Diocese of Petrolina

---

Bishop(s) Paulo Cardoso da Silva, O. Carm., Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 30 November 1923 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: Pernambuco Country: Brazil Square Kilometers: 31,065 (11,998 Square Miles) Conference Region: Nordeste 2 Mailing Address: C.P. 16, Praca Dom Antonio Malan 99, 56300-000 Petroliina, PE, Brazil Telephone: (081) 861-2874 Fax: 861-5929

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Antônio Malan, S.D.B. † (3 Jan 1924 Appointed - 28 Oct 1931 Died)
• Idílio José Soares † (16 Sep 1932 Appointed - 12 Jun 1943 Appointed, Bishop of Santos)
• Avelar Brandão Vilela † (13 Jun 1946 Appointed - 5 Nov 1955 Appointed, Archbishop of Teresina)
• Antônio Campelo de Aragão, S.D.B. † (18 Dec 1956 Appointed - 6 Feb 1975 Resigned)
• Gerardo de Andrade Ponte † (6 Feb 1975 Appointed - 5 Dec 1983 Appointed, Bishop of Patos)
• Paulo Cardoso da Silva, O. Carm. (30 Nov 1984 Appointed - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
30 November 1923	Erected	Diocese of Pesqueira	Diocese of Petrolina (erected)

---

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	160,000	160,000	100.0%	11	3	14	11,428			19	13	ap1951
1966	291,000			15	1	16	18,187			56	12	ap1967
1968	310,000	320,000	96.9%	15		15	20,666			27	8	ap1971
1976	390,000	400,000	97.5%	14	2	16	24,375		2	48	14	ap1977
1980	439,000	455,000	96.5%	11	3	14	31,357		6	53	11	ap1981
1990	575,000	639,000	90.0%	12	7	19	30,263		10	53	17	ap1991
1999	567,000	610,000	93.0%	15	9	24	23,625		9	36	19	ap2000
2000	576,000	620,000	92.9%	15	9	24	24,000		9	36	19	ap2001
2001	558,000	650,000	85.8%	15	9	24	23,250		9	33	19	ap2002
2002	585,000	650,000	90.0%	37	8	45	13,000		8	35	20	ap2003
2003	585,000	650,000	90.0%	19	10	29	20,172		10	35	20	ap2004
2004	585,000	650,000	90.0%	22	10	32	18,281		10	35	21	ap2005

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

---

Affiliated Bishops

• Gerardo de Andrade Ponte † (Bishop: 6 Feb 1975 to 5 Dec 1983)
• Avelar Brandão Vilela † (Bishop: 13 Jun 1946 to 5 Nov 1955)
• Antônio Campelo de Aragão, S.D.B. † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1956 to 6 Feb 1975)
• Paulo Cardoso da Silva, O. Carm. (Bishop: 30 Nov 1984 - )
• Antônio Malan, S.D.B. † (Bishop: 3 Jan 1924 to 28 Oct 1931)
• Idílio José Soares † (Bishop: 16 Sep 1932 to 12 Jun 1943)