Archdiocese of Fortaleza

Archidioecesis Fortalexiensis

Bishop(s)

Gregório (Leozírio) Ben Lâmed Paixão (Neto), O.S.B., Archbishop
José Antônio Aparecido Tosi Marques, Archbishop Emeritus
Adalberto Paulo da Silva, O.F.M. Cap., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 10 November 1915
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Ceara
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 15,571 (6,014 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 1
Official Web Site: https://www.arquidiocesedefortaleza.org.br/
Mailing Address: Curia Metropolitana, Av. Dom Manoel 3, 60060-090 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Telephone: (085)4005-7851

Historical Details

Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará)
- Latin Name: Fortalexiensis
- Erected: 6 June 1854
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Olinda
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Luiz Antônio dos Santos † (28 Sep 1860 Appointed - 13 May 1881 Confirmed, Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia)
Joaquim José Vieira † (9 Aug 1883 Confirmed - 14 Sep 1912 Retired)
Manoel da Silva Gomes † (16 Sep 1912 Appointed - 24 May 1941 Resigned)
Antônio de Almeida Lustosa, S.D.B. † (19 Jul 1941 Appointed - 16 Feb 1963 Retired)
José de Medeiros Delgado † (10 May 1963 Appointed - 26 Mar 1973 Resigned)
Aloísio Leo Arlindo Lorscheider, O.F.M. † (26 Mar 1973 Appointed - 12 Jul 1995 Appointed, Archbishop of Aparecida, Sao Paulo)
Cláudio Aury Affonso Hummes, O.F.M. † (29 May 1996 Appointed - 15 Apr 1998 Appointed, Archbishop of São Paulo)
José Antônio Aparecido Tosi Marques (13 Jan 1999 Appointed - 11 Oct 2023 Retired)
Gregório (Leozírio) Ben Lâmed Paixão (Neto), O.S.B. (11 Oct 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará)
6 June 1854	Erected	Diocese of Olinda	Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará) (erected)
5 December 1910	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará) (from São Salvador da Bahia)
20 October 1914	Territory Lost	Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará) (Southern part)	Diocese of Crato (erected)
10 November 1915	Territory Lost	Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará) (Western part)	Diocese of Sobral (erected)
Archdiocese of Fortaleza
10 November 1915	Elevated	Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará)	Archdiocese of Fortaleza
24 January 1919	Territory Added		Diocese of Crato (Boundaries Adjusted) Archdiocese of Fortaleza (Boundaries Adjusted)
7 May 1938	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Fortaleza (Limoeiro, Aracati, Areìas, Jaguario e Mirini, Morada Nova, Pereiro, Riacho do Sangue, São Bernardo das Russas, and União)	Diocese of Limoeiro do Norte (erected)
28 January 1961	Territory Lost	Diocese of Crato (Acopiara, Arneiroz, Aiuaba, Cariús, Catarina, Cedro, Cococí, Ico, Iguatú, Jucas, Oros, Parambú, Saboeiro, and Tauá) Archdiocese of Fortaleza (Milha, Mombaça, Pedra Branca, Piquet Carneiro, Senador Pompeu, and Solonópole)	Diocese of Iguatu (erected)
13 March 1971	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Fortaleza (Apuiarés, General Sampaio, Irauçaba, Itapagé, Itapipoca, Paracuru, Pentecoste, Sao Luís do Cura, Trairi, and Uruburetama) Diocese of Sobral (Itarema of Acaran)	Diocese of Itapipoca (erected)
13 March 1971	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Fortaleza (Boa Viagem, Capistrano, Itapiúna, Itatira, Quixadá, and Quixeramobi)	Diocese of Quixadá (erected)

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

Archdiocese of Fortaleza

1949 1,050,000 1,200,000 87.5% 87 100 187 5,614 200 385 51 ap1951

1961 1,610,770 1,789,745 90.0% 120 131 251 6,417 160 350 73 ap1967

1970 1,635,476 1,919,343 85.2% 110 126 236 6,929 141 1,038 71 ap1971

1976 1,400,000 1,610,400 86.9% 97 77 174 8,045 106 690 62 ap1977

1980 1,500,660 1,705,330 88.0% 100 117 217 6,915 149 845 61 ap1981*

1990 1,981,000 2,328,000 85.1% 110 110 220 9,004 162 1,349 68 ap1991

1999 2,200,000 3,500,000 62.9% 135 130 265 8,301 226 2,215 76 ap2000

2000 2,200,000 3,500,700 62.8% 144 140 284 7,746 251 2,215 73 ap2001

2001 2,360,574 3,233,664 73.0% 138 140 278 8,491 251 2,215 78 ap2002

2002 2,100,000 3,263,518 64.3% 137 156 293 7,167 300 871 78 ap2003

2003 2,316,774 3,273,975 70.8% 130 146 276 8,394 281 871 80 ap2004

2004 2,406,000 3,400,657 70.8% 145 146 291 8,268 281 871 85 ap2005

2006 2,466,000 3,487,000 70.7% 157 146 303 8,138 281 871 90 ap2007

2013 2,630,000 3,719,000 70.7% 204 191 395 6,658 21 311 373 115 ap2014

2016 2,696,000 3,812,000 70.7% 260 184 444 6,072 22 303 373 126 ap2017

2019 2,764,754 3,975,543 69.5% 239 207 446 6,199 27 341 572 137 ap2020

2021 2,796,217 4,455,648 62.8% 191 216 407 6,870 19 363 644 138 ap2022

2023 2,836,720 4,415,946 64.2% 248 186 434 6,536 37 319 640 147 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Fortaleza
1949	1,050,000	1,200,000	87.5%	87	100	187	5,614		200	385	51	ap1951
1961	1,610,770	1,789,745	90.0%	120	131	251	6,417		160	350	73	ap1967
1970	1,635,476	1,919,343	85.2%	110	126	236	6,929		141	1,038	71	ap1971
1976	1,400,000	1,610,400	86.9%	97	77	174	8,045		106	690	62	ap1977
1980	1,500,660	1,705,330	88.0%	100	117	217	6,915		149	845	61	ap1981*
1990	1,981,000	2,328,000	85.1%	110	110	220	9,004		162	1,349	68	ap1991
1999	2,200,000	3,500,000	62.9%	135	130	265	8,301		226	2,215	76	ap2000
2000	2,200,000	3,500,700	62.8%	144	140	284	7,746		251	2,215	73	ap2001
2001	2,360,574	3,233,664	73.0%	138	140	278	8,491		251	2,215	78	ap2002
2002	2,100,000	3,263,518	64.3%	137	156	293	7,167		300	871	78	ap2003
2003	2,316,774	3,273,975	70.8%	130	146	276	8,394		281	871	80	ap2004
2004	2,406,000	3,400,657	70.8%	145	146	291	8,268		281	871	85	ap2005
2006	2,466,000	3,487,000	70.7%	157	146	303	8,138		281	871	90	ap2007
2013	2,630,000	3,719,000	70.7%	204	191	395	6,658	21	311	373	115	ap2014
2016	2,696,000	3,812,000	70.7%	260	184	444	6,072	22	303	373	126	ap2017
2019	2,764,754	3,975,543	69.5%	239	207	446	6,199	27	341	572	137	ap2020
2021	2,796,217	4,455,648	62.8%	191	216	407	6,870	19	363	644	138	ap2022
2023	2,836,720	4,415,946	64.2%	248	186	434	6,536	37	319	640	147	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Valdemir Vicente Andrade Santos (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Jul 2018 to 11 Jul 2024)
Evaldo Carvalho dos Santos, C.M.
Rosalvo Cordeiro de Lima (Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Feb 2011 to 7 Oct 2020)
Manuel Edmilson da Cruz (Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Jul 1974 to 18 May 1994)
Adalberto Paulo da Silva, O.F.M. Cap. (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 May 1995 to 24 Mar 2004)
Plínio José Luz da Silva (Priest: 16 Dec 1984; Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Jun 2001 to 26 Nov 2003)
José Luiz Ferreira Salles, C.Ss.R. (Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Feb 2006 to 15 Feb 2012)
José Luiz Gomes de Vasconcelos (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Mar 2012 to 8 Jul 2015)
Júlio César Gomes Moreira
Gregório (Leozírio) Ben Lâmed Paixão (Neto), O.S.B. (Archbishop: 11 Oct 2023 - )
Sérgio da Rocha (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Jun 2001 to 31 Jan 2007)
Júlio César Souza de Jesus (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Jul 2018 to 7 Jun 2024)
José Antônio Aparecido Tosi Marques (Archbishop: 13 Jan 1999 to 11 Oct 2023)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Antônio Xisto Albano † (Priest: 30 May 1885 to 23 Mar 1901)
Antônio de Almeida Lustosa, S.D.B. † (Archbishop: 19 Jul 1941 to 16 Feb 1963)
Paulo Eduardo Andrade Ponte †
José Bezerra Coutinho †
Miguel Fenelon Câmara Filho † (Priest: 8 Dec 1948; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Jan 1970 to 5 Feb 1974)
Raimundo de Castro e Silva † (Priest: 4 Dec 1932 to 17 Jun 1950; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Nov 1957 to 2 Aug 1991)
Manoel da Silva Gomes † (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Apr 1911; Bishop: 16 Sep 1912; Archbishop: 10 Nov 1915 to 24 May 1941)
Expedito Eduardo de Oliveira † (Priest: 30 Nov 1933; Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Oct 1953 to 25 Feb 1959)
Luiz Antônio dos Santos † (Bishop: 28 Sep 1860 to 13 May 1881)
Cláudio Aury Affonso Hummes, O.F.M. † (Archbishop: 29 May 1996 to 15 Apr 1998)
Aloísio Leo Arlindo Lorscheider, O.F.M. † (Archbishop: 26 Mar 1973 to 12 Jul 1995)
José de Medeiros Delgado † (Archbishop: 10 May 1963 to 26 Mar 1973)
Gérard-Paul-Louis-Marie de Milleville, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar General: 1967 to 1984)
Geraldo Nascimento, O.F.M. Cap. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Sep 1982 to 22 Jan 1997)
Manuel Antônio de Oliveira Lopes † (Coadjutor Bishop: 7 Apr 1908 to 26 Nov 1910)
Hélder Pessoa Câmara †
Francisco de Assis Portela † (Priest: 30 Nov 1934 to 25 Aug 1987)
José Mauro Ramalho de Alarcón Santiago †
Lino Deodato Rodrigues de Carvalho †
Quintino Rodrigues de Oliveira e Silva † (Priest: 19 Jun 1886 to 10 Mar 1915)
Elizeu Simões Mendes † (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Aug 1950 to 19 Sep 1953)
José Terceiro de Sousa †
Jerónimo Thomé da Silva †
Joaquim José Vieira † (Bishop: 9 Aug 1883 to 14 Sep 1912)

Source(s)

Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará)
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiæ Catholicæ, Volume 1, Page 134
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 2, Page 945
Archdiocese of Fortaleza
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 7, Page 571
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 11, Page 44

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