Viedma (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Esteban María Laxague, S.D.B., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 20 April 1934
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Argentina
Square Kilometers: 89,000 (34,376 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Irigoyen 71, R8500BCA Viedma [Rio Negro], Argentina
Telephone: (02920)424.445

Past and Present Ordinaries

Nicolás Esandi, S.D.B. † (13 Sep 1934 Appointed - 29 Aug 1948 Died)
José Borgatti, S.D.B. † (28 Aug 1953 Appointed - 26 Oct 1973 Died)
Miguel Esteban Hesayne † (5 Apr 1975 Appointed - 28 Jun 1995 Resigned)
Marcelo Angiolo Melani, S.D.B. † (28 Jun 1995 Succeeded - 9 Jan 2002 Appointed, Bishop of Neuquén)
Esteban María Laxague, S.D.B. (31 Oct 2002 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
20 April 1934	Erected	Archdiocese of Buenos Aires (Rio Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz, and Tierra del Fuego)	Diocese of Viedma (erected)
11 February 1957	Territory Lost	Diocese of Viedma (Chubut, Santa Cruz, and Tierra del Fuego)	Diocese of Comodoro Rivadavia (erected)
11 February 1957	Territory Added	Diocese of Mendoza (Neuquén)	Diocese of Viedma
11 February 1957	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Viedma (from La Plata)
10 April 1961	Territory Lost	Diocese of Viedma	Diocese of Neuquén (erected)
22 July 1993	Territory Lost	Diocese of Viedma (General Roca and El Cuy)	Diocese of Alto Valle del Río Negro (erected)
22 July 1993	Territory Lost	Diocese of Viedma (Bariloche, Norquinco, Pilcaniyeu, 25 de Mayo, and 9 de Julio)	Diocese of San Carlos de Bariloche (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 190,000 220,000 86.4% 15 80 95 2,000 118 129 23 ap1951

1966 215,000 240,000 89.6% 23 45 68 3,161 101 72 23 ap1967

1970 255,000 290,000 87.9% 18 47 65 3,923 118 83 24 ap1971

1976 284,428 329,225 86.4% 19 48 67 4,245 73 124 29 ap1977

1980 329,000 401,000 82.0% 18 40 58 5,672 1 62 130 32 ap1981

1990 391,000 433,000 90.3% 26 49 75 5,213 55 122 38 ap1991

1999 103,000 129,000 79.8% 13 11 24 4,291 11 36 13 ap2000

2000 103,400 129,500 79.8% 11 12 23 4,495 12 34 14 ap2001

2001 100,250 125,230 80.1% 9 11 20 5,012 11 36 14 ap2002

2002 105,000 131,286 80.0% 7 11 18 5,833 11 34 15 ap2003

2003 103,416 131,780 78.5% 11 10 21 4,924 10 40 15 ap2004

2004 104,674 132,840 78.8% 11 8 19 5,509 8 39 15 ap2005

2010 115,000 157,000 73.2% 12 8 20 5,750 8 44 15 ap2011

2014 116,098 179,218 64.8% 11 10 21 5,528 10 58 15 ap2015

2017 118,361 183,860 64.4% 12 11 23 5,146 1 11 47 15 ap2018

2020 120,800 189,585 63.7% 8 7 15 8,053 2 7 39 15 ap2021

2022 119,987 191,150 62.8% 6 3 9 13,331 2 3 33 15 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	190,000	220,000	86.4%	15	80	95	2,000		118	129	23	ap1951
1966	215,000	240,000	89.6%	23	45	68	3,161		101	72	23	ap1967
1970	255,000	290,000	87.9%	18	47	65	3,923		118	83	24	ap1971
1976	284,428	329,225	86.4%	19	48	67	4,245		73	124	29	ap1977
1980	329,000	401,000	82.0%	18	40	58	5,672	1	62	130	32	ap1981
1990	391,000	433,000	90.3%	26	49	75	5,213		55	122	38	ap1991
1999	103,000	129,000	79.8%	13	11	24	4,291		11	36	13	ap2000
2000	103,400	129,500	79.8%	11	12	23	4,495		12	34	14	ap2001
2001	100,250	125,230	80.1%	9	11	20	5,012		11	36	14	ap2002
2002	105,000	131,286	80.0%	7	11	18	5,833		11	34	15	ap2003
2003	103,416	131,780	78.5%	11	10	21	4,924		10	40	15	ap2004
2004	104,674	132,840	78.8%	11	8	19	5,509		8	39	15	ap2005
2010	115,000	157,000	73.2%	12	8	20	5,750		8	44	15	ap2011
2014	116,098	179,218	64.8%	11	10	21	5,528		10	58	15	ap2015
2017	118,361	183,860	64.4%	12	11	23	5,146	1	11	47	15	ap2018
2020	120,800	189,585	63.7%	8	7	15	8,053	2	7	39	15	ap2021
2022	119,987	191,150	62.8%	6	3	9	13,331	2	3	33	15	ap2023