Porto Velho (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Roque Paloschi, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 4 October 1982
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Rondonia
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 84,696 (32,713 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Noroeste
Official Web Site: http://arquidiocesedeportovelho.org.br/
Mailing Address: Av. Carlos Gomes 964, 76801-147 Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
Telephone: (069)3221-2270

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho
- Latin Name: Portus Veteris
- Erected: 1 May 1925
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Manaus
- State: Rondonia
- Country: Brazil
Diocese of Porto Velho
- Latin Name: Portus Veteris
- Elevated: 16 October 1979
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Manaus
- State: Rondonia
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

João Batista Costa, S.D.B. † (1 Oct 1946 Appointed - 9 Jun 1982 Retired)
José Martins da Silva, S.D.N. † (4 Oct 1982 Appointed - 3 Sep 1997 Resigned)
Moacyr Grechi, O.S.M. † (29 Jul 1998 Appointed - 30 Nov 2011 Retired)
Esmeraldo Barreto de Farias, Ist. del Prado (30 Nov 2011 Appointed - 18 Mar 2015 Appointed, Auxiliary Bishop of São Luís do Maranhão)
Roque Paloschi (14 Oct 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho
1 May 1925	Erected	Diocese of Amazonas (Eumaytà and Porto Velho) Diocese of São Luíz de Cáceres (San Antonio de Madeira)	Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho (erected)
1 March 1929	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho Diocese of São Luíz de Cáceres	Territorial Prelature of Guajará-Mirim (erected) (Guaporé and Mamoré in Matto Grosso)
16 February 1952	Metropolitan Changed		Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho (from Belém do Pará)
26 June 1961	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Manaus (City of Manicoré) Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho (City of Humaitá)	Territorial Prelature of Humaitá (erected)
3 January 1978	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of Guajará-Mirim (Area bounded by the rivers Juruena, Cabaxi, Guaporé, and Galera) Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho (Vila Rondônia, Cacoal (formerly called New Caledonia), Iarú, Ouro Preto, Pimenta Bueno, and Vilhena)	Territorial Prelature of Vila Rondônia (erected)
Diocese of Porto Velho
16 October 1979	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho	Diocese of Porto Velho
15 April 1982	Territory Added		Diocese of Porto Velho (Porto Velho and Ariquemes)
Archdiocese of Porto Velho
4 October 1982	Elevated	Diocese of Porto Velho	Archdiocese of Porto Velho

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

Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho

1949 45,000 100,000 45.0% 10 10 4,500 15 26 2 ap1951

1966 240,000 250,000 96.0% 14 14 17,142 4 26 4 ap1967

1970 180,000 180,000 100.0% 5 ap1971

1976 291,000 300,000 97.0% 3 20 23 12,652 23 24 10 ap1977

Diocese of Porto Velho

1980 177,000 185,400 95.5% 3 17 20 8,850 22 29 17 ap1981

Archdiocese of Porto Velho

1990 212,000 221,000 95.9% 10 24 34 6,235 1 29 46 22 ap1991

1999 432,970 463,950 93.3% 10 33 43 10,069 2 85 63 27 ap2000

2000 598,000 664,958 89.9% 7 22 29 20,620 1 65 63 28 ap2004

2013 464,000 680,000 68.2% 13 31 44 10,545 79 86 26 ap2014

2016 475,900 697,700 68.2% 8 26 34 13,997 48 72 28 ap2017

2019 463,489 835,858 55.5% 15 26 41 11,304 32 75 26 ap2020

2021 416,413 867,882 48.0% 14 29 43 9,684 43 70 30 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho
1949	45,000	100,000	45.0%		10	10	4,500		15	26	2	ap1951
1966	240,000	250,000	96.0%		14	14	17,142		4	26	4	ap1967
1970	180,000	180,000	100.0%								5	ap1971
1976	291,000	300,000	97.0%	3	20	23	12,652		23	24	10	ap1977
Diocese of Porto Velho
1980	177,000	185,400	95.5%	3	17	20	8,850		22	29	17	ap1981
Archdiocese of Porto Velho
1990	212,000	221,000	95.9%	10	24	34	6,235	1	29	46	22	ap1991
1999	432,970	463,950	93.3%	10	33	43	10,069	2	85	63	27	ap2000
2000	598,000	664,958	89.9%	7	22	29	20,620	1	65	63	28	ap2004
2013	464,000	680,000	68.2%	13	31	44	10,545		79	86	26	ap2014
2016	475,900	697,700	68.2%	8	26	34	13,997		48	72	28	ap2017
2019	463,489	835,858	55.5%	15	26	41	11,304		32	75	26	ap2020
2021	416,413	867,882	48.0%	14	29	43	9,684		43	70	30	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

João Batista Costa, S.D.B. † (Prelate: 1 Oct 1946; Bishop: 4 Dec 1979 to 9 Jun 1982)
Moacyr Grechi, O.S.M. † (Archbishop: 29 Jul 1998 to 30 Nov 2011)
José Martins da Silva, S.D.N. † (Archbishop: 4 Oct 1982 to 3 Sep 1997)
Pedro Massa, S.D.B. † (Apostolic Administrator: 25 Jul 1925 to 1 Oct 1946)
Antônio Sarto, S.D.B. † (Coadjutor Prelate: 18 May 1971; Coadjutor Bishop: 16 Oct 1979 to 25 Mar 1982)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 17, Page 564, to Page 566
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 606, to Page 608
Diocese of Porto Velho
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 71, Page 1,504, and Page 1,505
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 74, Page 725, and Page 726
Archdiocese of Porto Velho
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 75, Page 9, and Page 10
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 94, Page 354

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