Valencia (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Agustín García-Gasco y Vicente, Cardinal, Archbishop
Enrique Benavent Vidal, Auxiliary Bishop
Esteban Escudero Torres, Auxiliary Bishop
Salvador Giménez Valls, Auxiliary Bishop
Rafael Sanus Abad, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 9 July 1492
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Spain
Square Kilometers: 13,060 (5,044 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.archivalencia.org/
Mailing Address: Palau 2, 46003 Valencia, Espana
Telephone: 96.382.97.00
Fax: 96.391.81.20

Historical Details

Diocese of Valencia
- Latin Name: Valentinus
- Erected: 10 October 1238
- Country: Spain

Past and Present Ordinaries

Ferrer de Pallarés o de San Martín † (22 Jun 1240 Appointed - 30 Apr 1243 Died)
Arnau de Peralta † (1 Jun 1243 Appointed - 25 Aug 1248 Appointed, Bishop of Zaragoza)
Andrés de Albalat, O.P. † (4 Dec 1248 Appointed - 25 Nov 1276 Died)
Jazperto de Botonach † ( 1276 Appointed - 3 Apr 1288 Died)
Ramón Despont, O.P. † ( 1289 Appointed - 13 Nov 1312 Died)
Ramón de Gastón † (13 Dec 1312 Confirmed - 18 Jun 1348 Died)
Hugo de Fenollet † ( 1348 Appointed - 21 Jun 1356 Died)
Jaime de Aragón † (5 Mar 1369 Appointed - 30 May 1396 Died)
Hugo de Lupia y Bagés † (28 Nov 1397 Appointed - 11 Apr 1427 Died)
Alfonso de Borja y Cabanilles † (20 Aug 1429 Appointed - 8 Apr 1455 Elected, Pope (Roma {Rome}))
Rodrigo de Borja † (30 Jun 1458 Appointed - 11 Aug 1492 Elected, Pope (Roma {Rome}))
César de Borja † (31 Aug 1492 Appointed - 17 Aug 1498 Resigned)
Juan de Borja Llançol de Romaní † (9 Aug 1499 Appointed - 22 Jun 1500 Died)
Pedro Luis de Borja Llançol de Romaní (Lanzol) † (29 Jul 1500 Appointed - 14 Oct 1511 Died)
Alfonso de Aragón † (23 Jan 1512 Appointed - 24 Feb 1520 Died)
Erhard (Erardo, Everard) von der Mark (de la Marca, Marck) † (28 Mar 1520 Appointed - 27 Feb 1538 Died)
Jorge de Austria † (27 Mar 1538 Appointed - 23 Feb 1541 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Liège)
St. Tomás de Villanueva, O.S.A. † (10 Oct 1544 Appointed - 8 Sep 1555 Died)
Francisco de Navarra y Hualde † (4 May 1556 Appointed - 14 Apr 1563 Died)
Acisclo de Moya y Contreras † (27 Jan 1564 Appointed - 2 May 1565 Died)
Martín Pérez de Ayala † (6 Sep 1564 Appointed - 5 Aug 1566 Died)
Fernando de Loaces (Loazes), O.P. † (28 Apr 1567 Appointed - 29 Feb 1568 Died)
St. Juan de Ribera † (3 Dec 1568 Appointed - 6 Jan 1611 Died)
Pedro Castro Nero † (12 Sep 1611 Appointed - 28 Sep 1611 Died)
Isidoro Aliaga, O.P. † (23 Mar 1612 Appointed - 2 Jan 1648 Died)
Pedro de Urbina de Montoya, O.F.M. † (28 Jun 1649 Appointed - 29 May 1658 Appointed, Archbishop of Sevilla {Seville})
Pedro Urbina Montoya, O.F.M. † (28 Jun 1649 Appointed - 1 Apr 1658 Appointed, Archbishop of Sevilla {Seville})
Pedro de Urbina de Montoya, O.F.M. † (18 Dec 1649 Installed - 29 May 1658 Appointed, Archbishop of Sevilla {Seville})
Martín López de Ontiveros † (16 Apr 1658 Appointed - 5 Sep 1666 Died)
Ambrosio Ignacio Spínola y Guzmán † (9 Apr 1667 Appointed - 14 May 1668 Appointed, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela)
Luis Alfonso de los Cameros † (14 May 1668 Appointed - 26 Jul 1676 Died)
Juan Tomás de Rocaberti, O.P. † (8 Feb 1677 Appointed - 13 Jun 1699 Died)
Antonio Folch y Cardona, O.F.M. † (3 Feb 1699 Appointed - 21 Jul 1724 Died)
Andrés de Orbe y Larreátegui † (10 Apr 1725 Appointed - Apr 1736 Resigned)
Andrés Mayoral Alonso de Mella † (27 Jan 1738 Appointed - 6 Oct 1769 Died)
Tomás Azpuru Ximénez † (12 Mar 1770 Appointed - 7 Jul 1772 Died)
Tomás de Azpuru de Mellá † (12 Mar 1770 Appointed - 7 Jul 1772 Died)
Tomás Azpuru Ximénez † (24 Jun 1770 Ordained Bishop - 7 Jul 1772 Died)
Francisco Fabián y Fuero † (13 Sep 1773 Appointed - 28 May 1795 Retired)
Antonio Despuig y Dameto † (1 Feb 1794 Appointed - 18 Dec 1795 Appointed, Archbishop of Sevilla {Seville})
Juan Francisco Jiménez del Río † (18 Dec 1795 Appointed - 1 Apr 1800 Died)
Joaquín Company Soler, O.F.M. † (2 Aug 1800 Appointed - 13 Feb 1813 Died)
Veremundo Anselmo Arias Teixeiro † (19 Dec 1814 Appointed - 24 Feb 1824 Died)
Simón López García, C.O. † (27 Sep 1824 Appointed - 3 Sep 1831 Died)
Joaquín López Sicilia † (22 Sep 1831 Appointed - 24 Aug 1835 Died)
Pablo García Abella, C.O. † (17 Jan 1848 Appointed - 6 Aug 1860 Died)
Mariano Benito Barrio Fernández † (18 Jun 1861 Appointed - 20 Nov 1876 Died)
Antolín Monescillo y Viso † (22 Jun 1878 Appointed - 11 Apr 1892 Appointed, Archbishop of Toledo)
Ciriaco María Sancha y Hervás † (6 Oct 1892 Appointed - 24 Mar 1898 Appointed, Archbishop of Toledo)
Sebastián Herrero Espinosa de los Monteros † (24 Mar 1898 Appointed - 9 Dec 1903 Died)
Bernardino Nozaleda y Villa, O.P. † (14 Nov 1904 Appointed - 11 Dec 1905 Resigned)
Victoriano Guisasola y Menéndez † (14 Dec 1905 Appointed - 1 Jan 1914 Appointed, Archbishop of Toledo)
Valeriano Menéndez y Conde † (28 May 1914 Appointed - 8 Mar 1916 Died)
José Maria Salvador y Barrera † (14 Dec 1916 Appointed - 4 Sep 1919 Died)
Enrique Reig y Casanova † (22 Apr 1920 Appointed - 14 Dec 1922 Appointed, Archbishop of Toledo)
Prudencio Melo y Alcalde † (14 Dec 1922 Appointed - 31 Oct 1945 Died)
Marcelino Olaechea Loizaga, S.D.B. † (17 Feb 1946 Appointed - 18 Nov 1966 Retired)
José María García Lahiguera † (1 Jul 1969 Appointed - 25 May 1978 Retired)
Miguel Roca Cabanellas † (25 May 1978 Appointed - 8 Jan 1992 Died)
Agustín García-Gasco y Vicente (24 Jul 1992 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Valencia
10 October 1238	Erected		Diocese of Valencia (erected)
Archdiocese of Valencia
9 July 1492	Elevated	Diocese of Valencia	Archdiocese of Valencia

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

Archdiocese of Valencia

1950 1,650,000 1,660,000 99.4% 773 380 1,153 1,431 600 3,925 432 ap1951

1970 1,886,742 .0% 1,143 683 1,826 0 704 4,420 606 ap1971

1980 2,165,050 2,279,571 95.0% 1,007 518 1,525 1,419 1 861 3,691 654 ap1981

1990 2,200,100 2,315,901 95.0% 918 618 1,536 1,432 942 3,608 659 ap1991

1999 2,294,000 2,415,000 95.0% 810 706 1,516 1,513 928 3,530 651 ap2000

2000 2,369,422 2,383,912 99.4% 799 706 1,505 1,574 928 3,530 651 ap2001

2001 2,387,088 2,401,938 99.4% 801 755 1,556 1,534 900 3,515 651 ap2002

2002 2,298,415 2,419,385 95.0% 790 779 1,569 1,464 890 4,025 651 ap2003

2003 2,294,307 2,499,357 91.8% 786 770 1,556 1,474 875 4,025 652 ap2004

2004 2,484,037 2,562,333 96.9% 788 750 1,538 1,615 850 3,800 652 ap2005

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Valencia
1950	1,650,000	1,660,000	99.4%	773	380	1,153	1,431		600	3,925	432	ap1951
1970		1,886,742	.0%	1,143	683	1,826	0		704	4,420	606	ap1971
1980	2,165,050	2,279,571	95.0%	1,007	518	1,525	1,419	1	861	3,691	654	ap1981
1990	2,200,100	2,315,901	95.0%	918	618	1,536	1,432		942	3,608	659	ap1991
1999	2,294,000	2,415,000	95.0%	810	706	1,516	1,513		928	3,530	651	ap2000
2000	2,369,422	2,383,912	99.4%	799	706	1,505	1,574		928	3,530	651	ap2001
2001	2,387,088	2,401,938	99.4%	801	755	1,556	1,534		900	3,515	651	ap2002
2002	2,298,415	2,419,385	95.0%	790	779	1,569	1,464		890	4,025	651	ap2003
2003	2,294,307	2,499,357	91.8%	786	770	1,556	1,474		875	4,025	652	ap2004
2004	2,484,037	2,562,333	96.9%	788	750	1,538	1,615		850	3,800	652	ap2005

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Enrique Benavent Vidal (Priest: 8 Nov 1982; Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Nov 2004)
Ricardo María Carles Gordó (Priest: 29 Jun 1951 to 6 Jun 1969)
Jesús Esteban Catalá Ibáñez (Priest: 3 Jul 1976; Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Mar 1996 to 27 Apr 1999)
Esteban Escudero Torres (Priest: 12 Jan 1975; Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Nov 2000)
Santiago García Aracil (Priest: 21 Sep 1963; Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Nov 1984 to 31 May 1988)
Agustín García-Gasco y Vicente (Archbishop: 24 Jul 1992 - )
José Gea Escolano (Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Mar 1971 to 10 Sep 1976)
Salvador Giménez Valls (Priest: 9 Jun 1973; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 May 2005)
Vicente Juan Segura (Priest: 24 Oct 1981 to 22 Jan 2005)
Jesús Murgui Soriano (Priest: 21 Sep 1969; Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Mar 1996 to 27 Dec 2003)
Juan Antonio Reig Pla (Priest: 8 Jul 1971 to 22 Feb 1996)
Rafael Sanus Abad (Priest: 22 Jun 1958; Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Feb 1989 to 17 Nov 2000)
José Vilaplana Blasco (Priest: 25 May 1972; Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Nov 1984 to 23 Aug 1991)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Isidoro Aliaga, O.P. † (Archbishop: 23 Mar 1612 to 2 Jan 1648)
Isidoro Aparici Gilart † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1694)
Alfonso de Aragón † (Archbishop: 23 Jan 1512 to 24 Feb 1520)
Jaime de Aragón † (Bishop: 5 Mar 1369 to 30 May 1396)
Jacinto Argaya Goicoechea † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Aug 1952 to 12 Sep 1957)
Veremundo Anselmo Arias Teixeiro † (Archbishop: 19 Dec 1814 to 24 Feb 1824)
Jorge de Austria † (Archbishop: 27 Mar 1538; Priest: 12 Jan 1539; Archbishop: 8 Apr 1539 to 23 Feb 1541)
Alonso Avalos † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Feb 1598 to 9 Nov 1603)
Tomás de Azpuru de Mellá † (Archbishop: 12 Mar 1770 to 7 Jul 1772)
Tomás Azpuru Ximénez † (Archbishop: 12 Mar 1770 to 7 Jul 1772)
Mariano Benito Barrio Fernández † (Archbishop: 18 Jun 1861 to 20 Nov 1876)
Juan Bautista Benlloch y Vivó † (Priest: 25 Feb 1888 to 16 Dec 1901)
César de Borja † (Archbishop: 31 Aug 1492 to 17 Aug 1498)
Rodrigo de Borja † (Bishop: 30 Jun 1458; Archbishop: 9 Jul 1492 to 11 Aug 1492)
Juan de Borja Llançol de Romaní † (Archbishop: 9 Aug 1499 to 22 Jun 1500)
Pedro Luis de Borja Llançol de Romaní (Lanzol) † (Archbishop: 29 Jul 1500 to 14 Oct 1511)
Alfonso de Borja y Cabanilles † (Bishop: 20 Aug 1429 to 8 Apr 1455)
Jazperto de Botonach † (Bishop: 1276 to 3 Apr 1288)
Ausiás Carbonell, O.P. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Apr 1509 to 9 Dec 1532)
Pedro Castro Nero † (Archbishop: 12 Sep 1611 to 28 Sep 1611)
Juan Bautista Centelles † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Nov 1521)
Vicente Agustín Clavería † (Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Jul 1631 to 27 Jun 1639)
Pedro Coderos † (Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Feb 1570 to 21 Oct 1579)
Joaquín Company Soler, O.F.M. † (Archbishop: 2 Aug 1800 to 13 Feb 1813)
Andrés de Albalat, O.P. † (Bishop: 4 Dec 1248 to 25 Nov 1276)
Vidal de Blanes y Fenoll † (Bishop: 1356 to 9 Feb 1369)
Ramón de Gastón † (Bishop: 13 Dec 1312 to 18 Jun 1348)
Luis Alfonso de los Cameros † (Archbishop: 14 May 1668 to 26 Jul 1676)
Ferrer de Pallarés o de San Martín † (Bishop: 22 Jun 1240 to 30 Apr 1243)
Arnau de Peralta † (Bishop: 1 Jun 1243 to 25 Aug 1248)
Juan Tomás de Rocaberti, O.P. † (Archbishop: 8 Feb 1677 to 13 Jun 1699)
Ramón Despont, O.P. † (Bishop: 1289 to 13 Nov 1312)
Antonio Despuig y Dameto † (Archbishop: 1 Feb 1794 to 18 Dec 1795)
Pedro de Urbina de Montoya, O.F.M. † (Archbishop: 28 Jun 1649 to 29 May 1658)
Miguel Espinosa † (Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Oct 1579 to 7 Oct 1601)
Tomás Espinosa † (Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Sep 1606 to 16 Jun 1631)
Francisco Estaña † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Dec 1534 to 23 Jun 1549)
Francisco Fabián y Fuero † (Archbishop: 13 Sep 1773 to 28 May 1795)
Hugo de Fenollet † (Bishop: 1348 to 21 Jun 1356)
Antonio Folch y Cardona, O.F.M. † (Archbishop: 3 Feb 1699 to 21 Jul 1724)
Pablo García Abella, C.O. † (Archbishop: 17 Jan 1848 to 6 Aug 1860)
José María García Lahiguera † (Archbishop: 1 Jul 1969 to 25 May 1978)
Francisco García y López † (Priest: Apr 1857; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Nov 1903 to 30 May 1909)
Miguel Angulo Gómez de Carvajal, O.S. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Feb 1610 to 14 Oct 1626)
Rafael González Moralejo † (Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Feb 1958 to 28 Nov 1969)
Luis Guillermo (Guillem), O.F.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1514)
Victoriano Guisasola y Menéndez † (Archbishop: 14 Dec 1905 to 1 Jan 1914)
Sebastián Herrero Espinosa de los Monteros † (Archbishop: 24 Mar 1898 to 9 Dec 1903)
Juan Hervás y Benet † (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Jan 1944 to 26 Oct 1946)
Juan Francisco Jiménez del Río † (Archbishop: 18 Dec 1795 to 1 Apr 1800)
Rafael Lasala Locela, O.S.A. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Dec 1767 to 18 Jun 1773)
Francisco Javer Lauzurica y Torralba † (Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Feb 1931 to 10 Jun 1943)
Fernando de Loaces (Loazes), O.P. † (Archbishop: 28 Apr 1567 to 29 Feb 1568)
Martín López de Ontiveros † (Archbishop: 16 Apr 1658 to 5 Sep 1666)
Simón López García, C.O. † (Archbishop: 27 Sep 1824 to 3 Sep 1831)
Joaquín López Sicilia † (Archbishop: 22 Sep 1831 to 24 Aug 1835)
Hugo de Lupia y Bagés † (Bishop: 28 Nov 1397 to 11 Apr 1427)
Andrés Mayoral Alonso de Mella † (Archbishop: 27 Jan 1738 to 6 Oct 1769)
Francisco Mejía de Molina, O.P. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1534 to 1567)
Prudencio Melo y Alcalde † (Archbishop: 14 Dec 1922 to 31 Oct 1945)
Valeriano Menéndez y Conde † (Archbishop: 28 May 1914 to 8 Mar 1916)
Jacinto Minuarte † (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Aug 1639 to 31 Aug 1658)
Antolín Monescillo y Viso † (Archbishop: 22 Jun 1878 to 11 Apr 1892)
Lorenzo Monzonís Galatina, O.F.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1605 to 27 Jan 1610)
Acisclo de Moya y Contreras † (Archbishop: 27 Jan 1564 to 2 May 1565)
Francisco de Navarra y Hualde † (Archbishop: 4 May 1556 to 14 Apr 1563)
Bernardino Nozaleda y Villa, O.P. † (Archbishop: 14 Nov 1904 to 11 Dec 1905)
Marcelino Olaechea Loizaga, S.D.B. † (Archbishop: 17 Feb 1946 to 18 Nov 1966)
Andrés de Orbe y Larreátegui † (Archbishop: 10 Apr 1725 to Apr 1736)
Martín Pérez de Ayala † (Archbishop: 6 Sep 1564 to 5 Aug 1566)
Jesús Pla Gandía † (Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Mar 1971 to 16 Apr 1981)
Pedro de Ponte, O.SS.T. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Jan 1512 to 3 May 1545)
Enrique Reig y Casanova † (Archbishop: 22 Apr 1920 to 14 Dec 1922)
St. Juan de Ribera † (Archbishop: 3 Dec 1568 to 6 Jan 1611)
Miguel Roca Cabanellas † (Archbishop: 25 May 1978 to 8 Jan 1992)
José Maria Salvador y Barrera † (Archbishop: 14 Dec 1916 to 4 Sep 1919)
Ciriaco María Sancha y Hervás † (Archbishop: 6 Oct 1892 to 24 Mar 1898)
Juan Segría † (Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Nov 1547 to 23 Jul 1568)
Melchor Serrano Lázaro, Sch. P. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Sep 1788 - )
Ambrosio Ignacio Spínola y Guzmán † (Archbishop: 9 Apr 1667 to 14 May 1668)
José Tormo Juliá † (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Mar 1763 to 1 Jun 1768)
Pedro Urbina Montoya, O.F.M. † (Archbishop: 28 Jun 1649 to 1 Apr 1658)
St. Tomás de Villanueva, O.S.A. † (Archbishop: 10 Oct 1544 to 8 Sep 1555)
Erhard (Erardo, Everard) von der Mark (de la Marca, Marck) † (Archbishop: 28 Mar 1520 to 27 Feb 1538)

Archdiocese of Valencia

Archidioecesis Valentinus