Benguela (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

António Francisco Jaca, S.V.D., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 6 June 1970
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Huambo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Angola
Square Kilometers: 20,780 (8,026 Square Miles)
Description: Baía Farta, Benguela, Catumbela, Lobito, Bocoio, and Balombo
Mailing Address: Bispado, Avenida Goverandor Coutinho 9-11, Benguela, Angola
Telephone: 222.788.559

Past and Present Ordinaries

Armando Amaral Dos Santos † (6 Jun 1970 Appointed - 14 Oct 1973 Died)
Oscar Lino Lopes Fernandes Braga † (20 Nov 1974 Appointed - 18 Feb 2008 Retired)
Eugenio Dal Corso, P.S.D.P. † (18 Feb 2008 Appointed - 26 Mar 2018 Retired)
António Francisco Jaca, S.V.D. (26 Mar 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
6 June 1970	Erected	Diocese of Nova Lisboa (Benguela)	Diocese of Benguela (erected)
8 January 1977	Territory Added	Diocese of Sá da Bandeira (Chongoroi)	Diocese of Benguela
3 February 1977	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Benguela (from Luanda)
1 August 2024	Territory Lost	Diocese of Benguela (Chongoroi, Caimbambo, Cubal, Ganda, and Tchindjendje)	Diocese of Ganda (erected)

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

1970 314,000 523,000 60.0% ap1971

1980 450,000 1,000,000 45.0% 16 20 36 12,500 22 102 26 ap1981

1990 669,000 1,264,000 52.9% 19 23 42 15,928 30 199 30 ap1991

1999 877,400 1,982,000 44.3% 56 22 78 11,248 47 252 40 ap2000

2000 907,230 1,757,807 51.6% 72 25 97 9,352 104 309 40 ap2001

2001 1,081,885 2,163,000 50.0% 63 27 90 12,020 120 333 40 ap2002

2002 1,114,776 3,980,000 28.0% 74 38 112 9,953 185 319 40 ap2003

2003 1,147,111 2,163,000 53.0% 75 40 115 9,974 141 312 40 ap2004

2004 1,176,697 2,163,000 54.4% 83 37 120 9,805 166 326 40 ap2005

2006 1,116,000 2,303,000 48.5% 91 41 132 8,454 145 332 42 ap2007

2012 1,736,000 2,689,000 64.6% 113 45 158 10,987 133 328 45 ap2013

2015 1,951,000 2,914,000 67.0% 150 42 192 10,161 124 330 53 ap2016

2018 1,865,770 2,396,930 77.8% 165 56 221 8,442 176 399 52 ap2019

2020 1,985,760 2,551,000 77.8% 172 47 219 9,067 223 329 68 ap2021

2022 2,110,790 2,713,060 77.8% 185 55 240 8,794 197 334 81 ap2023

2024 1,540,364 1,960,070 78.6% 199 35 234 6,582 4 282 47 bul:1Aug2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	314,000	523,000	60.0%								ap1971
1980	450,000	1,000,000	45.0%	16	20	36	12,500	22	102	26	ap1981
1990	669,000	1,264,000	52.9%	19	23	42	15,928	30	199	30	ap1991
1999	877,400	1,982,000	44.3%	56	22	78	11,248	47	252	40	ap2000
2000	907,230	1,757,807	51.6%	72	25	97	9,352	104	309	40	ap2001
2001	1,081,885	2,163,000	50.0%	63	27	90	12,020	120	333	40	ap2002
2002	1,114,776	3,980,000	28.0%	74	38	112	9,953	185	319	40	ap2003
2003	1,147,111	2,163,000	53.0%	75	40	115	9,974	141	312	40	ap2004
2004	1,176,697	2,163,000	54.4%	83	37	120	9,805	166	326	40	ap2005
2006	1,116,000	2,303,000	48.5%	91	41	132	8,454	145	332	42	ap2007
2012	1,736,000	2,689,000	64.6%	113	45	158	10,987	133	328	45	ap2013
2015	1,951,000	2,914,000	67.0%	150	42	192	10,161	124	330	53	ap2016
2018	1,865,770	2,396,930	77.8%	165	56	221	8,442	176	399	52	ap2019
2020	1,985,760	2,551,000	77.8%	172	47	219	9,067	223	329	68	ap2021
2022	2,110,790	2,713,060	77.8%	185	55	240	8,794	197	334	81	ap2023
2024	1,540,364	1,960,070	78.6%	199	35	234	6,582	4	282	47	bul:1Aug2024