Diocese of Rio Branco

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Bishop(s) Joaquín Pertíñez Fernández, O.A.R., Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 15 February 1986 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Manaus Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: Acre Country: Brazil Square Kilometers: 102,136 (39,450 Square Miles) Conference Region: Norte 1 Mailing Address: C.P. 473, Praca da Catedral 4, 69908-970 Rio Branco, AC, Brazil Telephone: (068) 223-2200 Fax: 223-2101

Historical Details

• Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
  • Latin Name: Acrensis et Puruensis
  • Erected: 4 October 1919
  • Country: Brazil

• Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus
  • Latin Name: Sancti Peregrini Latiosi in Superioribus Acre et Purus
  • Name Changed: 10 December 1926
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Belém do Pará
  • Country: Brazil

• Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
  • Latin Name: Acrensis et Puruensis
  • Name Changed: 26 April 1958
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Manaus
  • State: Acre
  • Country: Brazil

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Geraldo Van Caloen, O.S.B. † (12 Mar 1906 Appointed - 13 Dec 1907 Appointed, Abbot of Nossa Senhora do Monserrate do Rio de Janeiro)
• Próspero M. Gustavo Bernardi, S.M. † (15 Dec 1919 Appointed - 1 Feb 1944 Died)
• Antônio Julio Maria Mattioli, S.M. † ( 1941 Appointed - 13 Apr 1962 Died)
• Giocondo Maria Grotti, O.S.M. † (16 Nov 1962 Appointed - 28 Sep 1971 Died)
• Moacyr Grechi, O.S.M. (10 Jul 1972 Appointed - 29 Jul 1998 Appointed, Archbishop of Porto Velho)
• Joaquín Pertíñez Fernández, O.A.R. (24 Feb 1999 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
4 October 1919	Erected	Diocese of Amazonas	Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus (erected)
Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus
10 December 1926	Name Changed	Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus	Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus
Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
26 April 1958	Name Changed	Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus	Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
Diocese of Rio Branco
15 February 1986	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus	Diocese of Rio Branco

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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
Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus
1949	100,000	100,000	100.0%		8	8	12,500		9	15	5	ap1951
Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
1966	150,000	150,000	100.0%	1	14	15	10,000		7	36	7	ap1967
1968	145,000	150,000	96.7%	3	12	15	9,666		12	45	4	ap1971
1976	190,000	265,000	71.7%	2	11	13	14,615		14	55	8	ap1977
1980	145,000	197,000	73.6%	4	12	16	9,062	1	18	65	9	ap1981
Diocese of Rio Branco
1990	312,000	364,000	85.7%	9	14	23	13,565		14	89	15	ap1991
1999	357,000	425,000	84.0%	7	10	17	21,000		10	71	18	ap2000
2000	361,000	430,000	84.0%	8	10	18	20,055		12	79	18	ap2001
2001	396,000	472,329	83.8%	9	11	20	19,800		13	79	19	ap2002
2002	401,000	478,000	83.9%	11	10	21	19,095	1	11	90	21	ap2003
2003	347,042	433,803	80.0%	10	14	24	14,460	1	18	95	21	ap2004
2004	356,658	448,062	79.6%	18	6	24	14,860	1	10	84	21	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Próspero M. Gustavo Bernardi, S.M. † (Prelate: 15 Dec 1919 to 1 Feb 1944)
• Moacyr Grechi, O.S.M. (Prelate: 10 Jul 1972; Bishop: 19 Mar 1986 to 29 Jul 1998)
• Giocondo Maria Grotti, O.S.M. † (Prelate: 16 Nov 1962 to 28 Sep 1971)
• Antônio Julio Maria Mattioli, S.M. † (Prelate: 1941 to 13 Apr 1962)
• Joaquín Pertíñez Fernández, O.A.R. (Bishop: 24 Feb 1999 - )
• Geraldo Van Caloen, O.S.B. † (Prelate: 12 Mar 1906 to 13 Dec 1907)
• Lorenz Zeller, O.S.B. † (Apostolic Administrator: 7 Jan 1939 to 1 Sep 1945)