Iguatu (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Geraldo Freire Soares, C.SS.R., Bishop
Edson de Castro Homem, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 28 January 1961
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Fortaleza
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Ceara
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 21,904 (8,460 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 1
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesedeiguatu.org.br/
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Rua Vicente Bezerra da Costa 479, Bairro Sao Sebastio, 63500-000 Iguatu, CE, Brazil
Telephone: (088)3581-0731
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

José Mauro Ramalho de Alarcón Santiago † (13 Oct 1961 Appointed - 26 Jul 2000 Retired)
José Doth de Oliveira † (26 Jul 2000 Succeeded - 7 Jan 2009 Resigned)
João José da Costa, O. Carm. (7 Jan 2009 Appointed - 5 Nov 2014 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Aracajú, Sergipe)
Edson de Castro Homem (6 May 2015 Appointed - 24 Feb 2021 Resigned)
Geraldo Freire Soares, C.SS.R. (4 May 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
28 January 1961	Erected	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)
28 September 1963	Territory Lost	Diocese of Iguatu Diocese of Sobral	Diocese of Crateús (erected)

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

1966 319,453 339,424 94.1% 24 7 31 10,304 7 35 18 ap1967

1970 428,878 451,450 95.0% 21 8 29 14,788 8 31 19 ap1971

1976 420,898 443,050 95.0% 16 7 23 18,299 7 12 19 ap1977

1980 544,000 573,000 94.9% 12 6 18 30,222 6 23 19 ap1981

1990 521,671 549,127 95.0% 14 5 19 27,456 5 51 19 ap1991

1999 550,000 .0% 18 6 24 0 9 31 19 ap2000*

2000 527,000 555,000 95.0% 25 5 30 17,566 8 31 19 ap2001

2001 532,000 560,000 95.0% 24 5 29 18,344 8 15 19 ap2002

2002 509,000 512,000 99.4% 18 5 23 22,130 7 29 19 ap2003

2003 486,086 512,313 94.9% 19 2 21 23,146 3 29 19 ap2004

2004 486,086 512,313 94.9% 18 1 19 25,583 3 26 21 ap2005

2006 498,000 525,000 94.9% 24 1 25 19,920 4 43 21 ap2007

2013 545,000 573,000 95.1% 28 5 33 16,515 8 48 26 ap2014

2016 558,700 572,000 97.7% 34 4 38 14,702 7 47 27 ap2017

2019 568,000 601,327 94.5% 36 4 40 14,200 8 52 29 ap2020

2021 511,123 607,549 84.1% 33 5 38 13,450 9 50 29 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	319,453	339,424	94.1%	24	7	31	10,304	7	35	18	ap1967
1970	428,878	451,450	95.0%	21	8	29	14,788	8	31	19	ap1971
1976	420,898	443,050	95.0%	16	7	23	18,299	7	12	19	ap1977
1980	544,000	573,000	94.9%	12	6	18	30,222	6	23	19	ap1981
1990	521,671	549,127	95.0%	14	5	19	27,456	5	51	19	ap1991
1999		550,000	.0%	18	6	24	0	9	31	19	ap2000*
2000	527,000	555,000	95.0%	25	5	30	17,566	8	31	19	ap2001
2001	532,000	560,000	95.0%	24	5	29	18,344	8	15	19	ap2002
2002	509,000	512,000	99.4%	18	5	23	22,130	7	29	19	ap2003
2003	486,086	512,313	94.9%	19	2	21	23,146	3	29	19	ap2004
2004	486,086	512,313	94.9%	18	1	19	25,583	3	26	21	ap2005
2006	498,000	525,000	94.9%	24	1	25	19,920	4	43	21	ap2007
2013	545,000	573,000	95.1%	28	5	33	16,515	8	48	26	ap2014
2016	558,700	572,000	97.7%	34	4	38	14,702	7	47	27	ap2017
2019	568,000	601,327	94.5%	36	4	40	14,200	8	52	29	ap2020
2021	511,123	607,549	84.1%	33	5	38	13,450	9	50	29	ap2022