Diocese of Beja

Dioecesis Beiensis

Bishop(s)

Fernando Maio de Paiva, Bishop
José João dos Santos Marcos, Bishop Emeritus
António Vitalino Fernandes Dantas, O. Carm., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 10 July 1770
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Évora
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Portugal
Square Kilometers: 12,300 (4,750 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocese-beja.pt/
Mailing Address: Seminario Diocesano, Rua D. Afonso Henriques 1A, 7800-049 Beja, CODEX, Portugal
Telephone: 284.323.159
Fax: 284.323.250

Past and Present Ordinaries

Manuel do Cenáculo Villas Boas, T.O.R. † (6 Aug 1770 Confirmed - 9 Aug 1802 Confirmed, Archbishop of Évora)
Francisco Leitão de Carvalho, O. Cist. † (9 Aug 1802 Confirmed - 21 Sep 1806 Died)
Joaquim do Rosário Vieira, O.F.M. Ref. † (3 Aug 1807 Confirmed - 8 Sep 1808 Died)
Emmanuel de Sousa Carvalho, M.I. † (19 Dec 1814 Confirmed - 1815 Died)
Luís da Cunha de Abreu e Melo † (28 Aug 1820 Appointed - 9 Aug 1833 Died)
Manuel Pires de Azevedo Loureiro † (22 Jan 1844 Confirmed - 26 Sep 1848 Died)
José Xavier de Cerveira e Sousa † (28 Sep 1849 Confirmed - 15 Apr 1859 Confirmed, Bishop of Viseu)
José António da Mata e Silva † (20 Jun 1859 Confirmed - 13 Jul 1860 Confirmed, Archbishop of Évora)
Antonio da Trindade de Vasconcellos Pereira de Melo † (18 Mar 1861 Confirmed - 1 Oct 1863 Confirmed, Bishop of Lamego)
Antonio Saverio de Souza Monteiro † (9 Aug 1883 Confirmed - 1 Jun 1906 Died)
Sebastião Leite de Vasconcellos † (19 Dec 1907 Confirmed - 15 Dec 1919 Resigned)
José do Patrocinio Dias † (16 Dec 1920 Appointed - 24 Oct 1965 Died)
Manuel Dos Santos Rocha † (14 Dec 1965 Appointed - 8 Sep 1980 Retired)
Manuel Franco da Costa de Oliveira Falcão † (8 Sep 1980 Succeeded - 25 Jan 1999 Retired)
António Vitalino Fernandes Dantas, O. Carm. (25 Jan 1999 Appointed - 3 Nov 2016 Retired)
José João dos Santos Marcos (3 Nov 2016 Succeeded - 21 Mar 2024 Resigned)
Fernando Maio de Paiva (21 Mar 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
10 July 1770	Erected	Archdiocese of Évora	Diocese of Beja (erected)
16 July 1975	Territory Lost	Diocese of Beja (Melides/Ponta de Troia (in Grandola)) Archdiocese of Évora (Canha, Pegoês, and Santo Isidro (all in Montijo) and Comporta (in Alcázar do Sal)) Patriarchate of Lisboa {Lisbon} (Setubal)	Diocese of Setúbal (erected)

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

1949 258,595 334,504 77.3% 43 3 46 5,621 2 36 ap1951

1958 290,189 352,956 82.2% 57 2 59 4,918 2 35 116 ap1960

1969 309,285 340,400 90.9% 72 5 77 4,016 7 101 42 ap1971

1980 234,000 272,000 86.0% 58 11 69 3,391 14 111 115 ap1981

1990 229,000 247,800 92.4% 50 14 64 3,578 15 82 120 ap1991

1999 190,000 226,000 84.1% 42 12 54 3,518 4 13 85 117 ap2000

2000 190,000 226,000 84.1% 44 12 56 3,392 4 13 85 117 ap2001

2001 190,000 226,000 84.1% 41 17 58 3,275 4 17 82 117 ap2002

2002 184,194 220,194 83.7% 39 17 56 3,289 7 20 81 118 ap2003

2003 184,194 220,194 83.7% 41 17 58 3,175 4 17 82 118 ap2004

2004 184,194 220,794 83.4% 40 18 58 3,175 4 18 80 119 ap2005

2006 184,900 221,700 83.4% 42 13 55 3,361 5 14 71 119 ap2007

2012 186,100 223,200 83.4% 43 12 55 3,383 5 12 59 119 ap2013

2015 174,200 209,800 83.0% 42 13 55 3,167 10 14 48 120 ap2016

2018 175,496 211,496 83.0% 44 8 52 3,374 10 9 41 120 ap2019

2020 174,900 211,750 82.6% 45 7 52 3,363 14 7 33 120 ap2021

2022 174,874 211,707 82.6% 41 9 50 3,497 14 9 32 121 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1949	258,595	334,504	77.3%	43	3	46	5,621		2	36		ap1951
1958	290,189	352,956	82.2%	57	2	59	4,918		2	35	116	ap1960
1969	309,285	340,400	90.9%	72	5	77	4,016		7	101	42	ap1971
1980	234,000	272,000	86.0%	58	11	69	3,391		14	111	115	ap1981
1990	229,000	247,800	92.4%	50	14	64	3,578		15	82	120	ap1991
1999	190,000	226,000	84.1%	42	12	54	3,518	4	13	85	117	ap2000
2000	190,000	226,000	84.1%	44	12	56	3,392	4	13	85	117	ap2001
2001	190,000	226,000	84.1%	41	17	58	3,275	4	17	82	117	ap2002
2002	184,194	220,194	83.7%	39	17	56	3,289	7	20	81	118	ap2003
2003	184,194	220,194	83.7%	41	17	58	3,175	4	17	82	118	ap2004
2004	184,194	220,794	83.4%	40	18	58	3,175	4	18	80	119	ap2005
2006	184,900	221,700	83.4%	42	13	55	3,361	5	14	71	119	ap2007
2012	186,100	223,200	83.4%	43	12	55	3,383	5	12	59	119	ap2013
2015	174,200	209,800	83.0%	42	13	55	3,167	10	14	48	120	ap2016
2018	175,496	211,496	83.0%	44	8	52	3,374	10	9	41	120	ap2019
2020	174,900	211,750	82.6%	45	7	52	3,363	14	7	33	120	ap2021
2022	174,874	211,707	82.6%	41	9	50	3,497	14	9	32	121	ap2023