Pesqueira (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

José Luiz Ferreira Salles, C.Ss.R., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 2 August 1918
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Pernambuco
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 10,065 (3,887 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 2
Official Web Site: http://diocesedepesqueira.com.br/
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Rua Cardeal Arcoverde 23, 55200-000 Pesqueira, PE, Brazil
Telephone: (087)3835-1562
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Diocese of Floresta
- Latin Name: Florestensis
- Erected: 5 December 1910
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Olinda
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Augusto Álvaro da Silva † (12 May 1911 Appointed - 25 Jun 1915 Appointed, Bishop of Barra (do Rio Grande), Bahia)
José Antônio de Oliveira Lopes † (26 Jun 1915 Appointed - 24 Nov 1932 Died)
Adalberto Accioli Sobral † (13 Jan 1934 Appointed - 18 Jan 1947 Appointed, Archbishop of São Luís do Maranhão)
Adelmo Cavalcante Machado † (3 Apr 1948 Appointed - 24 Jun 1955 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Maceió, Alagoas)
Severino Mariano de Aguiar † (3 Dec 1956 Appointed - 14 Mar 1980 Retired)
Manuel Palmeira da Rocha † (14 Mar 1980 Appointed - 26 May 1993 Resigned)
Bernardino Marchió (26 May 1993 Succeeded - 6 Nov 2002 Appointed, Bishop of Caruaru, Pernambuco)
Francesco Biasin (23 Jul 2003 Appointed - 8 Jun 2011 Appointed, Bishop of Barra do Piraí-Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro)
José Luiz Ferreira Salles, C.Ss.R. (15 Feb 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Floresta
5 December 1910	Erected	Diocese of Olinda	Diocese of Floresta (erected)
Diocese of Pesqueira
2 August 1918	Name Changed	Diocese of Floresta Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife (Pesqueira, Belho Jardim, Brejo da Mae de Deus, Cimbres, Pedra, and Buique)	Diocese of Pesqueira
30 November 1923	Territory Lost	Diocese of Pesqueira (Petrolina, Boa Vista, Cabrobó, Leopoldina, Serrinha, Ouricuri, São Gonçalo, Exu, and Granito)	Diocese of Petrolina (erected)
7 August 1948	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nazaré (Santa Cruz) Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife (Nossa Senhora das Dores de Garuarú, Nossa Senhora do Rosario de Garuará, São Gaetano, Santo Antonio de Cachoeirinha, Nossa Senhora do Ó Altinho, Santo Antonio de Behedouro, São Joaquim, Nossa Senhora da Gonceção do Bonito, São Felix de Gamocim, São José..) Diocese of Pesqueira (Riacho das Almas)	Diocese of Caruaru (erected)
2 July 1956	Territory Lost	Diocese of Pesqueira (Itapetim, São José do Egito, Tabira, Afogados da Ingázeira, Carnaíba, Flores, Triunfo, Serra Talhada, and São José do Belmonte)	Diocese of Afogados da Ingazeira (erected)
15 February 1964	Territory Lost	Diocese of Pesqueira (Floresta, Beiern do Rio Sao Francisco, Betania, Custòdia, Inajá, Petrolândia, and Tacaratu) Diocese of Petrolina (Cabroró)	Diocese of Floresta (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 Pesqueira

1950 392,000 392,887 99.8% 32 10 42 9,333 10 36 25 ap1951

1965 266,000 271,000 98.2% 19 7 26 10,230 5 25 16 ap1967

1970 301,000 306,000 98.4% 17 17 17,705 17 ap1971

1976 303,000 310,000 97.7% 19 8 27 11,222 1 8 28 19 ap1977

1980 325,000 329,000 98.8% 14 11 25 13,000 2 12 39 20 ap1981

1990 410,000 428,000 95.8% 17 10 27 15,185 5 10 27 21 ap1991

1998 465,000 484,000 96.1% 22 10 32 14,531 5 10 31 24 ap2001

1999 465,000 484,000 96.1% 21 10 31 15,000 5 10 31 24 ap2000

2001 470,000 490,000 95.9% 30 7 37 12,702 5 7 37 24 ap2002

2002 446,000 494,000 90.3% 27 5 32 13,937 5 5 33 25 ap2003

2003 370,200 410,200 90.2% 37 5 42 8,814 5 5 36 25 ap2004

2004 370,200 410,200 90.2% 27 4 31 11,941 5 4 37 25 ap2005

2013 413,000 459,000 90.0% 35 8 43 9,604 2 8 40 25 ap2014

2016 423,400 471,000 89.9% 34 6 40 10,585 2 6 40 25 ap2017

2019 391,819 501,900 78.1% 36 8 44 8,904 7 16 35 25 ap2020

2021 398,120 509,900 78.1% 35 8 43 9,258 7 9 42 25 ap2022

2023 401,000 513,000 78.2% 35 9 44 9,113 7 9 39 22 ap2024

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 Pesqueira
1950	392,000	392,887	99.8%	32	10	42	9,333		10	36	25	ap1951
1965	266,000	271,000	98.2%	19	7	26	10,230		5	25	16	ap1967
1970	301,000	306,000	98.4%	17		17	17,705				17	ap1971
1976	303,000	310,000	97.7%	19	8	27	11,222	1	8	28	19	ap1977
1980	325,000	329,000	98.8%	14	11	25	13,000	2	12	39	20	ap1981
1990	410,000	428,000	95.8%	17	10	27	15,185	5	10	27	21	ap1991
1998	465,000	484,000	96.1%	22	10	32	14,531	5	10	31	24	ap2001
1999	465,000	484,000	96.1%	21	10	31	15,000	5	10	31	24	ap2000
2001	470,000	490,000	95.9%	30	7	37	12,702	5	7	37	24	ap2002
2002	446,000	494,000	90.3%	27	5	32	13,937	5	5	33	25	ap2003
2003	370,200	410,200	90.2%	37	5	42	8,814	5	5	36	25	ap2004
2004	370,200	410,200	90.2%	27	4	31	11,941	5	4	37	25	ap2005
2013	413,000	459,000	90.0%	35	8	43	9,604	2	8	40	25	ap2014
2016	423,400	471,000	89.9%	34	6	40	10,585	2	6	40	25	ap2017
2019	391,819	501,900	78.1%	36	8	44	8,904	7	16	35	25	ap2020
2021	398,120	509,900	78.1%	35	8	43	9,258	7	9	42	25	ap2022
2023	401,000	513,000	78.2%	35	9	44	9,113	7	9	39	22	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Francesco Biasin (Bishop: 23 Jul 2003 to 8 Jun 2011)
José Luiz Ferreira Salles, C.Ss.R. (Bishop: 15 Feb 2012)
Geraldo Freire Soares, C.Ss.R.
Nereudo Freire Henrique
Bernardino Marchió (Coadjutor Bishop: 27 Mar 1991; Bishop: 26 May 1993 to 6 Nov 2002)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Adalberto Accioli Sobral † (Bishop: 13 Jan 1934 to 18 Jan 1947)
Severino Mariano de Aguiar † (Bishop: 3 Dec 1956 to 14 Mar 1980)
Augusto Carvalho † (Priest: 8 Dec 1943 to 8 Aug 1959)
Adelmo Cavalcante Machado † (Bishop: 3 Apr 1948 to 24 Jun 1955)
Augusto Álvaro da Silva † (Bishop: 12 May 1911 to 25 Jun 1915)
José Antônio de Oliveira Lopes † (Bishop: 26 Jun 1915 to 24 Nov 1932)
Manuel Palmeira da Rocha † (Bishop: 14 Mar 1980 to 26 May 1993)
João de Souza Lima, O. Cist. † (Priest: 12 Nov 1939 to 14 May 1949)

Source(s)

Diocese of Floresta
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 2, Page 945
Diocese of Pesqueira
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 13, Page 463, to Page 466

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Diocese of Pesqueira

Dioecesis Pesqueirensis