São Luís do Maranhão (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gilberto Pastana de Oliveira, Archbishop
José Belisário da Silva, O.F.M., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 2 December 1921
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Maranhão
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 12,546 (4,845 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 5
Official Web Site: http://www.arquidiocesedesaoluis.org/
Mailing Address: Curia Metropolitana, Avenida Dom Pedro II s/n, 65010-450 Sao Luis; C.P. 11, 65001-970, Sao Luis, MA, Brazil
Telephone: (098)3313-4160; 3313-4157
Fax: 3313-4175

Historical Details

Apostolic Administration of São Luís do Maranhão
- Latin Name: Sancti Ludovici in Maragnano
- Erected: 1614
- Country: Brazil
Diocese of São Luís do Maranhão
- Latin Name: Sancti Ludovici in Maragnano
- Elevated: 30 August 1677
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antônio de Santa Maria † ( 1677 Appointed - 1677 Died)
Gregório dos Anjos, C. S. J. † (30 Aug 1677 Appointed - 11 May 1689 Died)
Francisco de Lima (Lemos), O. Carm. † (19 Dec 1691 Appointed - 22 Aug 1695 Appointed, Bishop of Olinda)
Timóteo do Sacramento, O.S.P.P.E. † (17 Dec 1696 Appointed - Apr 1714 Died)
José Delgarte, O.SS.T. † (5 Oct 1716 Appointed - 23 Dec 1724 Died)
Manoel da Cruz Nogueira, O. Cist. † (3 Sep 1738 Confirmed - 15 Dec 1745 Confirmed, Bishop of Mariana)
Francisco de São Tiago, O.F.M. Obs. † (15 Dec 1745 Confirmed - 18 Dec 1752 Died)
Antônio de São José Moura Marinho, O.E.S.A. † (19 Jul 1756 Confirmed - 20 Jul 1778 Confirmed, Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia)
Jacinto Carlos da Silveira † (1 Mar 1779 Appointed - 29 Apr 1780 Resigned)
José do Menino Jesus (Deus), O.C.D. † (18 Sep 1780 Confirmed - 18 Jul 1783 Confirmed, Bishop of Viseu)
Antônio de Pádua e Bellas, O.F.M. Ref. † (18 Jul 1783 Confirmed - 28 Aug 1794 Resigned)
Joaquim Ferreira de Carvalho † (1 Jun 1795 Confirmed - 26 Apr 1801 Died)
Luiz de Brito Homem † (24 May 1802 Confirmed - 10 Dec 1813 Died)
Joaquim de Nossa Senhora de Nazareth Oliveira e Abreu, O.F.M. Ref. † (23 Aug 1819 Confirmed - 3 May 1824 Confirmed, Bishop of Coimbra)
Marcos Antônio de Souza † (25 Jun 1827 Appointed - 29 Nov 1842 Died)
Carlos de São José e Souza, O.C.D. † (22 Jan 1844 Confirmed - 3 Apr 1850 Died)
Manoel Joaquim da Silveira † (5 Sep 1851 Confirmed - 18 Mar 1861 Confirmed, Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia)
Luiz da Conceição Saraiva, O.S.B. † (22 Jul 1861 Confirmed - 26 Apr 1876 Died)
Antônio Cândido Alvarenga † (21 Sep 1877 Confirmed - 28 Nov 1898 Appointed, Bishop of São Paulo)
Luis de Salles Pessoa † ( 1898 Appointed - 1898 Died)
Antônio Xisto Albano † (23 Mar 1901 Appointed - 14 Dec 1905 Resigned)
Santino Maria da Silva Coutinho † (9 Sep 1906 Appointed - 6 Dec 1906 Appointed, Archbishop of Belém do Pará)
Francisco de Paula e Silva, C.M. † (18 Apr 1907 Appointed - 4 Jun 1918 Died)
Helvécio Gomes de Oliveira, S.D.B. † (18 Jun 1918 Appointed - 10 Feb 1922 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Mariana, Minas Gerais)
Octaviano Pereira de Albuquerque † (27 Oct 1922 Appointed - 16 Dec 1935 Appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Campos, Rio de Janeiro)
Carlos Carmelo de Vasconcellos Motta † (19 Dec 1935 Appointed - 13 Aug 1944 Appointed, Archbishop of São Paulo)
Adalberto Accioli Sobral † (18 Jan 1947 Appointed - 24 May 1951 Died)
José de Medeiros Delgado † (4 Sep 1951 Appointed - 10 May 1963 Appointed, Archbishop of Fortaleza, Ceara)
João José da Mota e Albuquerque † (28 Apr 1964 Appointed - 20 Mar 1984 Resigned)
Paulo Eduardo Andrade Ponte † (20 Mar 1984 Appointed - 21 Sep 2005 Resigned)
José Belisário da Silva, O.F.M. (21 Sep 2005 Appointed - 2 Jun 2021 Retired)
Gilberto Pastana de Oliveira (2 Jun 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Apostolic Administration of São Luís do Maranhão
1614	Erected	Territorial Prelature of Pernambuco	Apostolic Administration of São Luís do Maranhão (erected)
Diocese of São Luís do Maranhão
30 August 1677	Elevated	Apostolic Administration of São Luís do Maranhão	Diocese of São Luís do Maranhão
4 March 1720	Territory Lost	Diocese of São Luís do Maranhão	Diocese of Belém do Pará (erected)
20 February 1902	Territory Lost	Diocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Piauí)	Diocese of Piaui (erected)
Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
2 December 1921	Elevated	Diocese of São Luís do Maranhão	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
10 February 1922	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Sancta Cruz da Borra do Gorda, San Pedro de Alcantara de Carolina, N. Senhor do Bomfim de Grajahu, S. Thereza de Imperatriz e Porto Franco, and S. Francisco Xavier de Turyassu)	Territorial Prelature of São José do Grajaú (erected)
10 February 1922	Elevated		Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Became a Metropolitan)
22 July 1939	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Caxias, Mattöes, San Francisco, Passagem Franca, Picos, Pastos Bons, Mirador, Loreto, Riachão, Victoria do Alto Parnahïha, Flores, Burity Bravo, Bardo de Grajahù, Patos, New York, Balsas, and Benedicto Leite)	Diocese of Caxias do Maranhão (erected)
22 July 1939	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of São José do Grajaú (Turiaçu and Carutapera) Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Pinheiro, Alcântara, Cururupu, Guimarães, Bequimão, and Santa Helena)	Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro (erected)
24 February 1958	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (São Bento and Peri-Mirim)	Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro
30 October 1962	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Viana, Cajapio, Sao Vicente Ferrer, São Joâo Batista, Penalva, Matinha, Oajari, Monaco, Pindaré-Mirim, and Santa Luzia)	Diocese of Viana (erected)
22 June 1968	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of São José do Grajaú (Esperantinopolis) Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Parts of Bacabal and Ipixuna along with Altamira do Maranhäo, Igarapé Grande, Lago da Pedra, Lago do Junco, Lago Verde, Lima Campos, Olho d'Água dos Cunhas, Pedreiras, Pio XII, Poçâo de Pedras, Rosinopolis, Santo Antonio dos Lopes, and Vitorino Freiré)	Diocese of Bacabal (erected)
22 June 1968	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Dom Pedro and Governador Archer)	Territorial Prelature of São José do Grajaú
14 September 1971	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Afonso Cunha, Anapurus, Araioses, Barreirinhas, Brejo, Buriti, Chapadinha, Coelho Neto, Duque Bacelar, Magalhaes da Almeida, Mata Roma, Santa Quiteira do Maranhao, Sâo Benedito do Rio Prêto, Sâo Bernardo do Parnaiba, Tutoia, and Urbano Santos)	Diocese of Brejo (erected)
13 January 1977	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Bacabal and São Luis de Gonzaga (formerly Ipixuna))	Diocese of Bacabal
13 January 1977	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Vitoria do Mearim)	Diocese of Viana
26 August 1977	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão (Anajatuba, Arari, Cantanhede, Coroatá, Itapecurú-Mirim, Pirapemas, São Mateus, Timbiras, Vargem Grande, Presidente Vargas, Nina Rodrigues, and Santa Rita (in Codo))	Diocese of Coroatá (erected)

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

Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão

1948 780,000 800,000 97.5% 33 20 53 14,716 7 45 43 ap1951

1965 1,500,000 1,600,000 93.8% 51 38 89 16,853 51 ap1967

1976 512,000 837,000 61.2% 17 20 37 13,837 22 65 27 ap1977

1980 538,000 548,000 98.2% 21 26 47 11,446 29 155 17 ap1981

1990 804,000 905,000 88.8% 12 35 47 17,106 106 249 26 ap1991

1999 821,000 1,097,122 74.8% 51 48 99 8,292 112 241 33 ap2000

2000 879,027 1,172,036 75.0% 42 49 91 9,659 61 240 42 ap2001

2001 877,000 1,181,000 74.3% 43 49 92 9,532 61 240 30 ap2002

2002 870,000 1,172,036 74.2% 47 49 96 9,062 61 240 31 ap2003

2003 887,000 1,195,000 74.2% 46 49 95 9,336 61 240 32 ap2004

2004 887,000 1,195,000 74.2% 54 49 103 8,611 58 240 33 ap2005

2010 953,000 1,323,000 72.0% 60 13 73 13,054 1 23 227 46 ap2011

2014 1,000,000 1,389,000 72.0% 73 6 79 12,658 76 229 52 ap2015

2017 1,025,780 1,423,180 72.1% 66 5 71 14,447 29 71 224 54 ap2018

2020 1,203,000 1,670,898 72.0% 69 69 17,434 79 6 226 56 ap2021

2022 1,221,000 1,695,000 72.0% 72 6 78 15,653 79 12 224 57 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
1948	780,000	800,000	97.5%	33	20	53	14,716		7	45	43	ap1951
1965	1,500,000	1,600,000	93.8%	51	38	89	16,853				51	ap1967
1976	512,000	837,000	61.2%	17	20	37	13,837		22	65	27	ap1977
1980	538,000	548,000	98.2%	21	26	47	11,446		29	155	17	ap1981
1990	804,000	905,000	88.8%	12	35	47	17,106		106	249	26	ap1991
1999	821,000	1,097,122	74.8%	51	48	99	8,292		112	241	33	ap2000
2000	879,027	1,172,036	75.0%	42	49	91	9,659		61	240	42	ap2001
2001	877,000	1,181,000	74.3%	43	49	92	9,532		61	240	30	ap2002
2002	870,000	1,172,036	74.2%	47	49	96	9,062		61	240	31	ap2003
2003	887,000	1,195,000	74.2%	46	49	95	9,336		61	240	32	ap2004
2004	887,000	1,195,000	74.2%	54	49	103	8,611		58	240	33	ap2005
2010	953,000	1,323,000	72.0%	60	13	73	13,054	1	23	227	46	ap2011
2014	1,000,000	1,389,000	72.0%	73	6	79	12,658		76	229	52	ap2015
2017	1,025,780	1,423,180	72.1%	66	5	71	14,447	29	71	224	54	ap2018
2020	1,203,000	1,670,898	72.0%	69		69	17,434	79	6	226	56	ap2021
2022	1,221,000	1,695,000	72.0%	72	6	78	15,653	79	12	224	57	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Adalberto Accioli Sobral † (Archbishop: 18 Jan 1947 to 24 May 1951)
Antônio Xisto Albano † (Bishop: 23 Mar 1901 to 14 Dec 1905)
Antônio Cândido Alvarenga † (Bishop: 21 Sep 1877 to 28 Nov 1898)
Paulo Eduardo Andrade Ponte † (Archbishop: 20 Mar 1984 to 21 Sep 2005)
Otàvio Barbosa Aguiar † (Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Nov 1954 to 24 Feb 1956)
Antônio de Pádua e Bellas, O.F.M. Ref. † (Bishop: 18 Jul 1783 to 28 Aug 1794)
Luiz de Brito Homem † (Bishop: 24 May 1802 to 10 Dec 1813)
Manoel da Cruz Nogueira, O. Cist. † (Bishop: 3 Sep 1738 to 15 Dec 1745)
João José da Mota e Albuquerque † (Archbishop: 28 Apr 1964 to 20 Mar 1984)
Carlos Luiz d’Amour †
Geraldo Dantas de Andrade, S.C.I. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Feb 1998 to 15 Sep 2010)
Santino Maria da Silva Coutinho † (Bishop: 9 Sep 1906 to 6 Dec 1906)
Jacinto Carlos da Silveira † (Bishop: 1 Mar 1779 to 29 Apr 1780)
Manoel Joaquim da Silveira † (Bishop: 5 Sep 1851 to 18 Mar 1861)
José Delgarte, O.SS.T. † (Bishop: 5 Oct 1716 to 23 Dec 1724)
Luis de Salles Pessoa † (Bishop: 1898 to 1898)
Marcos Antônio de Souza † (Bishop: 25 Jun 1827 to 29 Nov 1842)
José do Menino Jesus (Deus), O.C.D. † (Bishop: 18 Sep 1780 to 18 Jul 1783)
Timóteo do Sacramento, O.S.P.P.E. † (Bishop: 17 Dec 1696 to Apr 1714)
Gregório dos Anjos, C. S. J. † (Bishop: 30 Aug 1677 to 11 May 1689)
Joaquim Ferreira de Carvalho † (Bishop: 1 Jun 1795 to 26 Apr 1801)
Antônio Batista Fragoso † (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Mar 1957 to 28 Apr 1964)
Helvécio Gomes de Oliveira, S.D.B. † (Bishop: 18 Jun 1918 to 10 Feb 1922)
Francisco de Lima (Lemos), O. Carm. † (Bishop: 19 Dec 1691 to 22 Aug 1695)
José de Medeiros Delgado † (Archbishop: 4 Sep 1951 to 10 May 1963)
Antônio de São José Moura Marinho, O.E.S.A. † (Bishop: 19 Jul 1756 to 20 Jul 1778)
Joaquim de Nossa Senhora de Nazareth Oliveira e Abreu, O.F.M. Ref. † (Bishop: 23 Aug 1819 to 3 May 1824)
Francisco de Paula e Silva, C.M. † (Bishop: 18 Apr 1907 to 4 Jun 1918)
Octaviano Pereira de Albuquerque † (Archbishop: 27 Oct 1922 to 16 Dec 1935)
Antônio de Santa Maria † (Bishop: 1677 to 1677)
Carlos de São José e Souza, O.C.D. † (Bishop: 22 Jan 1844 to 3 Apr 1850)
Francisco de São Tiago, O.F.M. Obs. † (Bishop: 15 Dec 1745 to 18 Dec 1752)
Luiz da Conceição Saraiva, O.S.B. † (Bishop: 22 Jul 1861 to 26 Apr 1876)
Carlos Carmelo de Vasconcellos Motta † (Archbishop: 19 Dec 1935 to 13 Aug 1944)

Source(s)

Diocese of São Luís do Maranhão
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 5, Page 249
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 6, Page 268
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 135
Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 14, Page 331, to Page 334

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Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão

Archidioecesis Sancti Ludovici in Maragnano