83.2% 24 16 40 12,850 1 34 67 24 ap2011

2014 528,000 613,000 86.1% 22 10 32 16,500 1 16 52 23 ap2015

2017 575,982 758,481 75.9% 28 21 49 11,754 57 51 28 ap2018

2020 617,710 810,775 76.2% 28 20 48 12,868 40 90 30 ap2021

2022 604,900 841,200 71.9% 23 19 42 14,402 39 91 35 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 Zacapa
1966	450,000	500,000	90.0%	6	28	34	13,235		13	34	20	ap1967
1970	233,500	250,025	93.4%	14	14	28	8,339	1	20	55	14	ap1971
1976	233,500	264,972	88.1%	12	13	25	9,340	2	25	34	15	ap1977
1980	251,600	284,500	88.4%	12	12	24	10,483	2	19	39	18	ap1981
Diocese of Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas
1990	343,000	390,500	87.8%	10	12	22	15,590	2	23	45	20	ap1991
1999	408,000	480,000	85.0%	17	10	27	15,111	1	23	47	22	ap2000
2000	419,400	493,400	85.0%	23	10	33	12,709	1	24	48	25	ap2001
2001	438,000	516,000	84.9%	26	10	36	12,166	1	18	49	25	ap2002
2002	408,000	480,000	85.0%	21	11	32	12,750	1	12	47	23	ap2003
2003	442,200	535,000	82.7%	18	23	41	10,785	1	44	59	29	ap2004
2004	436,000	547,000	79.7%	16	18	34	12,823	1	38	47	28	ap2005
2010	514,000	617,500	83.2%	24	16	40	12,850	1	34	67	24	ap2011
2014	528,000	613,000	86.1%	22	10	32	16,500	1	16	52	23	ap2015
2017	575,982	758,481	75.9%	28	21	49	11,754		57	51	28	ap2018
2020	617,710	810,775	76.2%	28	20	48	12,868		40	90	30	ap2021
2022	604,900	841,200	71.9%	23	19	42	14,402		39	91	35	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Rosolino Bianchetti Boffelli (Bishop: 20 Nov 2008 to 14 Sep 2012)
Domingo Buezo Leiva (Priest: 25 Nov 1988 to 9 Feb 2013)
Ángel Antonio Recinos Lemus (Bishop: 22 Feb 2016 - )
Bernabé de Jesús Sagastume Lemus, O.F.M. Cap.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

José Aníbal Casasola Sosa † (Priest: 5 Nov 1977; Apostolic Administrator: 25 Jul 2001; Bishop: 13 May 2004 to 27 Apr 2007)
Costantino Cristiano Luna Pianegonda, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 30 Nov 1955 to 16 Feb 1980)
Rodolfo Quezada Toruño † (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Apr 1972; Coadjutor Bishop: 11 Sep 1975; Bishop: 16 Feb 1980 to 19 Jun 2001)

Source(s)

Diocese of Zacapa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 537, to Page 541
Diocese of Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 78, Page 1,209, and Page 1,210

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Diocese of Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas

Dioecesis Zacapensis y de Esquipulas