Archdiocese of Cali

Archidioecesis Caliensis

Bishop(s)

Luis Fernando Rodríguez Velásquez, Archbishop
Darío de Jesús Monsalve Mejía, Archbishop Emeritus

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: 2,504 (967 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://arquicali.org
Mailing Address: Curia Arzobispal, Carrera 4 N. 7-17, Apartado 8924, Cali, Colombia
Telephone: (2)889.05.62
Fax: 883.79.80

Historical Details

Diocese of Cali
- Latin Name: Caliensis
- Erected: 7 June 1910
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Popayán
- Country: Colombia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Heladio Posidio Perlaza Ramírez † (11 Aug 1911 Appointed - 28 Sep 1926 Retired)
Luis Adriano Díaz Melo † (13 Apr 1927 Appointed - 13 Nov 1947 Retired)
Julio Caicedo Téllez, S.D.B. † (23 Feb 1948 Appointed - 24 Sep 1958 Died)
Francisco Gallego Pérez † (18 Dec 1958 Appointed - 21 May 1960 Died)
Alberto Uribe Urdaneta † (13 Jul 1960 Appointed - 7 Feb 1985 Resigned)
Pedro Rubiano Sàenz † (7 Feb 1985 Succeeded - 27 Dec 1994 Appointed, Archbishop of Bogotá)
Isaías Duarte Cancino † (19 Aug 1995 Appointed - 16 Mar 2002 Died)
Juan Francisco Sarasti Jaramillo, C.I.M. † (17 Aug 2002 Appointed - 18 May 2011 Resigned)
Darío de Jesús Monsalve Mejía (18 May 2011 Succeeded - 8 Dec 2022 Retired)
Luis Fernando Rodríguez Velásquez (8 Dec 2022 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Cali
7 June 1910	Erected	Archdiocese of Popayán	Diocese of Cali (erected)
11 June 1920	Territory Added	Diocese of Manizales (Alcalá (La Balsa))	Diocese of Cali
1 May 1927	Territory Lost	Diocese of Cali Diocese of Pasto	Prefecture Apostolic of Tumaco (erected) (Tumaco, Barbacoas, Iscuandé, Ricaurte, Guapi, and Puerto Merizalde)
14 November 1952	Territory Lost	Diocese of Cali Prefecture Apostolic of Tumaco	Vicariate Apostolic of Buenaventura (erected) (Buenaventura)
17 December 1952	Territory Lost	Diocese of Cali (Buga, San Pedro, Tuluá, Andalucía, Bugalagrande, Sevilla, and Caicedonia) Archdiocese of Popayán (Florida, Candelaria, Pradera, Palmira, Cerrito, Guacarí, and Ginebra)	Diocese of Palmira (erected)
21 May 1954	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Popayán (Part of Robles in El Valle)	Diocese of Cali
16 March 1962	Territory Lost	Diocese of Cali (El Águila, La Maria, Ansermanuevo, EI Cairo, Alban, Nuestra S.ra de la Pobreza and San Jorge existing in the city called Cartago, Zaragoza, Ulloa, Alcalá, Toro, San Francisco, Algeria, Obando, Versalles, La Unión, La Victoria, Roldanillo, El Dovio, ...)	Diocese of Cartago (erected)
Archdiocese of Cali
20 June 1964	Elevated	Diocese of Cali	Archdiocese of Cali
29 June 1966	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Cali (Trujillo and Riofrio) Diocese of Palmira (Guacari, Buga, San Pedro, Tuluá, Andalucía, Bugalagrande, Sevilla, and Caicedonia)	Diocese of Buga (erected)
29 June 1966	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Cali (Darien, Yotoco, Restrepo, and Vijes)	Diocese of Palmira

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 Cali

1950 809,382 821,408 98.5% 75 123 198 4,087 173 792 49 ap1951

1958 894,891 906,891 98.7% 91 98 189 4,734 167 682 55 ap1960

Archdiocese of Cali

1966 1,235,000 1,250,000 98.8% 94 105 199 6,206 135 993 66 ap1967

1970 895,000 980,000 91.3% 85 105 190 4,710 150 1,000 57 ap1971

1976 1,190,000 1,235,500 96.3% 98 135 233 5,107 179 1,014 52 ap1977

1980 1,197,000 1,296,000 92.4% 88 93 181 6,613 134 859 74 ap1981

1990 1,667,703 1,900,000 87.8% 113 85 198 8,422 9 105 1,025 91 ap1991

1999 1,981,780 2,158,000 91.8% 146 130 276 7,180 15 158 1,010 128 ap2000

2000 1,982,000 2,294,699 86.4% 146 130 276 7,181 15 158 1,020 127 ap2001

2001 1,982,220 2,431,390 81.5% 167 130 297 6,674 17 171 814 131 ap2002

2002 1,982,390 2,431,390 81.5% 154 14 168 11,799 17 181 814 136 ap2003

2003 1,924,618 2,264,256 85.0% 142 146 288 6,682 17 188 781 138 ap2004

2004 2,086,297 2,454,297 85.0% 163 152 315 6,623 17 195 790 138 ap2005

2006 2,215,000 2,606,000 85.0% 170 139 309 7,168 17 188 803 138 ap2007

2013 2,397,000 2,821,000 85.0% 216 189 405 5,918 16 247 797 155 ap2014

2016 2,256,232 2,654,391 85.0% 230 138 368 6,131 14 175 630 172 ap2017

2019 2,331,485 2,742,924 85.0% 236 169 405 5,756 37 239 605 177 ap2020

2021 2,431,800 2,863,000 84.9% 263 177 440 5,526 44 251 605 182 ap2022

2023 2,488,000 2,929,000 84.9% 249 117 366 6,797 53 158 566 185 ap2024

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 Cali
1950	809,382	821,408	98.5%	75	123	198	4,087		173	792	49	ap1951
1958	894,891	906,891	98.7%	91	98	189	4,734		167	682	55	ap1960
Archdiocese of Cali
1966	1,235,000	1,250,000	98.8%	94	105	199	6,206		135	993	66	ap1967
1970	895,000	980,000	91.3%	85	105	190	4,710		150	1,000	57	ap1971
1976	1,190,000	1,235,500	96.3%	98	135	233	5,107		179	1,014	52	ap1977
1980	1,197,000	1,296,000	92.4%	88	93	181	6,613		134	859	74	ap1981
1990	1,667,703	1,900,000	87.8%	113	85	198	8,422	9	105	1,025	91	ap1991
1999	1,981,780	2,158,000	91.8%	146	130	276	7,180	15	158	1,010	128	ap2000
2000	1,982,000	2,294,699	86.4%	146	130	276	7,181	15	158	1,020	127	ap2001
2001	1,982,220	2,431,390	81.5%	167	130	297	6,674	17	171	814	131	ap2002
2002	1,982,390	2,431,390	81.5%	154	14	168	11,799	17	181	814	136	ap2003
2003	1,924,618	2,264,256	85.0%	142	146	288	6,682	17	188	781	138	ap2004
2004	2,086,297	2,454,297	85.0%	163	152	315	6,623	17	195	790	138	ap2005
2006	2,215,000	2,606,000	85.0%	170	139	309	7,168	17	188	803	138	ap2007
2013	2,397,000	2,821,000	85.0%	216	189	405	5,918	16	247	797	155	ap2014
2016	2,256,232	2,654,391	85.0%	230	138	368	6,131	14	175	630	172	ap2017
2019	2,331,485	2,742,924	85.0%	236	169	405	5,756	37	239	605	177	ap2020
2021	2,431,800	2,863,000	84.9%	263	177	440	5,526	44	251	605	182	ap2022
2023	2,488,000	2,929,000	84.9%	249	117	366	6,797	53	158	566	185	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Alfonso Cabezas Aristizábal, C.M. (Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Apr 1988 to 13 May 1992)
Juan Carlos Cárdenas Toro (Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Jun 2015 to 1 Oct 2020)
José Alejandro Castaño Arbeláez, O.A.R. (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Nov 2006 to 21 Oct 2010)
Edgar de Jesús Garcia Gil (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Jul 1992 to 28 Oct 2002)
Julio Hernando García Peláez (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Feb 2005 to 5 Jun 2010)
Luis Madrid Merlano
Alexander Matiz Atencio (Priest: 25 Nov 1990 to 7 Dec 2024)
Darío de Jesús Monsalve Mejía (Coadjutor Archbishop: 3 Jun 2010; Archbishop: 18 May 2011 to 8 Dec 2022)
Wiston Mosquera Moreno (Priest: 19 Mar 2005 to 5 Jul 2024)
Julio Enrique Prado Bolaños (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Jul 1992 to 2 Feb 1995)
Gonzalo Restrepo Restrepo (Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Dec 2003 to 11 Jul 2006)
Luis Fernando Rodríguez Velásquez (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Jul 2014; Coadjutor Archbishop: 22 Apr 2022; Archbishop: 8 Dec 2022)
José Soleibe Arbeláez (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jul 1999 to 6 Dec 2002)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Augusto Aristizábal Ospina † (Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Jun 1969 to 29 Oct 1977)
Julio Caicedo Téllez, S.D.B. † (Bishop: 23 Feb 1948 to 24 Sep 1958)
Luis Adriano Díaz Melo † (Bishop: 13 Apr 1927 to 13 Nov 1947)
Isaías Duarte Cancino † (Archbishop: 19 Aug 1995 to 16 Mar 2002)
Héctor Epalza Quintero, P.S.S. † (Priest: 14 Jul 1965 to 30 Jan 1989)
José Daniel Falla Robles † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Apr 2009 to 29 Jun 2016)
Francisco Gallego Pérez † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1958 to 21 May 1960)
Héctor Luis Gutiérrez Pabón † (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Feb 1987 to 2 Feb 1998)
Miguel Antonio Medina y Medina † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Jul 1952 to 1959)
Heladio Posidio Perlaza Ramírez † (Bishop: 11 Aug 1911 to 28 Sep 1926)
Luis Adriano Piedrahíta Sandoval † (Priest: 29 Oct 1972; Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jul 1999 to 3 Jul 2007)
Pedro Rubiano Sàenz † (Priest: 8 Jul 1956 to 2 Jun 1971; Coadjutor Archbishop: 26 Mar 1983; Archbishop: 7 Feb 1985 to 27 Dec 1994)
Juan Francisco Sarasti Jaramillo, C.I.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Mar 1978 to 23 Dec 1983; Archbishop: 17 Aug 2002 to 18 May 2011)
Fernando Torres Durán † (Priest: 16 Jul 1960 to 29 Nov 1996)
Alberto Uribe Urdaneta † (Bishop: 13 Jul 1960; Archbishop: 20 Jun 1964 to 7 Feb 1985)

Source(s)

Diocese of Cali
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 2, Page 514
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 12, Page 296
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 508, and Page 509
Archdiocese of Cali
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 360, and Page 361

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