Melo (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Pablo Alfonso Jourdán Alvariza, Bishop
Luis Serapio del Castillo Estrada, S.J., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Split: 15 November 1955
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Montevideo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Uruguay
Square Kilometers: 23,177 (8,952 Square Miles)
Blog: https://dar-y-comunicar.blogspot.com/
Mailing Address: Obispado, Avda. Brasil 829, 37000 Melo, Dpto. de Cerro Largo, Uruguay
Telephone: (0464)22.386
Fax: (same)

Past and Present Ordinaries

José Maria Cavallero † (20 Dec 1955 Appointed - 9 Jul 1960 Appointed, Bishop of Minas)
Orestes Santiago Nuti Sanguinetti, S.D.B. † (9 Jul 1960 Appointed - 2 Jan 1962 Appointed, Bishop of Canelones)
Roberto Reinaldo Cáceres González † (2 Jan 1962 Appointed - 23 Apr 1996 Retired)
Nicolás Cotugno Fanizzi, S.D.B. (13 Jun 1996 Appointed - 4 Dec 1998 Appointed, Archbishop of Montevideo)
Luis Serapio del Castillo Estrada, S.J. (21 Dec 1999 Appointed - 13 Jun 2009 Retired)
Heriberto Andrés Bodeant Fernández (13 Jun 2009 Appointed - 19 Mar 2021 Appointed, Bishop of Canelones)
Pablo Alfonso Jourdán Alvariza (15 Sep 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
15 November 1955	Split	Diocese of Florida-Melo (Treinta y Tres, and Cerro Largo) Archdiocese of Montevideo (Lavalleja, Rocha, and Maldonado)	Diocese of Melo
25 June 1960	Territory Lost	Diocese of Melo (Lavalleja, Rocha, and Maldonato)	Diocese of Minas (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 95,000 120,000 79.2% 15 14 29 3,275 14 64 10 ap1967

1970 90,000 120,000 75.0% 12 15 27 3,333 16 62 10 ap1971

1976 90,000 125,000 72.0% 7 18 25 3,600 19 51 14 ap1977

1980 91,400 127,100 71.9% 10 12 22 4,154 1 12 58 16 ap1981

1990 97,000 138,000 70.3% 14 9 23 4,217 1 15 79 16 ap1991

1999 126,000 175,500 71.8% 17 5 22 5,727 1 5 40 16 ap2000

2000 127,000 177,000 71.8% 15 5 20 6,350 1 33 40 16 ap2001

2001 99,000 145,000 68.3% 14 8 22 4,500 1 8 34 16 ap2002

2002 95,000 133,000 71.4% 13 8 21 4,523 1 8 38 16 ap2003

2003 95,000 133,000 71.4% 13 8 21 4,523 1 8 38 16 ap2004

2004 110,000 150,000 73.3% 11 8 19 5,789 1 8 39 16 ap2005

2013 126,000 158,300 79.6% 20 3 23 5,478 3 38 16 ap2014

2016 102,366 132,832 77.1% 14 1 15 6,824 3 1 36 16 ap2017

2019 104,000 139,500 74.6% 12 2 14 7,428 5 2 36 16 ap2020

2021 102,124 139,000 73.5% 13 1 14 7,294 4 1 31 15 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	95,000	120,000	79.2%	15	14	29	3,275		14	64	10	ap1967
1970	90,000	120,000	75.0%	12	15	27	3,333		16	62	10	ap1971
1976	90,000	125,000	72.0%	7	18	25	3,600		19	51	14	ap1977
1980	91,400	127,100	71.9%	10	12	22	4,154	1	12	58	16	ap1981
1990	97,000	138,000	70.3%	14	9	23	4,217	1	15	79	16	ap1991
1999	126,000	175,500	71.8%	17	5	22	5,727	1	5	40	16	ap2000
2000	127,000	177,000	71.8%	15	5	20	6,350	1	33	40	16	ap2001
2001	99,000	145,000	68.3%	14	8	22	4,500	1	8	34	16	ap2002
2002	95,000	133,000	71.4%	13	8	21	4,523	1	8	38	16	ap2003
2003	95,000	133,000	71.4%	13	8	21	4,523	1	8	38	16	ap2004
2004	110,000	150,000	73.3%	11	8	19	5,789	1	8	39	16	ap2005
2013	126,000	158,300	79.6%	20	3	23	5,478		3	38	16	ap2014
2016	102,366	132,832	77.1%	14	1	15	6,824	3	1	36	16	ap2017
2019	104,000	139,500	74.6%	12	2	14	7,428	5	2	36	16	ap2020
2021	102,124	139,000	73.5%	13	1	14	7,294	4	1	31	15	ap2022