Petrolina (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Antônio Carlos Cruz Santos, M.S.C., Bishop
Francisco Canindé Palhano, Bishop Emeritus
Paulo Cardoso da Silva, O. Carm., Bishop Emeritus
Manoel dos Reis de Farias, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 30 November 1923
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Pernambuco
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 16,260 (6,280 Square Miles)
Description: Petrolina, Afrânio, Dormentes, Santa Filomena, Lagoa Grande, Santa Maria da Boa Vista, Orocó, and Santa Cruz
Conference Region: Nordeste 2
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesedepetrolina.org
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Praca Dom Antonio Malan 99, 56302-330 Petroliina, PE, Brazil
Telephone: (087)3861-2874
Fax: 3861-5929

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antônio Malan, S.D.B. † (3 Jan 1924 Appointed - 28 Oct 1931 Died)
Idílio José Soares † (16 Sep 1932 Appointed - 12 Jun 1943 Appointed, Bishop of Santos, Sao Paulo)
Avelar Brandão Vilela † (13 Jun 1946 Appointed - 5 Nov 1955 Appointed, Archbishop of Teresina, Piaui)
Antônio Campelo de Aragão, S.D.B. † (18 Dec 1956 Appointed - 6 Feb 1975 Resigned)
Gerardo de Andrade Ponte † (6 Feb 1975 Appointed - 5 Dec 1983 Appointed, Bishop of Patos, Paraiba)
Paulo Cardoso da Silva, O. Carm. (30 Nov 1984 Appointed - 27 Jul 2011 Retired)
Manoel dos Reis de Farias (27 Jul 2011 Appointed - 12 Jul 2017 Resigned)
Francisco Canindé Palhano (3 Jan 2018 Appointed - 24 Apr 2024 Retired)
Antônio Carlos Cruz Santos, M.S.C. (24 Apr 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
30 November 1923	Erected	Diocese of Pesqueira (Petrolina, Boa Vista, Cabrobó, Leopoldina, Serrinha, Ouricuri, São Gonçalo, Exu, and Granito)	Diocese of Petrolina (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)
16 June 2010	Territory Lost	Diocese of Floresta (Cabrobó) Diocese of Petrolina (Salgueiro, Araripina, Bodocó, Cedro, Exu, Granito, Ipubi, Moreilândia, Ouricuri, Parnamirim, Serrita, Terra Nova, Trindade, and Verdejante)	Diocese of Salgueiro (erected)

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

1950 160,000 160,000 100.0% 11 3 14 11,428 19 13 ap1951

1966 291,000 15 1 16 18,187 56 12 ap1967

1968 310,000 320,000 96.9% 15 15 20,666 27 8 ap1971

1976 390,000 400,000 97.5% 14 2 16 24,375 2 48 14 ap1977

1980 439,000 455,000 96.5% 11 3 14 31,357 6 53 11 ap1981

1990 575,000 639,000 90.0% 12 7 19 30,263 10 53 17 ap1991

1999 567,000 610,000 93.0% 15 9 24 23,625 9 36 19 ap2000

2000 576,000 620,000 92.9% 15 9 24 24,000 9 36 19 ap2001

2001 558,000 650,000 85.8% 15 9 24 23,250 9 33 19 ap2002

2002 585,000 650,000 90.0% 37 8 45 13,000 8 35 20 ap2003

2003 585,000 650,000 90.0% 19 10 29 20,172 10 35 20 ap2004

2004 585,000 650,000 90.0% 22 10 32 18,281 10 35 21 ap2005

2010 337,468 421,836 80.0% 22 15,339 3 49 16 bul16Jun2010

2013 343,000 429,000 80.0% 20 3 23 14,913 3 35 22 ap2014

2016 350,500 422,100 83.0% 22 3 25 14,020 3 25 23 ap2017

2019 359,400 432,600 83.1% 32 2 34 10,570 3 26 28 ap2020

2021 364,775 439,000 83.1% 24 24 15,198 4 31 24 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	160,000	160,000	100.0%	11	3	14	11,428		19	13	ap1951
1966	291,000			15	1	16	18,187		56	12	ap1967
1968	310,000	320,000	96.9%	15		15	20,666		27	8	ap1971
1976	390,000	400,000	97.5%	14	2	16	24,375	2	48	14	ap1977
1980	439,000	455,000	96.5%	11	3	14	31,357	6	53	11	ap1981
1990	575,000	639,000	90.0%	12	7	19	30,263	10	53	17	ap1991
1999	567,000	610,000	93.0%	15	9	24	23,625	9	36	19	ap2000
2000	576,000	620,000	92.9%	15	9	24	24,000	9	36	19	ap2001
2001	558,000	650,000	85.8%	15	9	24	23,250	9	33	19	ap2002
2002	585,000	650,000	90.0%	37	8	45	13,000	8	35	20	ap2003
2003	585,000	650,000	90.0%	19	10	29	20,172	10	35	20	ap2004
2004	585,000	650,000	90.0%	22	10	32	18,281	10	35	21	ap2005
2010	337,468	421,836	80.0%			22	15,339	3	49	16	bul16Jun2010
2013	343,000	429,000	80.0%	20	3	23	14,913	3	35	22	ap2014
2016	350,500	422,100	83.0%	22	3	25	14,020	3	25	23	ap2017
2019	359,400	432,600	83.1%	32	2	34	10,570	3	26	28	ap2020
2021	364,775	439,000	83.1%	24		24	15,198	4	31	24	ap2022