Astorga (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jesús Fernández González, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 747
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Oviedo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Spain
Square Kilometers: 11,683 (4,512 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesisastorga.es/
Mailing Address: Obispado, Calle el Carmen 2, 24700 Astorga [Leon], Espana
Telephone: 987.61.53.50
Fax: 987.61.91.51

Past and Present Ordinaries

Alo † ( 1122 Appointed - 1131 Died)
Lope Andrés † ( 1190 Appointed - 19 Aug 1205 Died)
Pedro Andrés † ( 1205 Appointed - 1226 Died)
Nuño † (10 Oct 1226 Appointed - 1241 Died)
Pedro Fernández † (18 Sep 1242 Appointed - 7 Jun 1265 Died)
Hermán Alemán † ( 1266 Appointed - 1272 Died)
Melenio Pérez † (Mar 1273 Appointed - 18 Oct 1284 Died)
Martín González † (15 Dec 1286 Appointed - 2 Feb 1301 Died)
Alfonso Martínez † ( 1301 Appointed - 1314 Died)
Juan Alfonso † (Sep 1315 Appointed - 19 Jul 1326 Died)
Bartolomé Martínez † (28 Jul 1326 Appointed - 1331 Died)
Fernando Ibáñez † (27 May 1332 Appointed - 1333 Died)
Pedro Alfonso † (9 Jun 1333 Appointed - 25 Sep 1342 Appointed, Bishop of Porto)
Pedro de Pedroche † (26 Aug 1342 Appointed - 13 Feb 1346 Appointed, Bishop of Calahorra y La Calzada)
Nuño de Fuentes † (7 Apr 1346 Appointed - 28 Jan 1349 Appointed, Archbishop of Sevilla {Seville})
Rodrigo de Lara † (28 Jan 1349 Appointed - 1358 Died)
Fernando de San Marcelo † (26 Oct 1358 Appointed - 1370 Died)
Alonso de Toro (Tauro), O.F.M. † (1 Jul 1370 Appointed - 1382 Died)
Juan Alfonso de Mayorga † (29 Oct 1382 Appointed - )
Fernando de Astorga, O.F.M. † (9 Nov 1389 Appointed - 31 Mar 1390 Died)
Pascual Garcia † (19 Oct 1390 Appointed - 4 Mar 1393 Died)
Alfonso Rodríguez † (16 Jun 1393 Appointed - 1412 Died)
Pedro Fonseca † (5 Jun 1413 Appointed - 7 Jun 1419 Resigned)
Gonzalo de Santa Maria † (7 Jun 1419 Appointed - 2 Jul 1423 Appointed, Bishop of Plasencia)
Sancho de Rojas † (2 Jul 1423 Appointed - 6 Apr 1440 Appointed, Bishop of Córdoba)
Álvaro Pérez Osorio † (6 Apr 1440 Appointed - 1463 Died)
García Álvarez de Toledo † (26 Nov 1463 Appointed - 30 Jun 1488 Died)
Bernardino López de Carvajal y Sande † (27 Aug 1488 Appointed - 23 Jan 1489 Appointed, Bishop of Badajoz)
Juan Ruiz de Medina † (23 Jan 1489 Appointed - 27 Mar 1493 Appointed, Bishop of Badajoz)
Diego Meléndez de Valdés † (27 Mar 1493 Appointed - 23 Jun 1494 Appointed, Bishop of Zamora)
Juan de Castilla † (23 Jun 1494 Appointed - 14 Feb 1498 Appointed, Bishop of Salamanca)
Diego Ramírez de Villaescua de Haro † (14 Feb 1498 Appointed - 7 Feb 1500 Appointed, Bishop of Málaga)
Francisco Desprats † (9 Feb 1500 Appointed - 4 Dec 1500 Appointed, Bishop of León)
Sancho Pérez Rodríguez de Acebes † (4 Dec 1500 Appointed - 21 Apr 1515 Died)
Alvaro Osorio, O.P. † (1 Jun 1515 Appointed - 10 Apr 1539 Died)
Esteban Almeida † (18 Aug 1539 Appointed - 2 Jun 1542 Appointed, Bishop of León)
Diego Alava Esquivel † (8 Jun 1543 Appointed - 7 May 1548 Appointed, Bishop of Ávila)
Pedro Acuña Avellaneda † (4 Jun 1548 Appointed - 5 Jun 1555 Appointed, Bishop of Salamanca)
Diego Sarmiento Sotomayor † (5 Jun 1555 Appointed - 1571 Died)
Francisco Sarmiento Mendoza † (4 Jun 1574 Appointed - 27 May 1580 Appointed, Bishop of Jaén)
Alfonso Delgado † (22 Jun 1580 Appointed - 21 Aug 1583 Died)
Antonio Torres † (9 Jan 1584 Appointed - 14 Feb 1588 Died)
Alberto Aguayo, O.P. † (8 Aug 1588 Appointed - 16 Dec 1589 Died)
Juan de Zuazola † (17 Apr 1589 Appointed - 1 Nov 1590 Died)
Pedro Rojas Henríques, O.S.A. † (6 Mar 1591 Appointed - 30 Aug 1595 Appointed, Bishop of Osma)
Antonio de Cáceres y Sotomayor, O.P. † (8 Nov 1595 Appointed - 18 Aug 1615 Died)
Alfonso Mesía de Tovar † (27 Feb 1616 Appointed - 13 Jul 1636 Died)
Luis García Rodríguez † (9 Feb 1637 Appointed - 18 Apr 1638 Died)
Diego Salcedo Benacos † (11 Apr 1639 Confirmed - 28 Mar 1644 Died)
Bernardo Atayde de Lima Perera † (14 Nov 1644 Appointed - 5 Oct 1654 Appointed, Bishop of Ávila)
Nicolás Martínez, O.S.H. † (9 Nov 1654 Appointed - 21 Jun 1660 Appointed, Bishop of Osma)
Juan Vallejo † (20 Sep 1660 Appointed - 8 Oct 1661 Died)
Nicolás Rodríguez Hermosino † (5 Jun 1662 Appointed - 23 Jan 1669 Died)
Matías de Moratinos y Santos † (5 Aug 1669 Appointed - 3 Oct 1672 Appointed, Bishop of Segovia)
Rodrigo de Mandia y Parga † (12 Dec 1672 Appointed - 20 Oct 1674 Died)
Diego de Silva y Pacheco, O.S.B. † (27 May 1675 Appointed - 22 Mar 1677 Died)
Francisco Aguado † (13 Sep 1677 Appointed - 14 Feb 1688 Died)
Antonio de Brizuela y Salamanca † (13 Sep 1688 Appointed - 13 Apr 1693 Appointed, Bishop of Jaén)
Antonio Sanjurjo Miranda, O.P. † (8 Jun 1693 Appointed - Jan 1707 Died)
José Aparicio y Navarro † (28 Nov 1707 Appointed - 30 Jan 1723 Died)
Crisóstomo Vargas, O. Cist. † (30 Aug 1723 Appointed - 14 May 1728 Died)
José Francisco Bermúdez Mandía † (15 Nov 1728 Appointed - 3 Mar 1736 Died)
Pedro Cáceres Casado † (27 Jan 1738 Appointed - 15 Sep 1747 Died)
Matías Escalzo Acedo † (4 Mar 1748 Appointed - 11 Nov 1749 Died)
Francisco Javier Sánchez Cabezón † (27 Apr 1750 Appointed - 27 Jan 1767 Died)
Juan Manuel Merino y Lumbreras † (1 Jun 1767 Appointed - 5 Aug 1782 Died)
Antonio Andrés López Arroyo, O.F.M. Obs. † (15 Dec 1783 Appointed - 14 Mar 1787 Died)
Manuel Abad y Lasierra, O.S.B. † (28 Sep 1787 Appointed - 9 Apr 1791 Resigned)
Francisco Isidoro Gutiérrez Vigil † (11 Apr 1791 Appointed - 13 Oct 1805 Died)
Manuel Vicente Martínez y Jiménez † (31 Mar 1806 Appointed - 22 Jul 1816 Appointed, Archbishop of Zaragoza)
Santiago Bencomo y Rodríguez † (1 Oct 1817 Confirmed - 2 Mar 1818 Died)
Guillermo Martínez Riaguas † (29 Mar 1819 Confirmed - 24 Oct 1824 Died)
Manuel Bernardo Morete Bodelón † (21 Mar 1825 Confirmed - 2 Jan 1828 Died)
Leonardo Santander y Villavicencio † (23 Jun 1828 Confirmed - 30 Apr 1832 Died)
Félix Torres y Amat † (20 Jan 1834 Confirmed - 29 Dec 1847 Died)
Juan Nepomuceno Cascallana y Ordóñez † (7 Jan 1850 Confirmed - 5 Sep 1851 Confirmed, Bishop of Málaga)
Benito Forcelledo Tuero † (18 Mar 1852 Appointed - 23 Jun 1858 Died)
Fernando Argüelles Miranda † (23 Dec 1858 Appointed - 2 Sep 1870 Died)
Mariano Brezmes y Arredondo † (17 Sep 1875 Confirmed - 11 Nov 1885 Died)
Juan Bautista Grau y Vallespinos † (10 Jun 1886 Appointed - 18 Sep 1893 Died)
Vicente Alonso y Salgado, Sch. P. † (21 May 1894 Appointed - 25 Jun 1903 Appointed, Bishop of Cartagena (en España))
Mariano Cidad y Olmos † (25 Jun 1903 Appointed - 5 Jul 1903 Died)
Julián Miranda y Ristuer † (12 Nov 1903 Appointed - 14 Nov 1904 Appointed, Bishop of Segovia)
Julián de Diego y García Alcolea † (14 Nov 1904 Appointed - 18 Jul 1913 Appointed, Bishop of Salamanca)
Antonio Senso Lázaro † (18 Jul 1913 Appointed - 21 Aug 1941 Died)
Jesús Mérida Pérez † (10 Jun 1943 Appointed - 16 May 1956 Died)
José Castelltort Subeyre † (5 Nov 1956 Appointed - 18 Aug 1960 Died)
Marcelo González Martín † (31 Dec 1960 Appointed - 21 Feb 1966 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Barcelona)
Antonio Briva Mirabent † (18 May 1967 Appointed - 20 Jun 1994 Died)
Camilo Lorenzo Iglesias † (14 Jun 1995 Appointed - 18 Nov 2015 Retired)
Juan Antonio Menéndez Fernández † (18 Nov 2015 Appointed - 15 May 2019 Died)
Jesús Fernández González (8 Jun 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
747	Erected		Diocese of Astorga (erected)
17 October 1954	Territory Lost	Diocese of Astorga (12 parishes in Zamora)	Diocese of Zamora
17 October 1954	Territory Lost	Diocese of Astorga (23 parishes in Valladolid)	Archdiocese of Valladolid
17 October 1954	Territory Lost	Diocese of Astorga (3 parishes Castro Caldelas in Orense, San Pedro de Gudiña in Lugo)	Diocese of Orense
17 October 1954	Territory Lost	Diocese of Astorga (10 parishes in Quiroga)	Diocese of Lugo
17 October 1954	Territory Added	Diocese of Orense (12 Parishes in Zamora)	Diocese of Astorga
27 October 1954	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Astorga (from Valladolid)
19 September 1956	Territory Lost	Diocese of Astorga (Fasgar, Vegapujín, Posada de Omaña, Torrecillo, Barrio de la Puente, Villar de Omaña, Marzán, Cirujales y Villaverde, Omañuela, Rosales, Folloso, Campo y Santibéñez de la Lomba, Valdesamario y la Carandilla, Utrera, Andarraso, Castro de la Lomba, ...)	Diocese of León
21 December 1959	Territory Lost	Diocese of Astorga (Parishes of Cañizo, Navea, Castromil de Castilla, and Carracedo de la Sierra and villages of Ventas de la Capilla and Ventas de Bolaño)	Diocese of Orense
21 December 1959	Territory Added	Diocese of Orense (Parish of Celeiros)	Diocese of Astorga

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

1950 451,611 451,652 100.0% 645 32 677 667 162 451 686 ap1951

1959 452,509 452,592 100.0% 596 21 617 733 45 432 650 ap1960

1970 351,352 351,422 100.0% 510 28 538 653 43 594 654 ap1971

1980 331,300 331,500 99.9% 446 25 471 703 46 535 658 ap1981

1990 307,500 308,515 99.7% 381 30 411 748 53 322 662 ap1991

1999 285,000 289,203 98.5% 274 34 308 925 58 245 970 ap2000

2000 285,000 289,200 98.5% 265 34 299 953 59 224 970 ap2001

2001 285,000 289,203 98.5% 260 34 294 969 59 226 970 ap2002

2002 285,000 289,100 98.6% 252 36 288 989 60 221 970 ap2003

2003 277,710 281,810 98.5% 247 34 281 988 72 218 970 ap2004

2004 274,540 276,810 99.2% 239 48 287 956 72 392 970 ap2005

2006 268,151 270,421 99.2% 225 48 273 982 80 351 971 ap2007

2012 269,600 277,800 97.0% 186 28 214 1,259 60 153 970 ap2013

2015 250,075 259,630 96.3% 174 34 208 1,202 42 245 970 ap2016

2018 250,000 259,450 96.4% 197 32 229 1,091 44 261 970 ap2019

2020 226,000 233,739 96.7% 193 37 230 982 48 256 970 ap2021

2022 227,600 235,500 96.6% 162 27 189 1,204 39 168 974 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	451,611	451,652	100.0%	645	32	677	667	162	451	686	ap1951
1959	452,509	452,592	100.0%	596	21	617	733	45	432	650	ap1960
1970	351,352	351,422	100.0%	510	28	538	653	43	594	654	ap1971
1980	331,300	331,500	99.9%	446	25	471	703	46	535	658	ap1981
1990	307,500	308,515	99.7%	381	30	411	748	53	322	662	ap1991
1999	285,000	289,203	98.5%	274	34	308	925	58	245	970	ap2000
2000	285,000	289,200	98.5%	265	34	299	953	59	224	970	ap2001
2001	285,000	289,203	98.5%	260	34	294	969	59	226	970	ap2002
2002	285,000	289,100	98.6%	252	36	288	989	60	221	970	ap2003
2003	277,710	281,810	98.5%	247	34	281	988	72	218	970	ap2004
2004	274,540	276,810	99.2%	239	48	287	956	72	392	970	ap2005
2006	268,151	270,421	99.2%	225	48	273	982	80	351	971	ap2007
2012	269,600	277,800	97.0%	186	28	214	1,259	60	153	970	ap2013
2015	250,075	259,630	96.3%	174	34	208	1,202	42	245	970	ap2016
2018	250,000	259,450	96.4%	197	32	229	1,091	44	261	970	ap2019
2020	226,000	233,739	96.7%	193	37	230	982	48	256	970	ap2021
2022	227,600	235,500	96.6%	162	27	189	1,204	39	168	974	ap2023