Petrópolis (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Joel Portella Amado, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 13 April 1946
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Niterói
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Rio de Janeiro
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 2,800 (1,081 Square Miles)
Description: Petrópolis, Teresópolis, São José do Vale do Rio Preto, Magé, Guapimirim, part of Três Rios (Bemposta) and part of Paraíba do Sul (Parish of Inconfidência)
Conference Region: Leste 1
Official Web Site: https://diocesepetropolis.com.br
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Monsenhor Bacelar 590, Valparaiso, 25685-113 Petropolis, RJ, Brazil
Telephone: (024)2231-5212

Past and Present Ordinaries

Manuel Pedro da Cunha Cintra † (3 Jan 1948 Appointed - 15 Feb 1984 Retired)
José Fernandes Veloso † (15 Feb 1984 Succeeded - 15 Nov 1995 Retired)
José Carlos de Lima Vaz, S.J. † (15 Nov 1995 Appointed - 12 May 2004 Retired)
Filippo Santoro (12 May 2004 Appointed - 21 Nov 2011 Appointed, Archbishop of Taranto)
Gregório (Leozírio) Ben Lâmed Paixão (Neto), O.S.B. (10 Oct 2012 Appointed - 11 Oct 2023 Appointed, Archbishop of Fortaleza, Ceara)
Joel Portella Amado (31 Jan 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
13 April 1946	Erected	Diocese of Barra do Piraí (Duque de Caxias and São João de Meriti) Diocese of Niterói (Nictheroy) (Petrópolis, Teresópolis, São José do Vale do Rio Preto, Magé, Guapimirim, part of Três Rios (Bemposta), and part of Paraíba do Sul (Parish of Inconfidência))	Diocese of Petrópolis (erected)
26 March 1960	Territory Lost	Diocese of Barra do Piraí (Nova Iguacú, Nilópolis, Itaguaí, Mangaratiba, district of Tairetá, and region Sertâo (Vassouras)) Diocese of Petrópolis (São João de Meriti)	Diocese of Nova Iguaçu (erected)
26 March 1960	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Petrópolis (from São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro)
11 October 1980	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nova Iguaçu (São João de Meriti) Diocese of Petrópolis (Duque de Caxias)	Diocese of Duque de Caxias (erected)

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

1949 250,000 270,000 92.6% 15 41 56 4,464 115 290 21 ap1951

1966 650,000 700,000 92.9% 29 53 82 7,926 144 370 30 ap1967

1970 760,000 800,000 95.0% 30 68 98 7,755 148 378 33 ap1971

1976 900,000 1,000,000 90.0% 41 65 106 8,490 225 300 35 ap1977

1980 967,000 1,140,000 84.8% 38 72 110 8,790 230 300 35 ap1981

1990 682,000 815,000 83.7% 39 39 78 8,743 95 329 31 ap1991

1999 799,000 938,000 85.2% 45 39 84 9,511 77 211 33 ap2000

2000 580,000 690,000 84.1% 48 37 85 6,823 98 335 34 ap2001

2001 580,000 690,000 84.1% 53 47 100 5,800 127 316 34 ap2002

2002 572,000 722,000 79.2% 54 40 94 6,085 119 314 35 ap2003

2003 595,000 760,000 78.3% 57 52 109 5,458 137 322 36 ap2004

2004 595,000 760,000 78.3% 62 51 113 5,265 136 325 37 ap2005

2013 657,000 849,000 77.4% 75 49 124 5,298 2 143 239 43 ap2014

2016 643,000 831,000 77.4% 79 36 115 5,591 25 136 267 45 ap2017

2019 642,500 830,000 77.4% 86 36 122 5,266 49 80 266 46 ap2020

2021 648,660 838,000 77.4% 86 33 119 5,450 54 79 187 47 ap2022

2023 656,000 848,000 77.4% 90 31 121 5,421 56 89 179 48 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1949	250,000	270,000	92.6%	15	41	56	4,464		115	290	21	ap1951
1966	650,000	700,000	92.9%	29	53	82	7,926		144	370	30	ap1967
1970	760,000	800,000	95.0%	30	68	98	7,755		148	378	33	ap1971
1976	900,000	1,000,000	90.0%	41	65	106	8,490		225	300	35	ap1977
1980	967,000	1,140,000	84.8%	38	72	110	8,790		230	300	35	ap1981
1990	682,000	815,000	83.7%	39	39	78	8,743		95	329	31	ap1991
1999	799,000	938,000	85.2%	45	39	84	9,511		77	211	33	ap2000
2000	580,000	690,000	84.1%	48	37	85	6,823		98	335	34	ap2001
2001	580,000	690,000	84.1%	53	47	100	5,800		127	316	34	ap2002
2002	572,000	722,000	79.2%	54	40	94	6,085		119	314	35	ap2003
2003	595,000	760,000	78.3%	57	52	109	5,458		137	322	36	ap2004
2004	595,000	760,000	78.3%	62	51	113	5,265		136	325	37	ap2005
2013	657,000	849,000	77.4%	75	49	124	5,298	2	143	239	43	ap2014
2016	643,000	831,000	77.4%	79	36	115	5,591	25	136	267	45	ap2017
2019	642,500	830,000	77.4%	86	36	122	5,266	49	80	266	46	ap2020
2021	648,660	838,000	77.4%	86	33	119	5,450	54	79	187	47	ap2022
2023	656,000	848,000	77.4%	90	31	121	5,421	56	89	179	48	ap2024