Diocese of Franca

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Bishop(s) Caetano Ferrari, O.F.M., Bishop Diógenes da Silva Matthes, Bishop Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 20 February 1971 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Ribeirão Preto Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: Sao Paulo Country: Brazil Square Kilometers: 6,721 (2,595 Square Miles) Conference Region: Sul 1 Web Site: http://www.diocesefranca.org.br/ Mailing Address: C.P. 220, Rua Major Claudiano 1545, 14400-970 Franca, SP, Brazil Telephone: (016) 721-2294 Fax: 722-1717

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Diógenes da Silva Matthes (11 Mar 1971 Appointed - 29 Nov 2006 Retired)
• Caetano Ferrari, O.F.M. (29 Nov 2006 Succeeded - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
20 February 1971	Erected	Diocese of Rio Preto	Diocese of Franca (erected)

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1976	360,000	401,700	89.6%	10	25	35	10,285		30		23	ap1977
1977	205,000	335,000	61.2%	9	13	22	9,318		19	50	23	ap1981
1990	478,000	660,000	72.4%	14	19	33	14,484		61	56	31	ap1991
1999	865,000	988,000	87.6%	33	14	47	18,404		46	45	25	ap2000
2000	600,000	750,000	80.0%	34	13	47	12,765		50	45	26	ap2001
2001	600,000	750,000	80.0%	32	12	44	13,636		65	46	28	ap2002
2002	600,000	750,000	80.0%	36	14	50	12,000	11	62	46	28	ap2003
2003	600,000	750,000	80.0%	37	13	50	12,000	11	61	46	28	ap2004
2004	600,000	760,000	78.9%	40	16	56	10,714	10	51	44	28	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Diógenes da Silva Matthes (Bishop: 11 Mar 1971 to 29 Nov 2006)
• Caetano Ferrari, O.F.M. (Coadjutor Bishop: 24 Apr 2002; Bishop: 29 Nov 2006)
• Emílio Pignoli (Priest: 29 Jun 1957 to 29 Apr 1976)
• Ângelo Pignoli (Priest: 19 Mar 1976 to 3 Jan 2007)