Talca (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Galo Fernández Villaseca, Bishop
Horacio del Carmen Valenzuela Abarca, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Established: 1913
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Chile
Square Kilometers: 17,424 (6,730 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesisdetalca.cl
Mailing Address: 1 Poniente 1385, Casilla 7, Talca, Chile
Telephone: (71)261.61.54

Past and Present Ordinaries

Miguel León Prado † (12 Jun 1913 Appointed - 14 Dec 1925 Appointed, Bishop of Linares)
Carlos Silva Cotapos † (14 Dec 1925 Appointed - 21 Jan 1939 Resigned)
Manuel Larraín Errazuriz † (21 Jan 1939 Succeeded - 22 Jun 1966 Died)
Carlos González Cruchaga † (4 Jan 1967 Appointed - 12 Dec 1996 Retired)
Horacio del Carmen Valenzuela Abarca (12 Dec 1996 Appointed - 28 Jun 2018 Resigned)
Galo Fernández Villaseca (20 Mar 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
1913	Established		Diocese of Talca (as Territory to become a Diocese in the future)
18 October 1925	Erected	Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile (Talca and Guricó)	Diocese of Talca (erected)
30 April 1970	Territory Lost	Diocese of Talca (Sancta Cruz in Colchagua)	Diocese of Rancagua

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

1950 280,000 300,000 93.3% 51 60 111 2,522 80 154 39 ap1951

1966 380,000 410,000 92.7% 67 55 122 3,114 94 295 48 ap1967

1970 320,000 347,718 92.0% 52 41 93 3,440 41 262 40 ap1971

1976 420,000 500,000 84.0% 43 35 78 5,384 7 65 164 38 ap1977

1980 434,300 517,800 83.9% 28 35 63 6,893 15 72 165 38 ap1981

1990 498,000 539,000 92.4% 51 20 71 7,014 14 42 180 41 ap1991

1999 468,070 577,864 81.0% 60 22 82 5,708 22 45 240 42 ap2000

2000 474,154 585,376 81.0% 56 22 78 6,078 21 45 230 42 ap2001

2001 463,426 579,283 80.0% 47 24 71 6,527 21 44 227 42 ap2002

2002 458,402 580,256 79.0% 47 27 74 6,194 22 47 219 42 ap2003

2003 458,500 580,720 79.0% 46 21 67 6,843 24 40 232 42 ap2004

2004 462,950 586,520 78.9% 45 22 67 6,909 24 41 219 42 ap2005

2010 465,269 616,150 75.5% 48 14 62 7,504 30 29 198 45 ap2011

2014 457,953 641,270 71.4% 53 16 69 6,637 32 33 166 45 ap2015

2017 460,455 702,860 65.5% 47 16 63 7,308 36 36 144 45 ap2018

2020 464,306 708,929 65.5% 39 15 54 8,598 37 31 143 45 ap2021

2022 469,655 720,534 65.2% 39 13 52 9,031 38 29 122 46 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	280,000	300,000	93.3%	51	60	111	2,522		80	154	39	ap1951
1966	380,000	410,000	92.7%	67	55	122	3,114		94	295	48	ap1967
1970	320,000	347,718	92.0%	52	41	93	3,440		41	262	40	ap1971
1976	420,000	500,000	84.0%	43	35	78	5,384	7	65	164	38	ap1977
1980	434,300	517,800	83.9%	28	35	63	6,893	15	72	165	38	ap1981
1990	498,000	539,000	92.4%	51	20	71	7,014	14	42	180	41	ap1991
1999	468,070	577,864	81.0%	60	22	82	5,708	22	45	240	42	ap2000
2000	474,154	585,376	81.0%	56	22	78	6,078	21	45	230	42	ap2001
2001	463,426	579,283	80.0%	47	24	71	6,527	21	44	227	42	ap2002
2002	458,402	580,256	79.0%	47	27	74	6,194	22	47	219	42	ap2003
2003	458,500	580,720	79.0%	46	21	67	6,843	24	40	232	42	ap2004
2004	462,950	586,520	78.9%	45	22	67	6,909	24	41	219	42	ap2005
2010	465,269	616,150	75.5%	48	14	62	7,504	30	29	198	45	ap2011
2014	457,953	641,270	71.4%	53	16	69	6,637	32	33	166	45	ap2015
2017	460,455	702,860	65.5%	47	16	63	7,308	36	36	144	45	ap2018
2020	464,306	708,929	65.5%	39	15	54	8,598	37	31	143	45	ap2021
2022	469,655	720,534	65.2%	39	13	52	9,031	38	29	122	46	ap2023