Diocese of Sobral

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Bishop(s) Fernando Antônio Saburido, O.S.B., Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 10 November 1915 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Fortaleza Rite: Latin (or Roman) State: Ceara Country: Brazil Square Kilometers: 18,920 (7,307 Square Miles) Conference Region: Nordeste 1 Mailing Address: Prace Quirino Rodrigues 76/4, C.P. 106, 62011-260 Sobral, CE, Brazil Telephone: (088) 611-0545

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• José Tupinambá da Frota † (24 Jan 1916 Appointed - 6 Apr 1923 Appointed, Bishop of Uberaba)
• João José da Mota e Albuquerque † (28 Feb 1961 Appointed - 28 Apr 1964 Appointed, Archbishop of São Luís do Maranhão)
• Walfrido Teixeira Vieira † (6 Jan 1965 Appointed - 18 Mar 1998 Retired)
• Aldo de Cillo Pagotto, S.S.S. (18 Mar 1998 Succeeded - 5 May 2004 Appointed, Archbishop of Paraíba)
• Fernando Antônio Saburido, O.S.B. (18 May 2005 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
10 November 1915	Erected	Diocese of Ceará	Diocese of Sobral (erected)
28 September 1963	Territory Lost	Diocese of Iguatú Diocese of Sobral	Diocese of Crateús (erected)
13 March 1971	Territory Lost	Diocese of Sobral	Diocese of Tianguá (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
1950	1,000,000	1,140,000	87.7%	53	6	59	16,949		6	40	31	ap1951
1965	800,000	800,000	100.0%	62	10	72	11,111		26	215	32	ap1967
1970	750,000	800,000	93.8%	51	7	58	12,931		11		32	ap1971
1976	533,900	536,966	99.4%	34	2	36	14,830		4	125	21	ap1977
1980	496,000	606,000	81.8%	32	2	34	14,588		2	162	21	ap1981
1990	670,000	685,000	97.8%	39	2	41	16,341		3	89	23	ap1991
1998	712,344	818,293	87.1%	40	3	43	16,566		4	91	26	ap2001
1999	712,344	818,293	87.1%	40	3	43	16,566		4	91	26	ap2000
2001	723,856	843,004	85.9%	41	6	47	15,401		16	100	28	ap2002
2002	719,467	826,475	87.1%	38	4	42	17,130		12	92	26	ap2003
2003	719,481	863,713	83.3%	44	6	50	14,389		10	104	26	ap2004
2004	731,554	863,713	84.7%	48	6	54	13,547		15	110	26	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Francisco Austregésilo de Mesquita Filho † (Priest: 8 Dec 1951 to 25 May 1961)
• José Bezerra Coutinho (Auxiliary Bishop: 4 Aug 1956 to 28 Jan 1961)
• José Tupinambá da Frota † (Bishop: 24 Jan 1916 to 6 Apr 1923)
• João José da Mota e Albuquerque † (Bishop: 28 Feb 1961 to 28 Apr 1964)
• Aldo de Cillo Pagotto, S.S.S. (Coadjutor Bishop: 10 Sep 1997; Bishop: 18 Mar 1998 to 5 May 2004)
• Fernando Antônio Saburido, O.S.B. (Bishop: 18 May 2005)
• Walfrido Teixeira Vieira † (Bishop: 6 Jan 1965 to 18 Mar 1998)