Río Gallegos (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Ignacio Damián Medina, Bishop
Fabián González Balsa, Auxiliary Bishop
Juan Carlos Romanin, S.D.B., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 10 April 1961
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Argentina
Square Kilometers: 265,214 (102,438 Square Miles)
Description: Regions of Santa Cruz and Gobernación de Tierra del Fuego
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesisriogallegos.org
Mailing Address: Obispado, Errazuriz 53, Z9400HYA Rio Gallegos, Santa Cruz, Argentina
Telephone: (02966)422-325
Fax: 426-183

Past and Present Ordinaries

Mauricio Eugenio Magliano, S.D.B. † (12 Jun 1961 Appointed - 31 May 1974 Died)
Miguel Angel Alemán Eslava, S.D.B. † (5 Apr 1975 Appointed - 11 Mar 1992 Died)
Alejandro Antonio Buccolini, S.D.B. † (11 Jul 1992 Appointed - 25 Oct 2005 Retired)
Juan Carlos Romanin, S.D.B. (25 Oct 2005 Appointed - 18 Apr 2012 Resigned)
Miguel Ángel D’Annibale † (21 Feb 2013 Appointed - 15 Jun 2018 Appointed, Bishop of San Martín)
Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva (3 Jan 2019 Appointed - 26 May 2023 Appointed, Archbishop of Buenos Aires)
Ignacio Damián Medina (11 Aug 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
10 April 1961	Erected	Diocese of Comodoro Rivadavia	Diocese of Río Gallegos (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 70,000 75,000 93.3% 38 38 1,842 48 61 13 ap1967

1970 85,000 95,000 89.5% 3 37 40 2,125 49 68 15 ap1971

1976 108,000 125,000 86.4% 1 34 35 3,085 40 84 21 ap1977

1980 124,500 138,700 89.8% 2 37 39 3,192 41 77 22 ap1981

1990 180,000 210,000 85.7% 8 39 47 3,829 1 42 69 27 ap1991

1999 210,000 248,046 84.7% 17 28 45 4,666 1 34 58 28 ap2000

2000 210,000 248,046 84.7% 18 29 47 4,468 1 33 57 28 ap2001

2001 210,000 248,046 84.7% 16 28 44 4,772 32 56 28 ap2002

2002 210,000 248,046 84.7% 16 24 40 5,250 30 61 28 ap2003

2003 200,000 300,000 66.7% 15 27 42 4,761 3 32 63 28 ap2004

2004 200,000 300,000 66.7% 18 26 44 4,545 5 28 60 28 ap2005

2010 212,000 303,000 70.0% 29 22 51 4,156 9 32 64 30 ap2011

2014 220,000 314,900 69.9% 26 22 48 4,583 11 34 64 34 ap2015

2017 226,400 324,400 69.8% 30 11 41 5,521 11 24 62 36 ap2018

2020 233,300 334,300 69.8% 27 12 39 5,982 18 16 39 42 ap2021

2022 238,000 340,000 70.0% 20 7 27 8,814 15 7 36 34 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1965	70,000	75,000	93.3%		38	38	1,842		48	61	13	ap1967
1970	85,000	95,000	89.5%	3	37	40	2,125		49	68	15	ap1971
1976	108,000	125,000	86.4%	1	34	35	3,085		40	84	21	ap1977
1980	124,500	138,700	89.8%	2	37	39	3,192		41	77	22	ap1981
1990	180,000	210,000	85.7%	8	39	47	3,829	1	42	69	27	ap1991
1999	210,000	248,046	84.7%	17	28	45	4,666	1	34	58	28	ap2000
2000	210,000	248,046	84.7%	18	29	47	4,468	1	33	57	28	ap2001
2001	210,000	248,046	84.7%	16	28	44	4,772		32	56	28	ap2002
2002	210,000	248,046	84.7%	16	24	40	5,250		30	61	28	ap2003
2003	200,000	300,000	66.7%	15	27	42	4,761	3	32	63	28	ap2004
2004	200,000	300,000	66.7%	18	26	44	4,545	5	28	60	28	ap2005
2010	212,000	303,000	70.0%	29	22	51	4,156	9	32	64	30	ap2011
2014	220,000	314,900	69.9%	26	22	48	4,583	11	34	64	34	ap2015
2017	226,400	324,400	69.8%	30	11	41	5,521	11	24	62	36	ap2018
2020	233,300	334,300	69.8%	27	12	39	5,982	18	16	39	42	ap2021
2022	238,000	340,000	70.0%	20	7	27	8,814	15	7	36	34	ap2023