Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte

Archidioecesis Bellohorizontinus

Bishop(s)

Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo, Archbishop
Wilson Luís Angotti Filho, Auxiliary Bishop
João Justino de Medeiros Silva, Auxiliary Bishop
Luis Gonzaga Féchio, Auxiliary Bishop
Joaquim Giovanni Mol Guimarães, Auxiliary Bishop
Serafim Fernandes de Araújo, Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus
Sebastião Roque Rabelo Mendes, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 1 February 1924
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Minas Gerais
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 7,240 (2,796 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Leste II
Official Web Site: http://www.arquidiocese-bh.org.br/
Mailing Address: Curia Metropoitana, Av. Brasil 2079, 30140-002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Telephone: (031)3269-3102
Fax: 3269-3149

Historical Details

Diocese of Belo Horizonte
- Latin Name: Bellohorizontinus
- Erected: 11 February 1921
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mariana
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antônio dos Santos Cabral † (21 Nov 1921 Appointed - 15 Nov 1967 Died)
João Resende (Rezende) Costa, S.D.B. † (15 Nov 1967 Succeeded - 5 Feb 1986 Retired)
Serafim Fernandes de Araújo (5 Feb 1986 Succeeded - 28 Jan 2004 Retired)
Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo (28 Jan 2004 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Belo Horizonte
11 February 1921	Erected	Archdiocese of Mariana	Diocese of Belo Horizonte (erected)
Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
1 February 1924	Elevated	Diocese of Belo Horizonte	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
20 December 1941	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte	Diocese of Oliveira (erected)
16 July 1955	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte Archdiocese of Diamantina	Diocese of Sete Lagoas (erected)
11 July 1958	Territory Lost	Diocese of Aterrado Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte	Diocese of Divinópolis (erected)

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

Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte

1950 900,000 .0% 135 90 225 0 98 ap1951

1958 794,209 .0% 108 155 263 0 155 968 78 ap1960

1965 1,200,000 1,300,000 92.3% 124 168 292 4,109 210 1,250 97 ap1967

1970 1,300,000 .0% 166 272 438 0 347 1,500 106 ap1971

1976 2,150,000 2,400,000 89.6% 145 229 374 5,748 324 1,400 116 ap1977

1980 2,070,000 2,300,000 90.0% 156 207 363 5,702 319 1,300 135 ap1981

1990 3,067,000 3,407,000 90.0% 194 264 458 6,696 475 1,130 177 ap1991

1999 2,950,720 3,934,294 75.0% 246 327 573 5,149 789 1,488 219 ap2000

2000 3,004,162 4,005,549 75.0% 265 309 574 5,233 820 1,497 223 ap2001

2001 3,149,862 4,199,816 75.0% 268 317 585 5,384 777 1,396 242 ap2002

2002 3,244,231 4,325,642 75.0% 255 293 548 5,920 795 1,508 242 ap2003

2003 3,290,315 4,387,087 75.0% 268 308 576 5,712 859 1,416 252 ap2004

2004 3,162,539 4,216,719 75.0% 275 297 572 5,528 920 1,332 257 ap2005

2006 3,535,715 4,715,083 75.0% 302 307 609 5,805 950 1,612 258 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
1950		900,000	.0%	135	90	225	0			98	ap1951
1958		794,209	.0%	108	155	263	0	155	968	78	ap1960
1965	1,200,000	1,300,000	92.3%	124	168	292	4,109	210	1,250	97	ap1967
1970		1,300,000	.0%	166	272	438	0	347	1,500	106	ap1971
1976	2,150,000	2,400,000	89.6%	145	229	374	5,748	324	1,400	116	ap1977
1980	2,070,000	2,300,000	90.0%	156	207	363	5,702	319	1,300	135	ap1981
1990	3,067,000	3,407,000	90.0%	194	264	458	6,696	475	1,130	177	ap1991
1999	2,950,720	3,934,294	75.0%	246	327	573	5,149	789	1,488	219	ap2000
2000	3,004,162	4,005,549	75.0%	265	309	574	5,233	820	1,497	223	ap2001
2001	3,149,862	4,199,816	75.0%	268	317	585	5,384	777	1,396	242	ap2002
2002	3,244,231	4,325,642	75.0%	255	293	548	5,920	795	1,508	242	ap2003
2003	3,290,315	4,387,087	75.0%	268	308	576	5,712	859	1,416	252	ap2004
2004	3,162,539	4,216,719	75.0%	275	297	572	5,528	920	1,332	257	ap2005
2006	3,535,715	4,715,083	75.0%	302	307	609	5,805	950	1,612	258	ap2007

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Wilson Luís Angotti Filho (Auxiliary Bishop: 4 May 2011)
João Justino de Medeiros Silva (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Dec 2011)
David Dias Pimentel (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Dec 1996 to 7 Feb 2001)
Luis Gonzaga Féchio (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jan 2011)
Serafim Fernandes de Araújo (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jan 1959; Coadjutor Archbishop: 22 Nov 1982; Archbishop: 5 Feb 1986 to 28 Jan 2004)
Joaquim Giovanni Mol Guimarães (Priest: 1992; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Feb 2006)
Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo (Archbishop: 28 Jan 2004 - )
Aloísio Jorge Pena Vitral (Priest: 18 Jan 1986; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Feb 2006 to 25 Nov 2009)
Sebastião Roque Rabelo Mendes (Auxiliary Bishop: 10 May 1989 to 15 Dec 2004)
Werner Franz Siebenbrock, S.V.D. (Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Oct 1988 to 9 Nov 1994)
Alberto Taveira Corrêa (Priest: 15 Aug 1973 to 24 Apr 1991)
Décio Zandonade, S.D.B. (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Dec 1996 to 14 May 2003)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Hugo Bressane de Araújo † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 3 Sep 1951 to 7 Oct 1954)
José Dalvit, F.S.C.J. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Oct 1973 to 17 Jan 1977)
Antônio dos Santos Cabral † (Bishop: 21 Nov 1921; Archbishop: 1 Feb 1924 to 15 Nov 1967)
Alexandre Gonçalves do Amaral † (Priest: 22 Sep 1929 to 5 Aug 1939)
Geraldo María de Morais Penido † (Priest: 4 Apr 1942; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Mar 1956 to 30 Nov 1957)
João Resende (Rezende) Costa, S.D.B. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 19 Jul 1957; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1967 to 5 Feb 1986)
Arnaldo Ribeiro † (Priest: 13 Mar 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Nov 1975 to 28 Dec 1988)