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

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Tomás Jesús Zárraga Colmenares, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 16 May 1972
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Valencia en Venezuela
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Venezuela
Square Kilometers: 14,800 (5,716 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Calle Carabobo con Calle Madariaga 11-10, 2201 San Carlos, Edo. Cojedes, Venezuela
Telephone: (0258)4332.574
Fax: 4337.666

Past and Present Ordinaries

Medardo Luis Luzardo Romero † (16 May 1972 Appointed - 20 Aug 1979 Appointed, Bishop of Ciudad Guayana)
Antonio Arellano Durán † (3 Jun 1980 Appointed - 27 Dec 2002 Retired)
Tomás Jesús Zárraga Colmenares (27 Dec 2002 Appointed - 10 Nov 2014 Resigned)
Polito Rodríguez Méndez (8 Apr 2016 Appointed - 28 Jun 2024 Appointed, Archbishop of Barquisimeto)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
16 May 1972	Erected	Diocese of Valencia en Venezuela (Estado, Cojedes)	Diocese of San Carlos de Venezuela (erected)

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

1976 92,414 94,351 97.9% 6 4 10 9,241 5 5 10 ap1977

1980 117,000 119,973 97.5% 9 5 14 8,357 6 4 10 ap1981

1990 182,340 185,415 98.3% 12 4 16 11,396 1 6 17 12 ap1991

1999 245,321 256,923 95.5% 14 7 21 11,681 13 17 16 ap2000

2000 248,310 259,426 95.7% 14 12 26 9,550 13 24 17 ap2001

2001 255,303 265,837 96.0% 15 12 27 9,455 13 25 17 ap2002

2003 346,086 368,176 94.0% 29 29 11,934 38 21 ap2004

2004 258,090 268,654 96.1% 12 11 23 11,221 12 16 19 ap2005

2010 305,000 314,000 97.1% 17 10 27 11,296 1 11 25 19 ap2011

2014 325,000 334,000 97.3% 12 10 22 14,772 2 14 20 19 ap2015

2017 333,000 348,000 95.7% 18 10 28 11,892 10 15 22 19 ap2018

2020 345,240 361,320 95.5% 22 9 31 11,136 6 9 16 20 ap2021

2022 354,000 370,000 95.7% 18 8 26 13,615 6 8 10 22 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1976	92,414	94,351	97.9%	6	4	10	9,241		5	5	10	ap1977
1980	117,000	119,973	97.5%	9	5	14	8,357		6	4	10	ap1981
1990	182,340	185,415	98.3%	12	4	16	11,396	1	6	17	12	ap1991
1999	245,321	256,923	95.5%	14	7	21	11,681		13	17	16	ap2000
2000	248,310	259,426	95.7%	14	12	26	9,550		13	24	17	ap2001
2001	255,303	265,837	96.0%	15	12	27	9,455		13	25	17	ap2002
2003	346,086	368,176	94.0%	29		29	11,934			38	21	ap2004
2004	258,090	268,654	96.1%	12	11	23	11,221		12	16	19	ap2005
2010	305,000	314,000	97.1%	17	10	27	11,296	1	11	25	19	ap2011
2014	325,000	334,000	97.3%	12	10	22	14,772	2	14	20	19	ap2015
2017	333,000	348,000	95.7%	18	10	28	11,892	10	15	22	19	ap2018
2020	345,240	361,320	95.5%	22	9	31	11,136	6	9	16	20	ap2021
2022	354,000	370,000	95.7%	18	8	26	13,615	6	8	10	22	ap2023