Nagpur (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Elias Joseph Gonsalves, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 19 September 1953
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 59,024 (22,798 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, 25 Kamptee Road, Mohan Nagar P.O., Nagpur-440001, Maharashtra, India
Telephone: (0712)2533.765

Historical Details

Diocese of Nagpur
- Latin Name: Nagpurensis
- Erected: 11 July 1887
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor)
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Alexis Riccaz, M.S.F.S. † (2 Aug 1887 Appointed - 8 Sep 1892 Died)
Charles-Félix Pelvat, M.S.F.S. † (2 Oct 1893 Appointed - 23 Jul 1900 Died)
Jean-Marie Crochet † (28 Nov 1900 Appointed - 6 Jun 1903 Died)
Etienne-Marie Bonaventure, M.S.F.S. † (17 Sep 1904 Appointed - 12 Mar 1907 Died)
François-Etienne Coppel, M.S.F.S. † (22 Jun 1907 Appointed - 16 Mar 1933 Died)
Louis-François Gayet, M.S.F.S. † (1 Feb 1934 Appointed - 26 Aug 1950 Died)
Eugene Louis D’Souza, M.S.F.S. † (12 Jul 1951 Appointed - 13 Sep 1963 Appointed, Archbishop of Bhopal)
Leonard Joseph Raymond † (16 Jan 1964 Appointed - 1 Feb 1974 Died)
Leobard D’Souza † (1 Jul 1975 Appointed - 17 Jan 1998 Resigned)
Abraham Viruthakulangara † (17 Jan 1998 Appointed - 19 Apr 2018 Died)
Elias Joseph Gonsalves (3 Dec 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Nagpur
11 July 1887	Erected	Diocese of Vizagapatnam	Diocese of Nagpur (erected)
18 July 1932	Territory Lost	Diocese of Allahabad (districts of Sagar, Damoh, Rewa, Siddhi, Shahdol, Satna, Panna, Chattarpur, and Tikamgarh) Diocese of Nagpur (districts of Jabalpur, Mandla, Narsinghpur and the tahsil of Laknadon)	Prefecture Apostolic of Jubbulpore (erected)
11 March 1935	Territory Lost	Diocese of Ajmer (Part of the Administration of Central India, which is south of the Administration of Rajputana, the Prefecture (tahsil) of Thandla, the districts of Isaghar and Mandasor, and the State of Sitaman) Diocese of Allahabad (State of Bhopal and the district of Bhilsa) Diocese of Nagpur (District of Eoshangabad (except Pachmari), district of Nimar, State of Barwani, and that part of the States of Indore and Dhar, which lies to the south of the river Narbada)	Prefecture Apostolic of Indore (erected)
14 June 1951	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Calcutta (Rairakhol, Athmalik, Angul, Pallahara, Talcher, Hindol, and Dhenkanal along with part of Sambalpur and Sonpur) Diocese of Nagpur (Patna and part of Sambalpur and Sonpur) Diocese of Ranchi (Gangpur, Bonai, and Bamra)	Diocese of Sambalpur (erected)
13 December 1951	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nagpur (Rest of Raigarh) Diocese of Ranchi (Surguia and most of Raigarh)	Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur (erected)
Archdiocese of Nagpur
19 September 1953	Elevated	Diocese of Nagpur	Archdiocese of Nagpur
8 May 1955	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Nagpur (Amravati, Akola, Yeotmal, Buldana, Nander, Parbhana, and Aurungabad)	Diocese of Amravati (erected)
16 January 1964	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Nagpur (Civil Districts: Raipur, Bilaspur, and Drug)	Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur (erected)
29 July 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Amravati Archdiocese of Nagpur	Apostolic Exarchate of Chanda (Syro-Malabar) (erected)

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

Diocese of Nagpur

1950 34,169 15,396,710 .2% 26 25 51 669 38 212 21 ap1951

Archdiocese of Nagpur

1969 12,684 3,336,684 .4% 47 24 71 178 49 154 15 ap1971

1980 13,844 10,972,000 .1% 47 36 83 166 226 230 5 ap1981

1990 15,393 13,323,000 .1% 52 33 85 181 193 253 5 ap1991

1999 22,663 11,050,000 .2% 44 57 101 224 240 324 24 ap2000

2000 22,626 11,500,000 .2% 43 58 101 224 218 324 32 ap2001

2001 23,185 11,000,000 .2% 42 62 104 222 250 397 32 ap2002

2002 23,286 11,000,000 .2% 44 84 128 181 353 403 32 ap2003

2003 24,479 11,000,000 .2% 45 80 125 195 419 407 21 ap2004

2004 24,446 11,000,000 .2% 44 80 124 197 379 421 24 ap2005

2013 25,500 12,202,000 .2% 47 96 143 178 244 540 34 ap2014

2016 25,800 12,687,000 .2% 52 98 150 172 452 464 36 ap2017

2019 28,500 13,165,400 .2% 54 105 159 179 455 546 35 ap2020

2021 28,500 13,442,390 .2% 52 105 157 181 403 525 36 ap2022

2023 29,100 13,717,000 .2% 53 106 159 183 404 525 36 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Nagpur
1950	34,169	15,396,710	.2%	26	25	51	669	38	212	21	ap1951
Archdiocese of Nagpur
1969	12,684	3,336,684	.4%	47	24	71	178	49	154	15	ap1971
1980	13,844	10,972,000	.1%	47	36	83	166	226	230	5	ap1981
1990	15,393	13,323,000	.1%	52	33	85	181	193	253	5	ap1991
1999	22,663	11,050,000	.2%	44	57	101	224	240	324	24	ap2000
2000	22,626	11,500,000	.2%	43	58	101	224	218	324	32	ap2001
2001	23,185	11,000,000	.2%	42	62	104	222	250	397	32	ap2002
2002	23,286	11,000,000	.2%	44	84	128	181	353	403	32	ap2003
2003	24,479	11,000,000	.2%	45	80	125	195	419	407	21	ap2004
2004	24,446	11,000,000	.2%	44	80	124	197	379	421	24	ap2005
2013	25,500	12,202,000	.2%	47	96	143	178	244	540	34	ap2014
2016	25,800	12,687,000	.2%	52	98	150	172	452	464	36	ap2017
2019	28,500	13,165,400	.2%	54	105	159	179	455	546	35	ap2020
2021	28,500	13,442,390	.2%	52	105	157	181	403	525	36	ap2022
2023	29,100	13,717,000	.2%	53	106	159	183	404	525	36	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Elias Joseph Gonsalves (Archbishop: 3 Dec 2018)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Etienne-Marie Bonaventure, M.S.F.S. † (Bishop: 17 Sep 1904 to 12 Mar 1907)
François-Etienne Coppel, M.S.F.S. † (Bishop: 22 Jun 1907 to 16 Mar 1933)
Jean-Marie Crochet † (Bishop: 28 Nov 1900 to 6 Jun 1903)
Eugene Louis D’Souza, M.S.F.S. † (Bishop: 12 Jul 1951; Archbishop: 19 Sep 1953 to 13 Sep 1963)
Leobard D’Souza † (Archbishop: 1 Jul 1975 to 17 Jan 1998)
Louis-François Gayet, M.S.F.S. † (Bishop: 1 Feb 1934 to 26 Aug 1950)
Sylvester Monteiro † (Priest: 21 Dec 1960; Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Dec 1993 to 9 Feb 1999)
Charles-Félix Pelvat, M.S.F.S. † (Bishop: 2 Oct 1893 to 23 Jul 1900)
Leonard Joseph Raymond † (Archbishop: 16 Jan 1964 to 1 Feb 1974)
Alexis Riccaz, M.S.F.S. † (Bishop: 2 Aug 1887 to 8 Sep 1892)
Abraham Viruthakulangara † (Archbishop: 17 Jan 1998 to 19 Apr 2018)

Source(s)

Archdiocese of Nagpur
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 83, to Page 87

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Archdiocese of Nagpur

Archidioecesis Nagpurensis