Barinas (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jesús Alfonso Guerrero Contreras, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop
Ramón Antonio Linares Sandoval, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 23 July 1965
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mérida
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Venezuela
Square Kilometers: 35,200 (13,596 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Palacio Episcopal, Av. Briceno Mendez, Frente Plaza Bolivar, Barinas, Venezuela
Telephone: (0273)533.28.39
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Rafael Angel González Ramírez † (23 Jul 1965 Appointed - 1 Aug 1992 Retired)
Antonio José López Castillo (1 Aug 1992 Appointed - 27 Dec 2001 Appointed, Archbishop of Calabozo)
Ramón Antonio Linares Sandoval (16 Jul 2002 Appointed - 30 Aug 2013 Retired)
José Luis Azuaje Ayala (30 Aug 2013 Appointed - 24 May 2018 Appointed, Archbishop of Maracaibo)
Jesús Alfonso Guerrero Contreras, O.F.M. Cap. (21 Dec 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
23 July 1965	Erected	Diocese of Calabozo Archdiocese of Mérida	Diocese of Barinas (erected)
3 December 2015	Territory Lost	Diocese of Barinas Diocese of San Fernando de Apure	Diocese of Guasdualito (erected)

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

1966 195,000 200,000 97.5% 14 5 19 10,263 5 8 15 ap1967

1970 213,400 220,000 97.0% 24 24 8,891 22 22 ap1971

1976 245,000 250,000 98.0% 13 6 19 12,894 7 18 24 ap1977

1980 351,000 361,000 97.2% 20 11 31 11,322 11 30 24 ap1981

1990 346,000 356,000 97.2% 29 9 38 9,105 16 42 29 ap1991

1999 498,000 525,600 94.7% 27 11 38 13,105 1 17 35 39 ap2000

2000 490,000 500,000 98.0% 30 11 41 11,951 17 35 39 ap2001

2001 400,000 557,896 71.7% 33 11 44 9,090 17 30 40 ap2002

2002 358,000 500,000 71.6% 30 12 42 8,523 13 44 45 ap2003

2003 586,950 624,414 94.0% 33 15 48 12,228 1 23 55 32 ap2004

2004 586,950 624,414 94.0% 30 48 78 7,525 1 52 41 35 ap2005

2006 609,000 647,000 94.1% 34 16 50 12,180 1 21 33 35 ap2007

2012 651,430 814,288 80.0% 50 18 68 9,579 20 26 47 40 ap2013

2015 655,000 814,000 80.5% 63 15 78 8,397 19 21 47 45 ap2016

2018 712,100 837,715 85.0% 80 16 96 7,417 19 18 33 47 ap2019

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	195,000	200,000	97.5%	14	5	19	10,263		5	8	15	ap1967
1970	213,400	220,000	97.0%	24		24	8,891			22	22	ap1971
1976	245,000	250,000	98.0%	13	6	19	12,894		7	18	24	ap1977
1980	351,000	361,000	97.2%	20	11	31	11,322		11	30	24	ap1981
1990	346,000	356,000	97.2%	29	9	38	9,105		16	42	29	ap1991
1999	498,000	525,600	94.7%	27	11	38	13,105	1	17	35	39	ap2000
2000	490,000	500,000	98.0%	30	11	41	11,951		17	35	39	ap2001
2001	400,000	557,896	71.7%	33	11	44	9,090		17	30	40	ap2002
2002	358,000	500,000	71.6%	30	12	42	8,523		13	44	45	ap2003
2003	586,950	624,414	94.0%	33	15	48	12,228	1	23	55	32	ap2004
2004	586,950	624,414	94.0%	30	48	78	7,525	1	52	41	35	ap2005
2006	609,000	647,000	94.1%	34	16	50	12,180	1	21	33	35	ap2007
2012	651,430	814,288	80.0%	50	18	68	9,579	20	26	47	40	ap2013
2015	655,000	814,000	80.5%	63	15	78	8,397	19	21	47	45	ap2016
2018	712,100	837,715	85.0%	80	16	96	7,417	19	18	33	47	ap2019

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

José Luis Azuaje Ayala (Bishop: 30 Aug 2013 to 24 May 2018)
Jesús Alfonso Guerrero Contreras, O.F.M. Cap. (Bishop: 21 Dec 2018 - )
Ramón Antonio Linares Sandoval (Bishop: 16 Jul 2002 to 30 Aug 2013)
Antonio José López Castillo (Bishop: 1 Aug 1992 to 27 Dec 2001)
Polito Rodríguez Méndez (Priest: 31 Jul 1999 to 8 Apr 2016)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Alejandro Figueroa Medina † (Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Mar 1986 to 21 Feb 1995)
Rafael Angel González Ramírez † (Bishop: 23 Jul 1965 to 1 Aug 1992)
José Vicente Henriquez Andueza, S.D.B. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Jun 1980 to 1985)

Diocese of Barinas