Cartago (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

César Alcides Balbín Tamayo, Bishop
José Alejandro Castaño Arbeláez, O.A.R., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 16 March 1962
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cali
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Colombia
Square Kilometers: 4,500 (1,738 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Residencia Episcopal, Carrera 5, N. 13-87, Cartago [Valle], Colombia
Telephone: (2)212-37-46
Fax: 211-35-68

Past and Present Ordinaries

José Gabriel Calderón Contreras † (26 Apr 1962 Appointed - 19 Apr 1995 Retired)
Luis Madrid Merlano (19 Apr 1995 Appointed - 30 Mar 2010 Appointed, Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona)
José Alejandro Castaño Arbeláez, O.A.R. (21 Oct 2010 Appointed - 31 Oct 2020 Retired)
César Alcides Balbín Tamayo (18 Oct 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
16 March 1962	Erected	Diocese of Cali (El Águila, La Maria, Ansermanuevo, EI Cairo, Alban, Nuestra S.ra de la Pobreza and San Jorge existing in the city called Cartago, Zaragoza, Ulloa, Alcalá, Toro, San Francisco, Algeria, Obando, Versalles, La Unión, La Victoria, Roldanillo, El Dovio, ...)	Diocese of Cartago (erected)
20 June 1964	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Cartago (from Popayán)

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

1965 378,000 380,000 99.5% 55 9 64 5,906 9 165 30 ap1967

1970 380,000 400,000 95.0% 45 6 51 7,450 6 30 ap1971

1976 472,000 495,000 95.4% 40 5 45 10,488 5 165 34 ap1977

1980 524,000 565,000 92.7% 37 5 42 12,476 6 160 37 ap1981

1990 630,000 670,000 94.0% 48 2 50 12,600 3 171 42 ap1991

1999 585,500 590,000 99.2% 61 4 65 9,007 5 152 46 ap2000

2000 556,225 560,500 99.2% 60 7 67 8,301 9 152 46 ap2001

2001 551,000 555,000 99.3% 60 8 68 8,102 10 149 46 ap2002

2002 540,000 544,250 99.2% 62 11 73 7,397 14 143 46 ap2003

2003 538,000 543,000 99.1% 64 11 75 7,173 14 140 46 ap2004

2004 515,000 523,000 98.5% 69 10 79 6,518 17 167 46 ap2005

2006 518,000 521,000 99.4% 65 15 80 6,475 20 163 46 ap2007

2013 493,000 505,000 97.6% 80 17 97 5,082 10 24 182 54 ap2014

2016 407,640 414,186 98.4% 79 16 95 4,290 10 23 183 56 ap2017

2019 412,654 417,436 98.9% 83 18 101 4,085 24 24 153 59 ap2020

2021 428,805 438,128 97.9% 83 17 100 4,288 29 23 128 54 ap2022

2023 438,720 448,260 97.9% 83 22 105 4,178 27 24 196 53 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1965	378,000	380,000	99.5%	55	9	64	5,906		9	165	30	ap1967
1970	380,000	400,000	95.0%	45	6	51	7,450		6		30	ap1971
1976	472,000	495,000	95.4%	40	5	45	10,488		5	165	34	ap1977
1980	524,000	565,000	92.7%	37	5	42	12,476		6	160	37	ap1981
1990	630,000	670,000	94.0%	48	2	50	12,600		3	171	42	ap1991
1999	585,500	590,000	99.2%	61	4	65	9,007		5	152	46	ap2000
2000	556,225	560,500	99.2%	60	7	67	8,301		9	152	46	ap2001
2001	551,000	555,000	99.3%	60	8	68	8,102		10	149	46	ap2002
2002	540,000	544,250	99.2%	62	11	73	7,397		14	143	46	ap2003
2003	538,000	543,000	99.1%	64	11	75	7,173		14	140	46	ap2004
2004	515,000	523,000	98.5%	69	10	79	6,518		17	167	46	ap2005
2006	518,000	521,000	99.4%	65	15	80	6,475		20	163	46	ap2007
2013	493,000	505,000	97.6%	80	17	97	5,082	10	24	182	54	ap2014
2016	407,640	414,186	98.4%	79	16	95	4,290	10	23	183	56	ap2017
2019	412,654	417,436	98.9%	83	18	101	4,085	24	24	153	59	ap2020
2021	428,805	438,128	97.9%	83	17	100	4,288	29	23	128	54	ap2022
2023	438,720	448,260	97.9%	83	22	105	4,178	27	24	196	53	ap2024