Illapel (Territorial Prelature) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Julio Esteban Larrondo Yáñez, Prelate
Rafael de la Barra Tagle, S.V.D., Prelate Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Territorial Prelature
Erected: 30 April 1960
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of La Serena
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Chile
Square Kilometers: 10,080 (3,893 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.iglesia.cl/illapel/
Mailing Address: Calle Constitucion 20, Illapel, IV Region de Coquimbo, Chile
Telephone: (53)252.11.43

Past and Present Ordinaries

Cirilo Polidoro Van Vlierberghe, O.F.M. † (27 Jun 1966 Appointed - 11 Aug 1984 Retired)
Pablo Lizama Riquelme (19 Dec 1985 Appointed - 24 Feb 1988 Appointed, Auxiliary Bishop of Talca)
Rafael de la Barra Tagle, S.V.D. (17 Jun 1989 Appointed - 20 Feb 2010 Retired)
Jorge Patricio Vega Velasco, S.V.D. (20 Feb 2010 Appointed - 8 Jun 2021 Appointed, Bishop of Valparaíso)
Julio Esteban Larrondo Yáñez (12 Dec 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
30 April 1960	Erected	Archdiocese of La Serena Diocese of San Felipe	Territorial Prelature of Illapel (erected)

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

1965 68,000 73,000 93.2% 5 8 13 5,230 10 34 10 ap1967

1968 81,000 90,000 90.0% 9 8 17 4,764 1 10 44 10 ap1971

1976 70,000 75,000 93.3% 8 7 15 4,666 1 10 34 12 ap1977

1980 69,000 73,400 94.0% 9 6 15 4,600 1 9 31 13 ap1981

1990 75,465 85,756 88.0% 14 3 17 4,439 1 4 25 11 ap1991

1999 78,000 82,000 95.1% 15 7 22 3,545 9 31 12 ap2000

2000 78,000 82,000 95.1% 15 7 22 3,545 8 31 12 ap2001

2001 78,000 82,000 95.1% 14 5 19 4,105 6 33 12 ap2002

2002 78,000 82,000 95.1% 13 6 19 4,105 7 36 12 ap2003

2003 78,000 82,000 95.1% 12 6 18 4,333 7 39 12 ap2004

2004 78,000 82,000 95.1% 13 6 19 4,105 7 39 12 ap2005

2013 85,400 89,400 95.5% 13 9 22 3,881 9 19 12 ap2014

2016 67,299 85,084 79.1% 9 10 19 3,542 11 18 12 ap2017

2019 65,600 82,400 79.6% 9 5 14 4,685 7 17 12 ap2020

2021 67,580 84,950 79.6% 8 4 12 5,631 6 14 12 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1965	68,000	73,000	93.2%	5	8	13	5,230		10	34	10	ap1967
1968	81,000	90,000	90.0%	9	8	17	4,764	1	10	44	10	ap1971
1976	70,000	75,000	93.3%	8	7	15	4,666	1	10	34	12	ap1977
1980	69,000	73,400	94.0%	9	6	15	4,600	1	9	31	13	ap1981
1990	75,465	85,756	88.0%	14	3	17	4,439	1	4	25	11	ap1991
1999	78,000	82,000	95.1%	15	7	22	3,545		9	31	12	ap2000
2000	78,000	82,000	95.1%	15	7	22	3,545		8	31	12	ap2001
2001	78,000	82,000	95.1%	14	5	19	4,105		6	33	12	ap2002
2002	78,000	82,000	95.1%	13	6	19	4,105		7	36	12	ap2003
2003	78,000	82,000	95.1%	12	6	18	4,333		7	39	12	ap2004
2004	78,000	82,000	95.1%	13	6	19	4,105		7	39	12	ap2005
2013	85,400	89,400	95.5%	13	9	22	3,881		9	19	12	ap2014
2016	67,299	85,084	79.1%	9	10	19	3,542		11	18	12	ap2017
2019	65,600	82,400	79.6%	9	5	14	4,685		7	17	12	ap2020
2021	67,580	84,950	79.6%	8	4	12	5,631		6	14	12	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Rafael de la Barra Tagle, S.V.D. (Prelate: 17 Jun 1989 to 20 Feb 2010)
Julio Esteban Larrondo Yáñez (Prelate: 12 Dec 2023 - )
Pablo Lizama Riquelme (Prelate: 19 Dec 1985 to 24 Feb 1988)
Jorge Patricio Vega Velasco, S.V.D. (Prelate: 20 Feb 2010 to 8 Jun 2021)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Manuel José Bernardino Piñera Carvallo † (Apostolic Administrator: 11 Aug 1984 to 9 Mar 1986)
Cirilo Polidoro Van Vlierberghe, O.F.M. † (Apostolic Administrator: 18 Mar 1961; Prelate: 27 Jun 1966 to 11 Aug 1984)

Territorial Prelature of Illapel