San Cristóbal de Venezuela (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Lisandro Alirio Rivas Durán, I.M.C., Bishop
Juan Alberto Ayala Ramírez, Auxiliary Bishop
Mario del Valle Moronta Rodríguez, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 12 October 1922
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mérida
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Venezuela
Square Kilometers: 11,100 (4,287 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://diocesisdesancristobal.online
Mailing Address: Opisbado, Calle 3 con Carrera 3, 5001 San Cristobal, Edo. Tachira, Venezuela
Telephone: (0276)343.77.18
Fax: 341.73.18

Past and Present Ordinaries

Tomás Antonio Sanmiguel Díaz † (22 Jun 1923 Appointed - 6 Jul 1937 Died)
Rafael Ignacio Arias Blanco † (12 Nov 1939 Appointed - 23 Apr 1952 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Caracas, Santiago de Venezuela)
Alejandro Fernández Feo-Tinoco † (23 Apr 1952 Appointed - 26 Oct 1984 Retired)
Marco Tulio Ramírez Roa † (26 Oct 1984 Appointed - 26 Feb 1998 Died)
Mario del Valle Moronta Rodríguez (14 Apr 1999 Appointed - 31 Oct 2024 Retired)
Lisandro Alirio Rivas Durán, I.M.C. (31 Oct 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
12 October 1922	Erected	Diocese of Mérida (Civil state of Tachira and part of Apure (Paez))	Diocese of San Cristóbal de Venezuela (erected)
11 June 1923	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of San Cristóbal de Venezuela (from Caracas, Santiago de Venezuela)
7 June 1954	Territory Lost	Diocese of Calabozo (Achaguas, Muñoz, and San Fernando) Diocese of San Cristóbal de Venezuela (Páez)	Territorial Prelature of San Fernando de Apure (erected)

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

1950 278,000 280,000 99.3% 42 30 72 3,861 47 126 33 ap1951

1966 499,000 500,000 99.8% 56 47 103 4,844 59 268 45 ap1967

1970 510,487 .0% 60 4 64 0 4 47 ap1971

1976 562,799 564,799 99.6% 67 51 118 4,769 56 246 50 ap1977

1980 620,000 624,000 99.4% 61 44 105 5,904 49 264 51 ap1981

1990 720,000 750,000 96.0% 66 37 103 6,990 69 265 56 ap1991

1999 951,000 1,100,000 86.5% 121 44 165 5,763 94 305 76 ap2000

2000 1,250,000 1,400,000 89.3% 120 43 163 7,668 60 263 75 ap2001

2001 1,400,000 1,500,000 93.3% 125 44 169 8,284 96 260 75 ap2002

2002 1,400,000 1,500,000 93.3% 131 43 174 8,045 83 270 77 ap2003

2003 1,400,000 1,500,000 93.3% 153 47 200 7,000 94 270 81 ap2004

2004 1,250,000 1,500,000 83.3% 141 38 179 6,983 105 226 81 ap2005

2010 1,350,000 1,618,000 83.4% 148 47 195 6,923 140 217 86 ap2011

2014 1,434,000 1,720,000 83.4% 173 40 213 6,732 85 215 87 ap2015

2017 1,540,300 1,672,000 92.1% 172 28 200 7,701 104 230 90 ap2018

2020 1,599,500 1,736,260 92.1% 183 28 211 7,580 105 230 92 ap2021

2022 1,639,000 1,779,000 92.1% 165 28 193 8,492 89 230 93 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	278,000	280,000	99.3%	42	30	72	3,861	47	126	33	ap1951
1966	499,000	500,000	99.8%	56	47	103	4,844	59	268	45	ap1967
1970		510,487	.0%	60	4	64	0	4		47	ap1971
1976	562,799	564,799	99.6%	67	51	118	4,769	56	246	50	ap1977
1980	620,000	624,000	99.4%	61	44	105	5,904	49	264	51	ap1981
1990	720,000	750,000	96.0%	66	37	103	6,990	69	265	56	ap1991
1999	951,000	1,100,000	86.5%	121	44	165	5,763	94	305	76	ap2000
2000	1,250,000	1,400,000	89.3%	120	43	163	7,668	60	263	75	ap2001
2001	1,400,000	1,500,000	93.3%	125	44	169	8,284	96	260	75	ap2002
2002	1,400,000	1,500,000	93.3%	131	43	174	8,045	83	270	77	ap2003
2003	1,400,000	1,500,000	93.3%	153	47	200	7,000	94	270	81	ap2004
2004	1,250,000	1,500,000	83.3%	141	38	179	6,983	105	226	81	ap2005
2010	1,350,000	1,618,000	83.4%	148	47	195	6,923	140	217	86	ap2011
2014	1,434,000	1,720,000	83.4%	173	40	213	6,732	85	215	87	ap2015
2017	1,540,300	1,672,000	92.1%	172	28	200	7,701	104	230	90	ap2018
2020	1,599,500	1,736,260	92.1%	183	28	211	7,580	105	230	92	ap2021
2022	1,639,000	1,779,000	92.1%	165	28	193	8,492	89	230	93	ap2023