Orihuela-Alicante (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

José Ignacio Munilla Aguirre, Bishop
Jesús Murgui Soriano, Bishop Emeritus
Victorio Oliver Domingo, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 9 March 1959
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Valencia
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Spain
Square Kilometers: 4,384 (1,693 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesisoa.org/
Mailing Address: Calle Marco Oliver 5, 03009 Alicante, Espana
Telephone: 965.20.48.22
Fax: 965.21.57.73

Historical Details

Diocese of Orihuela
- Latin Name: Oriolensis
- Erected: 14 July 1564
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Valencia
- Country: Spain

Past and Present Ordinaries

Gregorio Antonio Gallo de Andrade † (22 Aug 1565 Appointed - 11 Sep 1577 Appointed, Bishop of Segovia)
Tomás Dacio (d’Anio) † (13 Jan 1578 Appointed - 19 May 1585 Died)
Cristóbal Robuster y Senmanat † (17 Aug 1587 Appointed - 9 Nov 1593 Resigned)
José (Giuseppe) Esteve Juan (Stefano) † (12 Jan 1594 Appointed - 2 Nov 1603 Died)
Andrés Balaguer Salvador, O.P. † (10 Nov 1604 Appointed - 11 Apr 1626 Died)
Bernardo Caballero Paredes † (22 Mar 1627 Appointed - 13 Aug 1635 Appointed, Bishop of Lérida)
Juan García Arlés † (7 Jan 1636 Appointed - 23 Mar 1644 Died)
Félix Guzmán, O.P. † (14 Nov 1644 Confirmed - 1 Mar 1646 Died)
Juan de Orta y Moreno † (19 Nov 1646 Appointed - 5 Nov 1650 Died)
Luis Crespi y Borja, C.O. † (28 Oct 1651 Confirmed - 2 Sep 1658 Confirmed, Bishop of Plasencia)
Pedro Olginat de Medicis, O. Carm. † (10 Mar 1659 Confirmed - 26 Apr 1659 Died)
Acacio March de Velasco, O.P. † (26 Jan 1660 Appointed - 27 May 1665 Died)
José Bergés † (1 Feb 1666 Appointed - 21 Jun 1678 Died)
Marcelo Marona, O.P. † ( 1678 Appointed - 20 Sep 1678 Died)
Antonio Sánchez del Castellar † (17 Jul 1679 Confirmed - 24 Aug 1700 Died)
José de la Torre Orumbela † (3 Oct 1701 Appointed - 6 Jan 1712 Died)
José Espejo y Cisneros † (28 May 1714 Confirmed - 2 Jul 1717 Appointed, Bishop of Calahorra y La Calzada)
Salvador Rodríguez Castelblanco, T.O.R. † (22 Nov 1717 Confirmed - 20 Jun 1727 Died)
José Flores Osorio † (22 Dec 1727 Appointed - 3 Mar 1738 Appointed, Bishop of Cuenca)
Juan Elías Gómez Terán † (5 May 1738 Appointed - 9 Oct 1758 Died)
Pedro Albornoz Tapia † (15 Dec 1760 Appointed - 22 Jan 1767 Died)
José Tormo Juliá † (1 Jun 1767 Appointed - 26 Nov 1790 Died)
Antonio Despuig y Dameto † (26 Sep 1791 Appointed - 1 Jun 1795 Confirmed, Archbishop of Valencia)
Francisco Javier Cabrera Velasco † (1 Jun 1795 Appointed - 24 Jul 1797 Appointed, Bishop of Ávila)
Francisco Antonio Cebrián y Valdá † (24 Jul 1797 Appointed - 7 Jul 1815 Resigned)
Simón López García, C.O. † (18 Dec 1815 Appointed - 27 Sep 1824 Confirmed, Archbishop of Valencia)
Félix Herrero Valverde † (27 Sep 1824 Confirmed - 29 Mar 1858 Died)
Pedro María Cubero López de Padilla † (27 Sep 1858 Appointed - 11 Nov 1881 Died)
Victoriano Guisasola y Rodríguez † (27 Mar 1882 Confirmed - 10 Jun 1886 Appointed, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela)
Juan Maura y Gelabert † (10 Jun 1886 Appointed - 24 Jan 1910 Died)
Ramón Plaza y Blanco † (18 Jul 1913 Appointed - 8 Nov 1921 Died)
Francisco Javier de Irastorza y Loinaz † (27 Jun 1922 Appointed - 29 Dec 1943 Died)
José García y Goldaraz † (10 Aug 1944 Appointed - 25 Aug 1953 Appointed, Archbishop of Valladolid)
Pablo Barrachina Estevan † (31 Mar 1954 Appointed - 12 May 1989 Retired)
Francisco Alvarez Martínez † (12 May 1989 Appointed - 23 Jun 1995 Appointed, Archbishop of Toledo)
Victorio Oliver Domingo (22 Feb 1996 Appointed - 26 Nov 2005 Retired)
Rafael Palmero Ramos † (26 Nov 2005 Appointed - 27 Jul 2012 Retired)
Jesús Murgui Soriano (27 Jul 2012 Appointed - 7 Dec 2021 Retired)
José Ignacio Munilla Aguirre (7 Dec 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Orihuela
14 July 1564	Erected	Diocese of Cartagena (en España)	Diocese of Orihuela (erected)
2 November 1949	Territory Lost	Diocese of Cartagena (en España) (Albacete, Almansa, Casa Ibamez, Chinchilla, Ellin, Gorquera, and Teste) Diocese of Cuenca (La Boda (La Roda, Fuensanta. Madrigueras, Minaya, Gasas de Roldan, Montalvos, Tarazona de la Mancha, and Villalgordo del Jucar)) Diocese of Orihuela (Gaudete)	Diocese of Albacete (erected)
14 March 1954	Territory Added	Diocese of Cartagena (en España) (Santiago de Villena, S. Maria de Villena, and Sax along with Encin)	Diocese of Orihuela
14 March 1954	Territory Lost	Diocese of Orihuela (Ayora with St. Lucia)	Archdiocese of Valencia
6 June 1957	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Valencia (Callosa de Ensarriá (except the parishes of Benisa, Jijona and Villajoyosa))	Diocese of Orihuela
Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante
9 March 1959	Name Changed	Diocese of Orihuela	Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante

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

Diocese of Orihuela

1950 444,000 445,000 99.8% 170 55 225 1,973 140 580 81 ap1951

Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante

1969 580,000 590,000 98.3% 289 117 406 1,428 159 1,126 149 ap1971

1980 894,200 902,845 99.0% 279 96 375 2,384 129 1,028 196 ap1981

1990 1,008,000 1,074,223 93.8% 268 98 366 2,754 139 850 201 ap1991

1999 1,160,000 1,173,842 98.8% 310 86 396 2,929 1 130 593 206 ap2000

2000 1,140,000 1,177,315 96.8% 326 87 413 2,760 129 685 216 ap2001

2001 1,140,000 1,180,000 96.6% 320 84 404 2,821 112 708 207 ap2002

2002 1,152,000 1,195,000 96.4% 318 94 412 2,796 132 720 207 ap2003

2003 1,152,000 1,256,697 91.7% 313 97 410 2,809 135 726 207 ap2004

2004 1,155,000 1,260,000 91.7% 318 83 401 2,880 140 721 207 ap2005

2013 1,486,651 1,671,111 89.0% 300 76 376 3,953 8 123 643 214 ap2014

2016 1,229,675 1,597,539 77.0% 287 69 356 3,454 9 107 635 214 ap2017

2019 1,169,864 1,585,734 73.8% 279 66 345 3,390 9 100 503 214 ap2020

2021 1,198,680 1,626,832 73.7% 273 64 337 3,556 11 95 428 214 ap2022

2023 1,172,630 1,643,503 71.3% 254 75 329 3,564 13 99 412 214 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Orihuela
1950	444,000	445,000	99.8%	170	55	225	1,973		140	580	81	ap1951
Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante
1969	580,000	590,000	98.3%	289	117	406	1,428		159	1,126	149	ap1971
1980	894,200	902,845	99.0%	279	96	375	2,384		129	1,028	196	ap1981
1990	1,008,000	1,074,223	93.8%	268	98	366	2,754		139	850	201	ap1991
1999	1,160,000	1,173,842	98.8%	310	86	396	2,929	1	130	593	206	ap2000
2000	1,140,000	1,177,315	96.8%	326	87	413	2,760		129	685	216	ap2001
2001	1,140,000	1,180,000	96.6%	320	84	404	2,821		112	708	207	ap2002
2002	1,152,000	1,195,000	96.4%	318	94	412	2,796		132	720	207	ap2003
2003	1,152,000	1,256,697	91.7%	313	97	410	2,809		135	726	207	ap2004
2004	1,155,000	1,260,000	91.7%	318	83	401	2,880		140	721	207	ap2005
2013	1,486,651	1,671,111	89.0%	300	76	376	3,953	8	123	643	214	ap2014
2016	1,229,675	1,597,539	77.0%	287	69	356	3,454	9	107	635	214	ap2017
2019	1,169,864	1,585,734	73.8%	279	66	345	3,390	9	100	503	214	ap2020
2021	1,198,680	1,626,832	73.7%	273	64	337	3,556	11	95	428	214	ap2022
2023	1,172,630	1,643,503	71.3%	254	75	329	3,564	13	99	412	214	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Pedro Albornoz Tapia † (Bishop: 15 Dec 1760 to 22 Jan 1767)
José Maria Alcaráz y Alenda † (Priest: 21 Jul 1901 to 13 Mar 1930)
Francisco Alvarez Martínez † (Bishop: 12 May 1989 to 23 Jun 1995)
Andrés Balaguer Salvador, O.P. † (Bishop: 10 Nov 1604 to 11 Apr 1626)
Pablo Barrachina Estevan † (Bishop: 31 Mar 1954 to 12 May 1989)
José Bergés † (Bishop: 1 Feb 1666 to 21 Jun 1678)
Bernardo Caballero Paredes † (Bishop: 22 Mar 1627 to 13 Aug 1635)
Francisco Javier Cabrera Velasco † (Bishop: 1 Jun 1795 to 24 Jul 1797)
Francisco Antonio Cebrián y Valdá † (Bishop: 24 Jul 1797 to 7 Jul 1815)
Alfonso Coloma Sa †
Luis Crespi y Borja, C.O. † (Bishop: 28 Oct 1651 to 2 Sep 1658)
Pedro María Cubero López de Padilla † (Bishop: 27 Sep 1858 to 11 Nov 1881)
Tomás Dacio (d’Anio) † (Bishop: 13 Jan 1578 to 19 May 1585)
Antonio Despuig y Dameto † (Bishop: 26 Sep 1791 to 1 Jun 1795)
José Espejo y Cisneros † (Bishop: 28 May 1714 to 2 Jul 1717)
José (Giuseppe) Esteve Juan (Stefano) † (Bishop: 12 Jan 1594 to 2 Nov 1603)
José Flores Osorio † (Bishop: 22 Dec 1727 to 3 Mar 1738)
Gregorio Antonio Gallo de Andrade † (Bishop: 22 Aug 1565 to 11 Sep 1577)
Juan García Arlés † (Priest: 1600; Bishop: 7 Jan 1636 to 23 Mar 1644)
Ramón Garcia y Antón, O.S.H. †
José García y Goldaraz † (Bishop: 10 Aug 1944 to 25 Aug 1953)
Juan Elías Gómez Terán † (Bishop: 5 May 1738 to 9 Oct 1758)
Victoriano Guisasola y Rodríguez † (Bishop: 27 Mar 1882 to 10 Jun 1886)
Félix Guzmán, O.P. † (Bishop: 14 Nov 1644 to 1 Mar 1646)
Félix Herrero Valverde † (Bishop: 27 Sep 1824 to 29 Mar 1858)
Francisco Javier de Irastorza y Loinaz † (Bishop: 27 Jun 1922 to 29 Dec 1943)
Simón López García, C.O. † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1815 to 27 Sep 1824)
Acacio March de Velasco, O.P. † (Bishop: 26 Jan 1660 to 27 May 1665)
Marcelo Marona, O.P. † (Bishop: 1678 to 20 Sep 1678)
Juan Maura y Gelabert † (Bishop: 10 Jun 1886 to 24 Jan 1910)
Pedro Olginat de Medicis, O. Carm. † (Bishop: 10 Mar 1659 to 26 Apr 1659)
Juan de Orta y Moreno † (Bishop: 19 Nov 1646 to 5 Nov 1650)
Rafael Palmero Ramos † (Bishop: 26 Nov 2005 to 27 Jul 2012)
Ramón Plaza y Blanco † (Bishop: 18 Jul 1913 to 8 Nov 1921)
Cristóbal Robuster y Senmanat † (Bishop: 17 Aug 1587 to 9 Nov 1593)
Pedro Rocamora y García †
Salvador Rodríguez Castelblanco, T.O.R. † (Bishop: 22 Nov 1717 to 20 Jun 1727)
Antonio Sánchez del Castellar † (Bishop: 17 Jul 1679 to 24 Aug 1700)
José Tormo Juliá † (Bishop: 1 Jun 1767 to 26 Nov 1790)
José de la Torre Orumbela † (Bishop: 3 Oct 1701 to 6 Jan 1712)
Anastasio Vives de Rocamora, O. Carm. †

Source(s)

Diocese of Orihuela
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 3, Page 263
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 4, Page 265
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 5, Page 297, and Page 298
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 6, Page 319
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 55, to Page 56
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 503, and Page 504
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 49, Page 864, and Page 865
Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 616, and Page 617

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Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante

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