La Paz (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Percy Lorenzo Galvan Flores, Archbishop
Mario Luis Durán Berríos, Auxiliary Bishop
Pedro Luis Fuentes Valencia, C.P., Auxiliary Bishop
Basilio Mamani Quispe, Auxiliary Bishop
Edmundo Luis Flavio Abastoflor Montero, Archbishop Emeritus

Suffragan Dioceses

Corocoro (Territorial Prelature)
Coroico
El Alto

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 18 June 1943
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Bolivia
Square Kilometers: 10,975 (4,239 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.arzobispadolapaz.org/
Mailing Address: Calle Ballivian 1277, La Paz, Bolivia
Telephone: (02)2203-690; 2203-840; 2203-979
Fax: 2203-672

Historical Details

Diocese of La Paz
- Latin Name: Pacensis in Bolivia
- Erected: 4 July 1605
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Sucre
- Country: Bolivia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Diego de Zambrana (de Carmona) † (4 Jul 1605 Appointed - 14 Jan 1608 Appointed, Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas)
Domingo Valderrama y Centeno, O.P. † (28 May 1608 Appointed - 1615 Died)
Pedro de Valencia † (30 Jul 1617 Appointed - 1631 Died)
Feliciano de la Vega Padilla † (5 Sep 1633 Appointed - 13 Sep 1638 Appointed, Archbishop of México, Federal District)
Alfonso de Franco y Luna † (30 May 1639 Appointed - 1645 Died)
Francisco de la Serna y Rimaga Salazar, O.E.S.A. † (21 Aug 1645 Confirmed - Apr 1647 Died)
Luis Antonio de Castro y Castillo † (13 Jan 1648 Confirmed - 7 Oct 1653 Died)
Martín Velasco y Molina † (14 May 1655 Confirmed - 1662 Died)
Martín de Montalvo Calderon de la Barca, O.S.A. † (21 Jul 1664 Appointed - Dec 1668 Died)
Gabriel de Guilléstegui, O.F.M. † (1 Sep 1670 Appointed - 1677 Died)
Juan Pérez de Corcha † (22 Jan 1680 Appointed - )
Juan Queipo de Llano y Valdés † (23 Sep 1680 Appointed - 19 Apr 1694 Appointed, Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas)
Bernardo de Carrasco y Saavedra, O.P. † (19 Jul 1694 Appointed - 24 Aug 1697 Died)
Nicolás Urbán de Mota y Haro † (12 May 1702 Appointed - 25 Dec 1704 Died)
Diego Morcillo Rubio de Auñón de Robledo, O.SS.T. † (14 May 1708 Appointed - 21 Mar 1714 Appointed, Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas)
Mateo Panduro y Villafaña, O.C.D. † (1 Oct 1714 Appointed - 21 Mar 1722 Died)
Alejo Fernando de Rojas y Acevedo † (30 Aug 1723 Appointed - 1730 Died)
Agustín Rodríguez Delgado † (17 Dec 1731 Appointed - 22 Jan 1742 Confirmed, Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas)
Salvador Bermúdez y Becerra † (28 Feb 1742 Confirmed - 14 Jun 1746 Confirmed, Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas)
José de Peralta Barrionuevo y Rocha Benavídez, O.P. † (14 Jun 1746 Confirmed - 17 Nov 1746 Died)
Matías Ibáñez de Segovia † (4 Sep 1747 Confirmed - 25 Aug 1751 Died)
Diego Antonio de Parada † (18 Dec 1752 Confirmed - 25 Jan 1762 Appointed, Archbishop of Lima)
Gregorio Francisco de Campos † (4 May 1764 Appointed - 22 Dec 1789 Died)
Alejandro José de Ochoa y Morillo † (11 Apr 1791 Appointed - 1796 Died)
Remigio de La Santa y Ortega † (24 Jul 1797 Appointed - 10 Aug 1816 Resigned)
Antonio Sánchez Matas, O.F.M. Obs. † (21 Dec 1818 Appointed - 28 Apr 1827 Resigned)
José María Mendizábal López de Velasco † (15 Dec 1828 Appointed - 24 Jul 1835 Appointed, Archbishop of La Plata o Charcas)
Francisco de Paula León de Aguirre Velasco † (19 May 1837 Appointed - 13 Jul 1840 Resigned)
José Manuel Fernández de Córdoba y Meló † (13 Jul 1840 Appointed - 4 Mar 1841 Died)
José Manuel Gregorio Indaburu (Yndaburu) † (22 Jun 1843 Appointed - 16 Dec 1844 Died)
Miguel Orozco † (20 Jan 1848 Appointed - 1849 Died)
Mariano Fernández de Córdoba † (10 Apr 1851 Appointed - 2 May 1868 Died)
Calixto Maria Clavijo Salazar † (24 Sep 1868 Appointed - 27 Apr 1874 Resigned)
Juan de Dios Bosque † (4 May 1874 Confirmed - 9 May 1890 Died)
Juan José Baldivia Morales † (1 Jun 1891 Appointed - 5 Oct 1899 Died)
Nicolás Armentia Ugarte, O.F.M. † (12 Nov 1901 Appointed - 24 Nov 1909 Died)
Manuel José Peña † (30 Nov 1911 Appointed - 10 Aug 1914 Died)
Dionisio Ávila † (27 Jan 1916 Appointed - 30 Jun 1919 Died)
Celestino Loza † (20 Jun 1920 Appointed - 18 Jan 1921 Died)
Auguste Sieffert, C.SS.R. † (15 Nov 1924 Appointed - 24 Feb 1934 Resigned)
Abel Isidoro Antezana y Rojas, C.M.F. † (16 Jan 1938 Appointed - 5 Apr 1967 Retired)
Jorge Manrique Hurtado † (27 Jul 1967 Appointed - 24 Feb 1987 Retired)
Luis Sáinz Hinojosa, O.F.M. † (24 Feb 1987 Appointed - 31 Jul 1996 Resigned)
Edmundo Luis Flavio Abastoflor Montero (31 Jul 1996 Appointed - 23 May 2020 Retired)
Percy Lorenzo Galvan Flores (23 May 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of La Paz
4 July 1605	Erected	Diocese of La Plata o Charcas	Diocese of La Paz (erected)
20 May 1921	Territory Lost	Diocese of La Paz (Coven and St. Anna)	Vicariate Apostolic of El Beni o Beni
Archdiocese of La Paz
18 June 1943	Elevated	Diocese of La Paz	Archdiocese of La Paz
25 December 1949	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Paz (Pacajes, Sicasica, Loayza, and Inquisivi)	Territorial Prelature of Corocoro (erected)
7 November 1958	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Paz (Bautista Saavedra, Larecaja, Caupolicán, and Nor Yungas (except portions on the right side of the Rio Beni river))	Territorial Prelature of Coroico (erected)
25 June 1994	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of La Paz (Muñecas, Camacho, Manco Kapac, Omasuyos, Los Andes, and Ingavi, and part of Murillo (El Alto, Zongo, and part of Achocalla))	Diocese of El Alto (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 Paz

1950 980,000 1,000,000 98.0% 48 86 134 7,313 102 234 122 ap1951

1966 850,000 1,000,000 85.0% 49 131 180 4,722 195 314 77 ap1967

1968 800,000 1,200,000 66.7% 57 150 207 3,864 165 457 492 ap1971

1976 1,429,750 1,505,000 95.0% 60 138 198 7,220 7 183 355 74 ap1977

1980 1,628,000 1,809,000 90.0% 57 130 187 8,705 10 176 368 74 ap1981

1990 2,286,000 2,504,000 91.3% 57 137 194 11,783 16 291 237 86 ap1991

1999 860,000 974,000 88.3% 58 82 140 6,142 3 122 263 54 ap2000

2000 937,400 1,061,600 88.3% 56 78 134 6,995 3 128 270 55 ap2001

2001 1,021,766 1,160,683 88.0% 68 81 149 6,857 3 135 290 55 ap2002

2002 1,109,978 1,265,145 87.7% 72 84 156 7,115 3 136 300 55 ap2003

2003 1,206,769 1,369,645 88.1% 64 80 144 8,380 3 131 310 53 ap2004

2004 1,292,872 1,474,150 87.7% 62 91 153 8,450 3 152 332 53 ap2005

2013 840,793 1,057,287 79.5% 80 88 168 5,004 1 139 333 53 ap2014

2016 873,402 1,095,906 79.7% 71 66 137 6,375 83 177 53 ap2017

2019 930,516 1,208,316 77.0% 72 61 133 6,996 2 84 147 53 ap2020

2021 948,921 1,249,740 75.9% 71 41 112 8,472 2 64 132 53 ap2022

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 Paz
1950	980,000	1,000,000	98.0%	48	86	134	7,313		102	234	122	ap1951
1966	850,000	1,000,000	85.0%	49	131	180	4,722		195	314	77	ap1967
1968	800,000	1,200,000	66.7%	57	150	207	3,864		165	457	492	ap1971
1976	1,429,750	1,505,000	95.0%	60	138	198	7,220	7	183	355	74	ap1977
1980	1,628,000	1,809,000	90.0%	57	130	187	8,705	10	176	368	74	ap1981
1990	2,286,000	2,504,000	91.3%	57	137	194	11,783	16	291	237	86	ap1991
1999	860,000	974,000	88.3%	58	82	140	6,142	3	122	263	54	ap2000
2000	937,400	1,061,600	88.3%	56	78	134	6,995	3	128	270	55	ap2001
2001	1,021,766	1,160,683	88.0%	68	81	149	6,857	3	135	290	55	ap2002
2002	1,109,978	1,265,145	87.7%	72	84	156	7,115	3	136	300	55	ap2003
2003	1,206,769	1,369,645	88.1%	64	80	144	8,380	3	131	310	53	ap2004
2004	1,292,872	1,474,150	87.7%	62	91	153	8,450	3	152	332	53	ap2005
2013	840,793	1,057,287	79.5%	80	88	168	5,004	1	139	333	53	ap2014
2016	873,402	1,095,906	79.7%	71	66	137	6,375		83	177	53	ap2017
2019	930,516	1,208,316	77.0%	72	61	133	6,996	2	84	147	53	ap2020
2021	948,921	1,249,740	75.9%	71	41	112	8,472	2	64	132	53	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Francisco de Paula León de Aguirre Velasco † (Bishop: 19 May 1837 to 13 Jul 1840)
Abel Isidoro Antezana y Rojas, C.M.F. † (Bishop: 16 Jan 1938; Archbishop: 18 Jun 1943 to 5 Apr 1967)
Nicolás Armentia Ugarte, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 12 Nov 1901 to 24 Nov 1909)
Dionisio Ávila † (Bishop: 27 Jan 1916 to 30 Jun 1919)
Juan José Baldivia Morales † (Bishop: 1 Jun 1891 to 5 Oct 1899)
Salvador Bermúdez y Becerra † (Bishop: 28 Feb 1742 to 14 Jun 1746)
Juan de Dios Bosque † (Deacon: 22 Apr 1854; Priest: 23 Apr 1854; Bishop: 4 May 1874 to 9 May 1890)
Gregorio Francisco de Campos † (Bishop: 4 May 1764 to 22 Dec 1789)
Bernardo de Carrasco y Saavedra, O.P. † (Bishop: 19 Jul 1694 to 24 Aug 1697)
Luis Morgan (Aloysius) Casey † (Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Nov 1983 to 18 Jan 1988)
Luis Antonio de Castro y Castillo † (Bishop: 13 Jan 1648 to 7 Oct 1653)
Calixto Maria Clavijo Salazar † (Deacon: 6 Jul 1839; Priest: 7 Jul 1839; Bishop: 24 Sep 1868 to 27 Apr 1874)
Feliciano de la Vega Padilla † (Bishop: 5 Sep 1633 to 13 Sep 1638)
Gonzalo Ramiro del Castillo Crespo, O.C.D. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Nov 1983 to 14 Apr 2000)
Adhemar Esquivel Kohenque † (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Nov 1968 to 10 Nov 1992)
Mariano Fernández de Córdoba † (Deacon: 20 Apr 1828; Priest: 27 Apr 1828; Bishop: 10 Apr 1851 to 2 May 1868)
José Manuel Fernández de Córdoba y Meló † (Bishop: 13 Jul 1840 to 4 Mar 1841)
Alfonso de Franco y Luna † (Bishop: 30 May 1639 to 1645)
Gabriel de Guilléstegui, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 1 Sep 1670 to 1677)
José Armando Gutiérrez Granier † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1956 to 19 Aug 1965)
Matías Ibáñez de Segovia † (Bishop: 4 Sep 1747 to 25 Aug 1751)
José Manuel Gregorio Indaburu (Yndaburu) † (Bishop: 22 Jun 1843 to 16 Dec 1844)
Remigio de La Santa y Ortega † (Bishop: 24 Jul 1797 to 10 Aug 1816)
Francisco de la Serna y Rimaga Salazar, O.E.S.A. † (Bishop: 21 Aug 1645 to Apr 1647)
Celestino Loza † (Priest: 13 Aug 1888; Bishop: 20 Jun 1920 to 18 Jan 1921)
Jorge Manrique Hurtado † (Priest: 23 Sep 1939; Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Feb 1952 to 28 Jul 1956; Archbishop: 27 Jul 1967 to 24 Feb 1987)
Nino Marzoli, C. R. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Apr 1988 to 28 Aug 1992)
José Clemente Maurer, C.SS.R. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Mar 1950 to 27 Oct 1951)
José María Mendizábal López de Velasco † (Bishop: 15 Dec 1828 to 24 Jul 1835)
Alejandro Mestre Descals, S.J. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 28 Jun 1982 to 24 Feb 1987)
Martín de Montalvo Calderon de la Barca, O.S.A. † (Bishop: 21 Jul 1664 to Dec 1668)
Diego Morcillo Rubio de Auñón de Robledo, O.SS.T. † (Bishop: 14 May 1708 to 21 Mar 1714)
Nicolás Urbán de Mota y Haro † (Bishop: 12 May 1702 to 25 Dec 1704)
Alejandro José de Ochoa y Morillo † (Bishop: 11 Apr 1791 to 1796)
Miguel Orozco † (Bishop: 20 Jan 1848 to 1849)
Mateo Panduro y Villafaña, O.C.D. † (Bishop: 1 Oct 1714 to 21 Mar 1722)
Diego Antonio de Parada † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1752 to 25 Jan 1762)
Manuel José Peña † (Bishop: 30 Nov 1911 to 10 Aug 1914)
José de Peralta Barrionuevo y Rocha Benavídez, O.P. † (Bishop: 14 Jun 1746 to 17 Nov 1746)
Juan Pérez de Corcha † (Bishop: 22 Jan 1680)
Gennaro Maria Prata Vuolo, S.D.B. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Dec 1960 to 21 Nov 1981)
Juan Queipo de Llano y Valdés † (Bishop: 23 Sep 1680 to 19 Apr 1694)
Francisco Javier Rodríguez †
Agustín Rodríguez Delgado † (Bishop: 17 Dec 1731 to 22 Jan 1742)
Alejo Fernando de Rojas y Acevedo † (Bishop: 30 Aug 1723 to 1730)
Luis Sáinz Hinojosa, O.F.M. † (Archbishop: 24 Feb 1987 to 31 Jul 1996)
Antonio Sánchez Matas, O.F.M. Obs. † (Bishop: 21 Dec 1818 to 28 Apr 1827)
Andrés Bernardo (Andrew Bernard) Schierhoff † (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Nov 1968 to 17 Dec 1982)
Auguste Sieffert, C.SS.R. † (Bishop: 15 Nov 1924 to 24 Feb 1934)
Julio Terrazas Sandoval, C.SS.R. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Apr 1978 to 9 Jan 1982)
Domingo Valderrama y Centeno, O.P. † (Archbishop (Personal Title): 28 May 1608 to 1615)
Pedro de Valencia † (Bishop: 30 Jul 1617 to 1631)
Martín Velasco y Molina † (Bishop: 14 May 1655 to 1662)
José María Yáñez de Montenegro †
Diego de Zambrana (de Carmona) † (Bishop: 4 Jul 1605 to 14 Jan 1608)

Source(s)

Diocese of La Paz
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 159, to Page 160
Archdiocese of La Paz
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 35, Page 388, to Page 390

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

✠

Archdiocese of La Paz

Archidioecesis Pacensis in Bolivia