La Plata (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gustavo Oscar Carrara, Archbishop
Alberto Germán Bochatey Chaneton, O.S.A., Auxiliary Bishop
Jorge Esteban González, Auxiliary Bishop
Federico Guillermo Wechsung, Auxiliary Bishop
Héctor Rubén Aguer, Archbishop Emeritus
Gabriel Antonio Mestre, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 20 April 1934
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Argentina
Square Kilometers: 4,652 (1,796 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.arzolap.org.ar/
Mailing Address: Arzobispado, Calle 14 N. 1009, B1900DVQ La Plata [Buenos Aires], Argentina
Telephone: (0221)425.82.69; 483.76.27
Fax: 425.16.56

Historical Details

Diocese of La Plata
- Latin Name: Platensis
- Erected: 15 February 1897
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Buenos Aires
- Country: Argentina

Past and Present Ordinaries

Mariano Antonio Espinosa † (8 Feb 1898 Appointed - 31 Aug 1900 Appointed, Archbishop of Buenos Aires)
Juan Nepomuceno Terrero y Escalada † (12 Dec 1900 Appointed - 10 Jan 1921 Died)
Francisco Alberti † (13 Jul 1921 Appointed - 27 Jun 1938 Died)
Juan Pascual Chimento † (26 Oct 1938 Appointed - 25 Dec 1946 Died)
Tomás Juan Carlos Solari † (20 Sep 1948 Appointed - 13 May 1954 Died)
Antonio José Plaza † (14 Nov 1955 Appointed - 18 Dec 1985 Retired)
Antonio Quarracino † (18 Dec 1985 Appointed - 10 Jul 1990 Appointed, Archbishop of Buenos Aires)
Carlos Walter Galán Barry † (8 May 1991 Appointed - 12 Jun 2000 Retired)
Héctor Rubén Aguer (12 Jun 2000 Succeeded - 2 Jun 2018 Retired)
Victor Manuel Fernández (2 Jun 2018 Appointed - 1 Jul 2023 Appointed, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith)
Gabriel Antonio Mestre (28 Jul 2023 Appointed - 27 May 2024 Resigned)
Gustavo Oscar Carrara (21 Nov 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of La Plata
15 February 1897	Erected	Archdiocese of Buenos Aires	Diocese of La Plata (erected)
20 April 1934	Territory Lost	Diocese of La Plata (Mercedes, Suipacha, Navarro, San Andrés de Giles, Rojas, Junin, Sagrado Corazón, General Arenales, Leandro N. Mem, Chacabuco, Rawson, Salto, Carmen de Areco, IX de Julio, French, Chivücoy, Alberdi, Bragado, General Viamonte, Lincoln, Boberts, Luyan, ...)	Diocese of Mercedes (erected)
20 April 1934	Territory Lost	Diocese of La Plata (Azul, Cachari, Chillar, Generat Belgrano, Las Flores, Pila, Ayacucho, Tandil, Rauch, Juárez, Tapalqné, General Alvear, Roque Pérez, Saladillo, XXV de Mayo, De la Riestra, Ernestina, Bolivar, Laprida, Olavarría, Hinojo, Colonias San Miguel, and General ..)	Diocese of Azul (erected)
20 April 1934	Territory Lost	Diocese of La Plata (Bahia Blanca, Ing. Wite, Villa Miter, High Point, Military Port, Patagones, Villarino, Tornquist, Saavedra, Pigile, Short Stream, Puan, Lopez Lecube, Carhue, San Miguel de Gazcon, Guamaini, Colonel Suarez, Colony II San Jose, Colony III Santa Maria , ...)	Diocese of Bahía Blanca (erected)
Archdiocese of La Plata
20 April 1934	Elevated	Diocese of La Plata	Archdiocese of La Plata
3 March 1947	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Plata (Colón, Pergamino, San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Ramallo, Bdrtolomé Miter, San Pedro, Baradero, San Antonio de Areco, Exaltación de la Cruz, General Tlriburu, and Campa) Diocese of Mercedes (Rojas and Marcelino Ugarte)	Diocese of San Nicolás de los Arroyos (erected)
11 February 1957	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Plata (Lomas de Zamora, Avellaneda, Lanús, Esteban Echeverría, and Cañuelas)	Diocese of Lomas de Zamora (erected)
11 February 1957	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bahía Blanca (Necochea and Lobería) Archdiocese of La Plata (Pueyrredon, Balcarce, General Alvarado, General Madariaga, General Lavalle, Maipú, Mar Chiquita, and Tordillo)	Diocese of Mar del Plata (erected)
11 February 1957	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Plata (Morón, Matanza, General San Martín, Merlo, and Moreno)	Diocese of Morón (erected)
11 February 1957	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Plata (San Isidro, Vicente López, San Fernando, Tigre, Pilar, and General Sarmiento) Diocese of San Nicolás de los Arroyos (Campana and Exaltación de la Santa Cruz)	Diocese of San Isidro (erected)
10 April 1961	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Plata (Quilmes) Diocese of Lomas de Zamora (Avellaneda)	Diocese of Avellaneda (erected)
2 March 1964	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Plata (Adrogué, Burzaco, Claypole, Longchamps, Mármol, Villa Calzada, Glew, Ministro Rivadavia plus San Vicente Ferrer (San Vicente))	Diocese of Lomas de Zamora
2 March 1964	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Plata (San Juan Bautista and Santa Lucia)	Diocese of Avellaneda
27 March 1980	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Plata (Chascomús, Coronel Brandsen, Castelli, Dolores, General Belgrano, General Guido, General Paz, Monte, and Pila) Diocese of Mar del Plata (General Conesa, General Lavalle, and Maipú)	Diocese of Chascomús (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 La Plata

1950 2,740,000 3,500,000 78.3% 317 375 692 3,959 624 2,503 167 ap1951

1966 670,000 700,000 95.7% 118 73 191 3,507 117 595 64 ap1967

1970 730,000 770,000 94.8% 120 78 198 3,686 112 600 69 ap1971

1976 750,000 800,000 93.8% 115 70 185 4,054 1 86 550 56 ap1977

1980 793,000 843,000 94.1% 117 70 187 4,240 5 101 550 72 ap1981

1990 642,550 755,940 85.0% 105 47 152 4,227 6 61 435 64 ap1991

1999 709,000 836,000 84.8% 95 39 134 5,291 5 54 356 66 ap2000

2000 716,000 845,000 84.7% 92 42 134 5,343 5 57 362 66 ap2001

2001 648,647 763,115 85.0% 94 48 142 4,567 5 120 356 64 ap2002

2002 617,596 726,583 85.0% 96 44 140 4,411 5 114 373 65 ap2003

2003 637,500 750,000 85.0% 106 51 157 4,060 5 120 373 65 ap2004

2004 637,500 750,000 85.0% 106 51 157 4,060 5 127 375 65 ap2005

2013 862,000 935,000 92.2% 122 34 156 5,525 4 59 322 72 ap2014

2016 872,000 991,000 88.0% 124 36 160 5,450 4 64 322 76 ap2017

2019 898,880 1,040,280 86.4% 129 15 144 6,242 7 45 333 75 ap2020

2021 898,880 1,040,280 86.4% 121 15 136 6,609 4 45 333 78 ap2022

2023 915,000 1,059,000 86.4% 116 13 129 7,093 7 43 350 77 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 La Plata
1950	2,740,000	3,500,000	78.3%	317	375	692	3,959		624	2,503	167	ap1951
1966	670,000	700,000	95.7%	118	73	191	3,507		117	595	64	ap1967
1970	730,000	770,000	94.8%	120	78	198	3,686		112	600	69	ap1971
1976	750,000	800,000	93.8%	115	70	185	4,054	1	86	550	56	ap1977
1980	793,000	843,000	94.1%	117	70	187	4,240	5	101	550	72	ap1981
1990	642,550	755,940	85.0%	105	47	152	4,227	6	61	435	64	ap1991
1999	709,000	836,000	84.8%	95	39	134	5,291	5	54	356	66	ap2000
2000	716,000	845,000	84.7%	92	42	134	5,343	5	57	362	66	ap2001
2001	648,647	763,115	85.0%	94	48	142	4,567	5	120	356	64	ap2002
2002	617,596	726,583	85.0%	96	44	140	4,411	5	114	373	65	ap2003
2003	637,500	750,000	85.0%	106	51	157	4,060	5	120	373	65	ap2004
2004	637,500	750,000	85.0%	106	51	157	4,060	5	127	375	65	ap2005
2013	862,000	935,000	92.2%	122	34	156	5,525	4	59	322	72	ap2014
2016	872,000	991,000	88.0%	124	36	160	5,450	4	64	322	76	ap2017
2019	898,880	1,040,280	86.4%	129	15	144	6,242	7	45	333	75	ap2020
2021	898,880	1,040,280	86.4%	121	15	136	6,609	4	45	333	78	ap2022
2023	915,000	1,059,000	86.4%	116	13	129	7,093	7	43	350	77	ap2024