Diocese of Vitoria

Dioecesis Victoriensis

Bishop(s)

Juan Carlos Elizalde Espinal, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 8 September 1861
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Burgos
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Spain
Square Kilometers: 3,350 (1,293 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesisvitoria.org/
Mailing Address: Obispado, Calle Vicente Goicoechea 7, 01008 Vitoria, Espana
Telephone: 945.14.81.71
Fax: 945.14.58.37

Past and Present Ordinaries

Diego Mariano Alguacil y Rodríguez † (23 Dec 1861 Confirmed - 18 Dec 1876 Confirmed, Bishop of Cartagena (en España))
Sebastián Herrero y Espinosa de los Monteros, C.O. † (18 Dec 1876 Confirmed - Jun 1880 Resigned)
Mariano Miguel Gómez Alguacil y Fernández † (16 Dec 1880 Confirmed - 30 Dec 1889 Appointed, Archbishop of Valladolid)
Ramón Fernández Piérola y Lopez de Luzuriaca † (30 Dec 1889 Appointed - 25 Jan 1904 Died)
José Cadena y Eleta † (14 Nov 1904 Appointed - 18 Jul 1913 Appointed, Archbishop of Burgos)
Prudencio Melo y Alcalde † (18 Jul 1913 Appointed - 4 Dec 1916 Appointed, Bishop of Madrid)
Leopoldo Eijo y Garay † (22 Mar 1917 Appointed - 14 Dec 1922 Appointed, Bishop of Madrid)
Zacarías Martínez y Núñez, O.S.A. † (14 Dec 1922 Appointed - 2 Dec 1927 Appointed, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela)
Mateo Múgica y Urrestarazu † (10 Mar 1928 Appointed - 12 Oct 1937 Resigned)
Carmelo Ballester y Nieto, C.M. † (10 Jun 1943 Appointed - 9 Oct 1948 Appointed, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela)
José María Bueno y Monreal † (13 May 1950 Appointed - 27 Oct 1954 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Sevilla {Seville})
Francisco Peralta y Ballabriga † (10 Jan 1955 Appointed - 10 Jul 1978 Resigned)
José María Larrauri Lafuente † (16 Feb 1979 Appointed - 8 Sep 1995 Retired)
Miguel José Asurmendi Aramendia, S.D.B. † (8 Sep 1995 Appointed - 8 Jan 2016 Retired)
Juan Carlos Elizalde Espinal (8 Jan 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
8 September 1861	Erected	Archdiocese of Burgos Diocese of Calahorra y La Calzada Diocese of Pamplona (-Tudela) Diocese of Santander	Diocese of Vitoria (erected)
2 November 1949	Territory Lost	Diocese of Santander (Villaverde de Trucios) Diocese of Vitoria (Vizcaya)	Diocese of Bilbao (erected)
2 November 1949	Territory Lost	Diocese of Vitoria (Guipúzcoa)	Diocese of San Sebastián (erected)
2 November 1949	Territory Added	Diocese of Calahorra y La Calzada (Contado de Treviño)	Diocese of Vitoria

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

1950 1,016,500 1,017,843 99.9% 1,907 742 2,649 383 6,568 736 ap1951

1970 207,000 207,681 99.7% 386 96 482 429 269 1,124 417 ap1971

1980 254,002 267,036 95.1% 364 107 471 539 310 1,019 503 ap1981

1990 267,000 280,000 95.4% 327 105 432 618 306 979 419 ap1991

1999 276,000 289,902 95.2% 284 103 387 713 3 211 852 422 ap2000

2000 279,000 291,983 95.6% 288 108 396 704 3 227 839 412 ap2001

2001 278,000 291,161 95.5% 284 92 376 739 3 193 784 422 ap2002

2002 281,000 294,322 95.5% 274 98 372 755 3 195 818 422 ap2003

2003 280,000 298,345 93.9% 264 93 357 784 3 185 740 422 ap2004

2004 278,134 302,164 92.0% 259 90 349 796 3 177 730 422 ap2005

2010 276,745 325,579 85.0% 232 82 314 881 4 144 651 422 ap2011

2014 298,000 329,900 90.3% 219 72 291 1,024 5 138 600 432 ap2015

2017 237,000 330,116 71.8% 207 63 270 877 7 121 590 423 ap2018

2020 226,886 337,629 67.2% 193 58 251 903 6 103 549 423 ap2021

2022 226,000 335,975 67.3% 182 55 237 953 6 88 361 421 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	1,016,500	1,017,843	99.9%	1,907	742	2,649	383			6,568	736	ap1951
1970	207,000	207,681	99.7%	386	96	482	429		269	1,124	417	ap1971
1980	254,002	267,036	95.1%	364	107	471	539		310	1,019	503	ap1981
1990	267,000	280,000	95.4%	327	105	432	618		306	979	419	ap1991
1999	276,000	289,902	95.2%	284	103	387	713	3	211	852	422	ap2000
2000	279,000	291,983	95.6%	288	108	396	704	3	227	839	412	ap2001
2001	278,000	291,161	95.5%	284	92	376	739	3	193	784	422	ap2002
2002	281,000	294,322	95.5%	274	98	372	755	3	195	818	422	ap2003
2003	280,000	298,345	93.9%	264	93	357	784	3	185	740	422	ap2004
2004	278,134	302,164	92.0%	259	90	349	796	3	177	730	422	ap2005
2010	276,745	325,579	85.0%	232	82	314	881	4	144	651	422	ap2011
2014	298,000	329,900	90.3%	219	72	291	1,024	5	138	600	432	ap2015
2017	237,000	330,116	71.8%	207	63	270	877	7	121	590	423	ap2018
2020	226,886	337,629	67.2%	193	58	251	903	6	103	549	423	ap2021
2022	226,000	335,975	67.3%	182	55	237	953	6	88	361	421	ap2023