Neiva (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Marco Antonio Merchán Ladino, Bishop
Froilán Tiberio Casas Ortíz, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Split: 24 July 1972
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Ibagué
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Colombia
Square Kilometers: 10,523 (4,064 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesisdeneiva.org/
Mailing Address: Calle 8 N. 5-58, Neiva [Huila], Colombia
Telephone: (88)871.74.54
Fax: 871.30.11

Past and Present Ordinaries

Rafael Sarmiento Peralta † (24 Jul 1972 Appointed - 12 Jan 1985 Appointed, Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona)
Hernando Rojas Ramirez † (1 Jul 1985 Appointed - 19 Jan 2001 Retired)
Ramón Darío Molina Jaramillo, O.F.M. † (19 Jan 2001 Appointed - 4 Feb 2012 Retired)
Froilán Tiberio Casas Ortíz (4 Feb 2012 Appointed - 14 Apr 2023 Retired)
Marco Antonio Merchán Ladino (14 Apr 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
24 July 1972	Split	Diocese of Garzón-Neiva	Diocese of Garzón Diocese of Neiva (La Inmaculada, San José, Perpetuo Socorro, San Vicente de Paul, San Judas Tadeo, and San Antonio Maria Claret (all in Neiva); Aipe, Algeciras, Anaconia, Barava, Campoalegre, Colombia, El Gaguán, Hobo, Iquira, Palermo, Rivera, Santa Ana, Santa Maria, ...)
14 December 1974	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Neiva (from Popayán)

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

1976 251,500 260,500 96.5% 27 6 33 7,621 6 78 25 ap1977

1980 274,500 287,800 95.4% 30 14 44 6,238 14 60 27 ap1981

1990 369,000 380,522 97.0% 35 11 46 8,021 18 57 27 ap1991

1999 468,000 481,000 97.3% 50 9 59 7,932 13 57 37 ap2000

2000 380,000 400,000 95.0% 50 9 59 6,440 13 58 37 ap2001

2001 380,000 400,000 95.0% 53 9 62 6,129 13 57 38 ap2002

2002 386,000 406,000 95.1% 52 10 62 6,225 14 53 38 ap2003

2003 392,000 412,000 95.1% 52 14 66 5,939 16 56 48 ap2004

2004 409,126 430,000 95.1% 61 14 75 5,455 14 53 48 ap2005

2013 463,000 487,000 95.1% 64 22 86 5,383 28 65 60 ap2014

2016 478,000 503,000 95.0% 61 61 7,836 1 5 45 62 ap2017

2019 494,000 520,000 95.0% 71 18 89 5,550 22 32 63 ap2020

2021 512,200 539,400 95.0% 74 15 89 5,755 63 27 65 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1976	251,500	260,500	96.5%	27	6	33	7,621		6	78	25	ap1977
1980	274,500	287,800	95.4%	30	14	44	6,238		14	60	27	ap1981
1990	369,000	380,522	97.0%	35	11	46	8,021		18	57	27	ap1991
1999	468,000	481,000	97.3%	50	9	59	7,932		13	57	37	ap2000
2000	380,000	400,000	95.0%	50	9	59	6,440		13	58	37	ap2001
2001	380,000	400,000	95.0%	53	9	62	6,129		13	57	38	ap2002
2002	386,000	406,000	95.1%	52	10	62	6,225		14	53	38	ap2003
2003	392,000	412,000	95.1%	52	14	66	5,939		16	56	48	ap2004
2004	409,126	430,000	95.1%	61	14	75	5,455		14	53	48	ap2005
2013	463,000	487,000	95.1%	64	22	86	5,383		28	65	60	ap2014
2016	478,000	503,000	95.0%	61		61	7,836	1	5	45	62	ap2017
2019	494,000	520,000	95.0%	71	18	89	5,550		22	32	63	ap2020
2021	512,200	539,400	95.0%	74	15	89	5,755		63	27	65	ap2022