Bahía Blanca (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Carlos Alfonso Azpiroz Costa, O.P., Archbishop
Pedro Ernesto Fournau, Auxiliary Bishop
Guillermo José Garlatti, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 11 February 1957
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Argentina
Square Kilometers: 82,625 (31,913 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.arquidiocesisbb.com.ar/
Mailing Address: Arzobispado, Avenida Colon 164, B8000FTO Bahia Blanca [Buenos Aires], Argentina
Telephone: (0291)455.07.07
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Diocese of Bahía Blanca
- Latin Name: Sinus Albi
- Erected: 20 April 1934
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of La Plata
- Country: Argentina

Past and Present Ordinaries

Leandro Bautista Astelarra † (13 Sep 1934 Appointed - 24 Aug 1943 Died)
Germiniano Esorto † (2 Nov 1946 Appointed - 31 May 1972 Retired)
Jorge Mayer † (31 May 1972 Appointed - 31 May 1991 Retired)
Rómulo García † (31 May 1991 Appointed - 15 Jun 2002 Retired)
Guillermo José Garlatti (11 Mar 2003 Appointed - 12 Jul 2017 Retired)
Carlos Alfonso Azpiroz Costa, O.P. (12 Jul 2017 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Bahía Blanca
20 April 1934	Erected	Diocese of La Plata (Bahia Blanca, Ing. Wite, Villa Miter, High Point, Military Port, Patagones, Villarino, Tornquist, Saavedra, Pigile, Short Stream, Puan, Lopez Lecube, Carhue, San Miguel de Gazcon, Guamaini, Colonel Suarez, Colony II San Jose, Colony III Santa Maria , ...)	Diocese of Bahía Blanca (erected)
11 February 1957	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bahía Blanca (Necochea and Lobería) Archdiocese of La Plata (Pueyrredon, Balcarce, General Alvarado, General Madariaga, General Lavalle, Maipú, Mar Chiquita, and Tordillo)	Diocese of Mar del Plata (erected)
11 February 1957	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bahía Blanca (Atreucó, Caleu Caleu, Curacó, Guatraché, Limay Mahuida, Linhuel Calel, Puelen, Hucal, and Utracan) Diocese of Mercedes (Capital, Catriló, Ohalileo, Chapaleufú, Chical Co, Conhelo, Leventué, Maraco, Quemu-Quemú, Rancul, Realicó, Toay, and Trenel)	Diocese of Santa Rosa (erected)
Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca
11 February 1957	Elevated	Diocese of Bahía Blanca	Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca

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

Diocese of Bahía Blanca

1950 500,000 560,000 89.3% 51 46 97 5,154 73 280 47 ap1951

Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca

1959 460,000 485,000 94.8% 51 86 137 3,357 61 374 44 ap1960

1966 460,000 500,000 92.0% 62 87 149 3,087 65 368 50 ap1967

1970 460,000 500,000 92.0% 54 94 148 3,108 94 404 48 ap1971

1976 540,000 600,000 90.0% 46 90 136 3,970 115 385 46 ap1977

1980 608,000 675,000 90.1% 43 86 129 4,713 111 377 59 ap1981

1990 703,000 780,000 90.1% 45 69 114 6,166 92 272 60 ap1991

1999 616,000 725,000 85.0% 52 61 113 5,451 2 90 216 57 ap2000

2000 624,000 734,000 85.0% 48 62 110 5,672 2 92 230 58 ap2001

2001 595,000 700,000 85.0% 48 72 120 4,958 7 91 204 56 ap2002

2002 595,000 700,000 85.0% 50 69 119 5,000 16 87 187 56 ap2003

2003 595,000 700,000 85.0% 51 67 118 5,042 16 82 201 56 ap2004

2004 595,000 700,000 85.0% 50 61 111 5,360 16 78 204 46 ap2005

2006 595,000 700,000 85.0% 54 49 103 5,776 15 58 253 56 ap2007

2012 635,000 743,000 85.5% 48 37 85 7,470 21 53 217 56 ap2013

2015 654,000 765,000 85.5% 45 22 67 9,761 21 36 187 55 ap2016

2018 674,970 777,030 86.9% 49 26 75 8,999 29 45 157 55 ap2019

2020 688,350 791,820 86.9% 51 26 77 8,939 29 45 157 55 ap2021

2022 701,400 806,400 87.0% 53 26 79 8,878 29 45 157 55 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Bahía Blanca
1950	500,000	560,000	89.3%	51	46	97	5,154		73	280	47	ap1951
Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca
1959	460,000	485,000	94.8%	51	86	137	3,357		61	374	44	ap1960
1966	460,000	500,000	92.0%	62	87	149	3,087		65	368	50	ap1967
1970	460,000	500,000	92.0%	54	94	148	3,108		94	404	48	ap1971
1976	540,000	600,000	90.0%	46	90	136	3,970		115	385	46	ap1977
1980	608,000	675,000	90.1%	43	86	129	4,713		111	377	59	ap1981
1990	703,000	780,000	90.1%	45	69	114	6,166		92	272	60	ap1991
1999	616,000	725,000	85.0%	52	61	113	5,451	2	90	216	57	ap2000
2000	624,000	734,000	85.0%	48	62	110	5,672	2	92	230	58	ap2001
2001	595,000	700,000	85.0%	48	72	120	4,958	7	91	204	56	ap2002
2002	595,000	700,000	85.0%	50	69	119	5,000	16	87	187	56	ap2003
2003	595,000	700,000	85.0%	51	67	118	5,042	16	82	201	56	ap2004
2004	595,000	700,000	85.0%	50	61	111	5,360	16	78	204	46	ap2005
2006	595,000	700,000	85.0%	54	49	103	5,776	15	58	253	56	ap2007
2012	635,000	743,000	85.5%	48	37	85	7,470	21	53	217	56	ap2013
2015	654,000	765,000	85.5%	45	22	67	9,761	21	36	187	55	ap2016
2018	674,970	777,030	86.9%	49	26	75	8,999	29	45	157	55	ap2019
2020	688,350	791,820	86.9%	51	26	77	8,939	29	45	157	55	ap2021
2022	701,400	806,400	87.0%	53	26	79	8,878	29	45	157	55	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Carlos Alfonso Azpiroz Costa, O.P. (Coadjutor Archbishop: 3 Nov 2015; Archbishop: 12 Jul 2017)
Pedro Ernesto Fournau (Priest: 7 Sep 2012; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Sep 2024)
Guillermo José Garlatti (Archbishop: 11 Mar 2003 to 12 Jul 2017)
José Adolfo Larregain, O.F.M.
Pedro María Laxague (Priest: 15 Jul 1989; Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Nov 2006 to 3 Nov 2015)
Néstor Hugo Navarro (Priest: 21 Dec 1968; Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Apr 1998 to 19 Mar 2003)
Jorge Luis Wagner (Priest: 2 Sep 1993; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Sep 2019 to 22 Feb 2024)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Eugênio de Araújo Sales †
Leandro Bautista Astelarra † (Bishop: 13 Sep 1934 to 24 Aug 1943)
Germiniano Esorto † (Bishop: 2 Nov 1946; Archbishop: 13 Mar 1957 to 31 May 1972)
Rómulo García † (Archbishop: 31 May 1991 to 15 Jun 2002)
Jorge Mayer † (Priest: 23 Mar 1940 to 13 Mar 1957; Archbishop: 31 May 1972 to 31 May 1991)
Emilio Ogñénovich † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Oct 1979 to 8 Jun 1982)
José Vittorio Tommasí † (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Nov 1984 to 28 Aug 1991)

Source(s)

Diocese of Bahía Blanca
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 27, Page 257, to Page 263
Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 49, Page 653, to Page 662

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Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca

Archidioecesis Sinus Albi