Diocese of Copiapó

Historical Details

• Apostolic Administration of Copiapó
  • Latin Name: Copiapoënsis
  • Erected: 9 November 1946
  • Country: Chile

• Territorial Prelature of Copiapó
  • Latin Name: Copiapoënsis
  • Elevated: 21 April 1955
  • Country: Chile

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Alfredo Cifuentes Gómez † (19 Mar 1947 Appointed - 17 Jun 1948 Resigned)
• Fernando Rodríguez Morandé † (24 Apr 1948 Appointed - 17 Jul 1954 Resigned)
• Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos † (24 May 1956 Appointed - 20 Aug 1957 Appointed, Bishop of Antofagasta)
• Juan Francisco Fresno Larraín † (15 Jun 1958 Appointed - 28 Jun 1967 Appointed, Archbishop of La Serena)
• Carlos Marcio Camus Larenas † (31 Jan 1968 Appointed - 11 Dec 1976 Appointed, Bishop of Linares)
• Fernando Ariztía Ruiz † (11 Dec 1976 Appointed - 26 May 2001 Retired)
• Gaspar Francisco Quintana Jorquera, C.M.F. (26 May 2001 Appointed - 25 Jul 2014 Retired)
• Celestino Aós Braco, O.F.M. Cap. (25 Jul 2014 Appointed - 23 Mar 2019 Resigned)
• Ricardo Basilio Morales Galindo, O. de M. (20 Jun 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Apostolic Administration of Copiapó
1950	80,000	84,000	95.2%	8	11	19	4,210		15	18	12	ap1951
Territorial Prelature of Copiapó
Diocese of Copiapó
1965	113,600	165,308	68.7%	19	12	31	3,664		14	66	17	ap1967
1970	150,000	152,326	98.5%	21	9	30	5,000		11	88	15	ap1971
1976	187,000	220,000	85.0%	16	9	25	7,480		11	87	18	ap1977
1980	188,800	227,000	83.2%	17	7	24	7,866		9	90	19	ap1981
1990	180,000	207,400	86.8%	16	7	23	7,826		9	104	20	ap1991
1999	203,000	246,000	82.5%	19	7	26	7,807	21	9	87	21	ap2000
2000	188,623	230,873	81.7%	22	6	28	6,736	25	7	89	21	ap2001
2001	220,590	270,000	81.7%	21	8	29	7,606	29	9	81	21	ap2002
2002	230,770	282,461	81.7%	19	9	28	8,241	29	11	84	21	ap2003
2003	178,035	254,336	70.0%	21	11	32	5,563	30	13	80	21	ap2004
2004	178,035	254,336	70.0%	21	14	35	5,086	30	15	95	21	ap2005
2006	193,524	254,336	76.1%	22	12	34	5,691	33	13	94	21	ap2007
2013	207,000	272,000	76.1%	16	7	23	9,000	35	7	69	21	ap2014
2016	219,301	290,581	75.5%	17	8	25	8,772	34	9	51	21	ap2017
2019	225,810	299,200	75.5%	19	10	29	7,786	27	11	64	21	ap2020
2021	232,100	307,440	75.5%	17	9	26	8,926	28	10	56	21	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Celestino Aós Braco, O.F.M. Cap. (Bishop: 25 Jul 2014 to 23 Mar 2019)
• Ricardo Basilio Morales Galindo, O. de M. (Bishop: 20 Jun 2020 - )
• Gaspar Francisco Quintana Jorquera, C.M.F. (Bishop: 26 May 2001 to 25 Jul 2014)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Fernando Ariztía Ruiz † (Bishop: 11 Dec 1976 to 26 May 2001)
• Carlos Marcio Camus Larenas † (Bishop: 31 Jan 1968 to 11 Dec 1976)
• Alfredo Cifuentes Gómez † (Apostolic Administrator: 19 Mar 1947 to 17 Jun 1948)
• Juan Francisco Fresno Larraín † (Bishop: 15 Jun 1958 to 28 Jun 1967)
• Fernando Rodríguez Morandé † (Apostolic Administrator: 24 Apr 1948 to 17 Jul 1954)
• Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos † (Apostolic Administrator: 27 Jun 1955; Prelate: 24 May 1956 to 20 Aug 1957)

Source(s)

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