Crato (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Fernando Panico, M.S.C., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 20 October 1914
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Fortaleza
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Ceara
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 17,984 (6,946 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 1
Official Web Site: https://diocesedecrato.org/
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Rua Teofilo Siqueira 631, 63100-010 Crato; C.P. 20, 63100-970 Crato, CE, Brazil
Telephone: (088)3521-1110
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Quintino Rodrigues de Oliveira e Silva † (10 Mar 1915 Appointed - 29 Dec 1929 Died)
Francisco de Assis Pires † (11 Aug 1931 Appointed - 11 Jul 1959 Retired)
Vicente de Paulo Araújo Matos † (28 Jan 1961 Appointed - 1 Jun 1992 Retired)
Newton Holanda Gurgel † (24 Nov 1993 Appointed - 2 May 2001 Retired)
Fernando Panico, M.S.C. (2 May 2001 Appointed - 28 Dec 2016 Resigned)
Gilberto Pastana de Oliveira (28 Dec 2016 Succeeded - 2 Jun 2021 Appointed, Archbishop of São Luís do Maranhão)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
20 October 1914	Erected	Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará)	Diocese of Crato (erected)
28 January 1961	Territory Lost	Diocese of Crato Archdiocese of Fortaleza	Diocese of Iguatu (erected)

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

1950 624,400 625,000 99.9% 47 24 71 8,794 26 71 30 ap1951

1961 500,000 29 29 17,241 34 158 21 ap1967

1970 554,520 583,705 95.0% 51 21 72 7,701 29 145 35 ap1971

1976 597,000 631,166 94.6% 43 11 54 11,055 12 105 37 ap1977

1980 758,000 801,000 94.6% 39 12 51 14,862 24 105 39 ap1981

1990 848,000 891,000 95.2% 40 13 53 16,000 15 116 40 ap1991

1999 794,000 975,000 81.4% 54 14 68 11,676 24 109 46 ap2000

2000 799,000 987,000 81.0% 54 13 67 11,925 24 105 43 ap2001

2001 750,000 920,000 81.5% 54 12 66 11,363 24 95 43 ap2002

2002 750,000 920,000 81.5% 56 12 68 11,029 21 95 44 ap2003

2003 750,270 920,000 81.6% 65 14 79 9,497 6 17 136 44 ap2004

2004 750,000 920,000 81.5% 53 13 66 11,363 6 14 113 46 ap2005

2006 810,295 954,411 84.9% 58 7 65 12,466 7 12 75 46 ap2007

2013 893,000 1,059,000 84.3% 86 22 108 8,268 17 28 123 54 ap2014

2016 827,000 1,034,000 80.0% 95 21 116 7,129 18 28 136 55 ap2017

2019 841,400 1,071,000 78.6% 92 24 116 7,253 30 90 57 ap2020

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	624,400	625,000	99.9%	47	24	71	8,794		26	71	30	ap1951
1961	500,000				29	29	17,241		34	158	21	ap1967
1970	554,520	583,705	95.0%	51	21	72	7,701		29	145	35	ap1971
1976	597,000	631,166	94.6%	43	11	54	11,055		12	105	37	ap1977
1980	758,000	801,000	94.6%	39	12	51	14,862		24	105	39	ap1981
1990	848,000	891,000	95.2%	40	13	53	16,000		15	116	40	ap1991
1999	794,000	975,000	81.4%	54	14	68	11,676		24	109	46	ap2000
2000	799,000	987,000	81.0%	54	13	67	11,925		24	105	43	ap2001
2001	750,000	920,000	81.5%	54	12	66	11,363		24	95	43	ap2002
2002	750,000	920,000	81.5%	56	12	68	11,029		21	95	44	ap2003
2003	750,270	920,000	81.6%	65	14	79	9,497	6	17	136	44	ap2004
2004	750,000	920,000	81.5%	53	13	66	11,363	6	14	113	46	ap2005
2006	810,295	954,411	84.9%	58	7	65	12,466	7	12	75	46	ap2007
2013	893,000	1,059,000	84.3%	86	22	108	8,268	17	28	123	54	ap2014
2016	827,000	1,034,000	80.0%	95	21	116	7,129	18	28	136	55	ap2017
2019	841,400	1,071,000	78.6%	92	24	116	7,253		30	90	57	ap2020

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Francisco Edimilson Neves Ferreira (Priest: 12 Dec 1997 to 15 Feb 2017)
Fernando Panico, M.S.C. (Bishop: 2 May 2001 to 28 Dec 2016)
Gilberto Pastana de Oliveira (Coadjutor Bishop: 18 May 2016; Bishop: 28 Dec 2016 to 2 Jun 2021)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Vicente de Paulo Araújo Matos † (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Apr 1955; Bishop: 28 Jan 1961 to 1 Jun 1992)
Joaquim Ferreira de Melo † (Priest: 26 Feb 1898 to 15 Mar 1921)
Newton Holanda Gurgel † (Priest: 17 Dec 1949; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Apr 1979; Bishop: 24 Nov 1993 to 2 May 2001)
Francisco de Assis Pires † (Bishop: 11 Aug 1931 to 11 Jul 1959)
Quintino Rodrigues de Oliveira e Silva † (Bishop: 10 Mar 1915 to 29 Dec 1929)

Diocese of Crato