Albacete (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Ciriaco Benavente Mateos, Bishop Emeritus
Ángel Fernández Collado, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 2 November 1949
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Toledo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Spain
Square Kilometers: 14,926 (5,765 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesisalbacete.org/
Mailing Address: Obispado, Calle Salamanca 10, 02001 Albacete, Espana
Telephone: 967.21.44.78
Fax: 967.52.23.39

Past and Present Ordinaries

Arturo Tabera Araoz, C.M.F. † (13 May 1950 Appointed - 23 Jul 1968 Appointed, Archbishop of Pamplona (-Tudela))
Ireneo García Alonso † (7 Dec 1968 Appointed - 4 Aug 1980 Resigned)
Victorio Oliver Domingo (27 May 1981 Appointed - 22 Feb 1996 Appointed, Bishop of Orihuela-Alicante)
Francisco Cases Andreu (26 Jun 1996 Appointed - 26 Nov 2005 Appointed, Bishop of Islas Canarias {Canary Islands})
Ciriaco Benavente Mateos (16 Oct 2006 Appointed - 25 Sep 2018 Retired)
Ángel Fernández Collado (25 Sep 2018 Appointed - 9 Apr 2024 Resigned)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
2 November 1949	Erected	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)
6 June 1957	Territory Lost	Diocese of Albacete (Casa de Roldan)	Diocese of Cuenca

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

1950 307,000 308,270 99.6% 72 25 97 3,164 54 206 82 ap1951

1958 304,500 305,000 99.8% 135 36 171 1,780 115 387 156 ap1960

1970 341,660 342,260 99.8% 181 42 223 1,532 59 488 194 ap1971

1980 343,000 344,000 99.7% 142 41 183 1,874 57 502 191 ap1981

1990 357,000 358,000 99.7% 135 42 177 2,016 66 484 192 ap1991

2000 356,327 361,327 98.6% 146 39 185 1,926 4 55 428 192 ap2001

2001 356,021 361,021 98.6% 151 36 187 1,903 3 52 425 192 ap2002

2002 362,283 367,283 98.6% 153 36 189 1,916 3 52 410 192 ap2003

2003 366,953 371,787 98.7% 154 35 189 1,941 3 48 374 194 ap2004

2004 371,859 376,787 98.7% 152 43 195 1,906 3 50 372 194 ap2005

2006 376,947 384,640 98.0% 149 32 181 2,082 3 42 394 193 ap2007

2012 389,740 402,318 96.9% 140 31 171 2,279 9 39 312 193 ap2013

2015 379,791 396,987 95.7% 142 24 166 2,287 13 33 264 193 ap2016

2018 374,230 390,032 95.9% 136 23 159 2,353 13 35 242 193 ap2019

2020 369,805 388,167 95.3% 127 21 148 2,498 16 28 235 194 ap2021

2022 369,501 386,464 95.6% 122 16 138 2,677 14 22 209 194 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	307,000	308,270	99.6%	72	25	97	3,164		54	206	82	ap1951
1958	304,500	305,000	99.8%	135	36	171	1,780		115	387	156	ap1960
1970	341,660	342,260	99.8%	181	42	223	1,532		59	488	194	ap1971
1980	343,000	344,000	99.7%	142	41	183	1,874		57	502	191	ap1981
1990	357,000	358,000	99.7%	135	42	177	2,016		66	484	192	ap1991
2000	356,327	361,327	98.6%	146	39	185	1,926	4	55	428	192	ap2001
2001	356,021	361,021	98.6%	151	36	187	1,903	3	52	425	192	ap2002
2002	362,283	367,283	98.6%	153	36	189	1,916	3	52	410	192	ap2003
2003	366,953	371,787	98.7%	154	35	189	1,941	3	48	374	194	ap2004
2004	371,859	376,787	98.7%	152	43	195	1,906	3	50	372	194	ap2005
2006	376,947	384,640	98.0%	149	32	181	2,082	3	42	394	193	ap2007
2012	389,740	402,318	96.9%	140	31	171	2,279	9	39	312	193	ap2013
2015	379,791	396,987	95.7%	142	24	166	2,287	13	33	264	193	ap2016
2018	374,230	390,032	95.9%	136	23	159	2,353	13	35	242	193	ap2019
2020	369,805	388,167	95.3%	127	21	148	2,498	16	28	235	194	ap2021
2022	369,501	386,464	95.6%	122	16	138	2,677	14	22	209	194	ap2023