Belo Horizonte (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo, Archbishop
Edmar José da Silva, Auxiliary Bishop
Nivaldo dos Santos Ferreira, Auxiliary Bishop
Joel Maria dos Santos, Auxiliary Bishop
Júlio César Gomes Moreira, Auxiliary Bishop
Joaquim Giovani Mol Guimarães, Auxiliary Bishop
José Otacio Oliveira Guedes, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 1 February 1924
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Minas Gerais
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 7,222 (2,789 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Leste 2
Official Web Site: http://www.arquidiocesebh.org.br/
Mailing Address: Curia Metropoitana, Av. Brasil 2079, 30140-008 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
Telephone: (031)3269-3100
Fax: 3269-3178

Historical Details

Diocese of Belo Horizonte
- Latin Name: Bellohorizontina
- Erected: 11 February 1921
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mariana
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antônio dos Santos Cabral † (21 Nov 1921 Appointed - 15 Nov 1967 Died)
João Resende (Rezende) Costa, S.D.B. † (15 Nov 1967 Succeeded - 5 Feb 1986 Retired)
Serafim Fernandes de Araújo † (5 Feb 1986 Succeeded - 28 Jan 2004 Retired)
Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo (28 Jan 2004 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Belo Horizonte
11 February 1921	Erected	Archdiocese of Mariana (Bello Horizonte, Contagem, Santa Luzia, Sabara, Gaeté, Siete Lagoâs, Bomfim, Entre Bios, Santa Quiteria, Itauna, Para, Pequy, Pitanguy, Divinopolis, Itapecerica, Oliveira, Passatiempo, Campo Bello, Perdoès, and Boni Succeso with Hitiruna)	Diocese of Belo Horizonte (erected)
20 July 1923	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Mariana (7 parishes)	Diocese of Belo Horizonte
20 July 1923	Territory Lost	Diocese of Belo Horizonte (B.M.V. (das Brotas de Entre Bios); St. Blasius the Martyr (of Suassuhy); and St. Gundisalvi (of Ibituruna))	Archdiocese of Mariana
Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
1 February 1924	Elevated	Diocese of Belo Horizonte	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
20 December 1941	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (Oliveira, Carino de Mata, Japão, São Francisco de Paula, Boni Successo, Sauf Jago, Passa Tempo, S. João Batista, Santo Antonio do Amparo, Campo Bello, Sant'Anna do Joceré, Cristeis, Candeias, Cana Verde, Perdões, and Riberão Vermelho)	Diocese of Oliveira (erected)
16 July 1955	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (Santo Antonio, Sant'Ana, Baldim, Fortuna, Inhaúma, Jaboticatubas, Jequitibá, Maravilhas, Martinho Campos, Matosinhos, Papagaio, Pequi, Pompéu, and Prudente de Moráis) Archdiocese of Diamantina (Cedro, Lagoa Bonita, Paraopeba, Pirapama, and Biacho Fundo)	Diocese of Sete Lagoas (erected)
26 April 1958	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (Itaguara, Piracema, and Desterro De Entre Bios)	Diocese of Oliveira
11 July 1958	Territory Lost	Diocese of Aterrado (Araujos and Perdigâo) Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (Divinópolis, Carmo de Caiurú, Claudio, Itapecerica, Itauna, Mateus Lerne, Nova Serrana, Para de Minas, Pitangui, São Gonçalo de Para, and Onça of Pequi)	Diocese of Divinópolis (erected)
11 November 1963	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (Povoado dos Lopes in Candeias)	Diocese of Oliveira
11 November 1963	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (Cápela dos Alves in Bom Despacho)	Diocese of Luz
11 November 1963	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (Sao José do Felipe and Santo Antonio do Morro Vermelho)	Diocese of Sete Lagoas
11 November 1963	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (Nossa Senhora da Conceiçâo, Conceiçâo do Rio Acima, and Santo Antonio de Vigario da Vara along with São Geraldo de Jacaranda and Nossa Senhora das Graças de Sesmaria)	Archdiocese of Mariana
11 November 1963	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Mariana (São José do Paraopeba in Brumadinho; Nossa Senhora da Conceiçâo de Arrojado Lisboa and Nossa Senhora do Parto de Chacrinha in Jeceaba)	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
11 November 1963	Territory Added	Diocese of Sete Lagoas (Sant'Ana de Cachoeirinha and Nossa Senhora da Conceiçâo de Urucuia)	Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte

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 Belo Horizonte

1950 900,000 .0% 135 90 225 0 98 ap1951

1958 794,209 .0% 108 155 263 0 155 968 78 ap1960

1965 1,200,000 1,300,000 92.3% 124 168 292 4,109 210 1,250 97 ap1967

1970 1,300,000 .0% 166 272 438 0 347 1,500 106 ap1971

1976 2,150,000 2,400,000 89.6% 145 229 374 5,748 324 1,400 116 ap1977

1980 2,070,000 2,300,000 90.0% 156 207 363 5,702 319 1,300 135 ap1981

1990 3,067,000 3,407,000 90.0% 194 264 458 6,696 475 1,130 177 ap1991

1999 2,950,720 3,934,294 75.0% 246 327 573 5,149 789 1,488 219 ap2000

2000 3,004,162 4,005,549 75.0% 265 309 574 5,233 820 1,497 223 ap2001

2001 3,149,862 4,199,816 75.0% 268 317 585 5,384 777 1,396 242 ap2002

2002 3,244,231 4,325,642 75.0% 255 293 548 5,920 795 1,508 242 ap2003

2003 3,290,315 4,387,087 75.0% 268 308 576 5,712 859 1,416 252 ap2004

2004 3,162,539 4,216,719 75.0% 275 297 572 5,528 920 1,332 257 ap2005

2006 3,535,715 4,715,083 75.0% 302 307 609 5,805 950 1,612 258 ap2007

2012 3,324,000 4,748,000 70.0% 358 372 730 4,553 5 822 1,378 266 ap2013

2015 3,406,000 4,866,000 70.0% 358 371 729 4,672 33 871 1,640 273 ap2016

2018 3,578,000 5,110,678 70.0% 368 288 656 5,454 64 668 740 277 ap2019

2020 3,600,000 5,142,935 70.0% 376 303 679 5,301 89 950 1,493 291 ap2021

2022 3,653,800 5,213,463 70.1% 383 325 708 5,160 122 708 511 293 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 Belo Horizonte
1950		900,000	.0%	135	90	225	0				98	ap1951
1958		794,209	.0%	108	155	263	0		155	968	78	ap1960
1965	1,200,000	1,300,000	92.3%	124	168	292	4,109		210	1,250	97	ap1967
1970		1,300,000	.0%	166	272	438	0		347	1,500	106	ap1971
1976	2,150,000	2,400,000	89.6%	145	229	374	5,748		324	1,400	116	ap1977
1980	2,070,000	2,300,000	90.0%	156	207	363	5,702		319	1,300	135	ap1981
1990	3,067,000	3,407,000	90.0%	194	264	458	6,696		475	1,130	177	ap1991
1999	2,950,720	3,934,294	75.0%	246	327	573	5,149		789	1,488	219	ap2000
2000	3,004,162	4,005,549	75.0%	265	309	574	5,233		820	1,497	223	ap2001
2001	3,149,862	4,199,816	75.0%	268	317	585	5,384		777	1,396	242	ap2002
2002	3,244,231	4,325,642	75.0%	255	293	548	5,920		795	1,508	242	ap2003
2003	3,290,315	4,387,087	75.0%	268	308	576	5,712		859	1,416	252	ap2004
2004	3,162,539	4,216,719	75.0%	275	297	572	5,528		920	1,332	257	ap2005
2006	3,535,715	4,715,083	75.0%	302	307	609	5,805		950	1,612	258	ap2007
2012	3,324,000	4,748,000	70.0%	358	372	730	4,553	5	822	1,378	266	ap2013
2015	3,406,000	4,866,000	70.0%	358	371	729	4,672	33	871	1,640	273	ap2016
2018	3,578,000	5,110,678	70.0%	368	288	656	5,454	64	668	740	277	ap2019
2020	3,600,000	5,142,935	70.0%	376	303	679	5,301	89	950	1,493	291	ap2021
2022	3,653,800	5,213,463	70.1%	383	325	708	5,160	122	708	511	293	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Wilson Luís Angotti Filho (Auxiliary Bishop: 4 May 2011 to 15 Apr 2015)
Edmar José da Silva (Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Mar 2024)
Geovane Luís da Silva (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Dec 2016 to 19 Apr 2023)
Joel Maria dos Santos (Deacon: 15 May 1993; Priest: 14 May 1994; Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Oct 2021)
Nivaldo dos Santos Ferreira (Deacon: 27 May 1995; Priest: 18 May 1996; Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Dec 2020)
Luis Gonzaga Féchio (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jan 2011 to 6 Jan 2016)
Vicente de Paula Ferreira, C.SS.R. (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Mar 2017 to 1 Feb 2023)
Otacilio Francisco Ferreira de Lacerda (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Dec 2016 to 19 Jun 2019)
Júlio César Gomes Moreira (Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Dec 2020)
João Justino de Medeiros Silva (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Dec 2011 to 22 Feb 2017)
Joaquim Giovani Mol Guimarães (Priest: 1992; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Feb 2006)
Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo (Archbishop: 28 Jan 2004 - )
José Otacio Oliveira Guedes (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 May 2024)
Edson José Oriolo dos Santos (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Apr 2015 to 30 Oct 2019)
Aloísio Jorge Pena Vitral (Priest: 18 Jan 1986; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Feb 2006 to 25 Nov 2009)
Alberto Taveira Corrêa (Priest: 15 Aug 1973 to 24 Apr 1991)
Décio Sossai Zandonade, S.D.B. (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Dec 1996 to 14 May 2003)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Hugo Bressane de Araújo † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 3 Sep 1951 to 7 Oct 1954)
Mário Clemente Neto, C.S.Sp. †
José Maria Dalvit, F.S.C.J. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Oct 1973 to 17 Jan 1977)
David Dias Pimentel † (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Dec 1996 to 7 Feb 2001)
Antônio dos Santos Cabral † (Bishop: 21 Nov 1921; Archbishop: 1 Feb 1924 to 15 Nov 1967)
Serafim Fernandes de Araújo † (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jan 1959; Coadjutor Archbishop: 22 Nov 1982; Archbishop: 5 Feb 1986 to 28 Jan 2004)
Alexandre Gonçalves do Amaral † (Priest: 22 Sep 1929 to 5 Aug 1939)
Paulo Lopes de Faria † (Priest: 8 Dec 1957 to 7 Nov 1980)
Antônio Carlos Mesquita † (Priest: 8 Dec 1947 to 8 Apr 1974)
Geraldo María de Morais Penido † (Priest: 4 Apr 1942; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Mar 1956 to 30 Nov 1957)
Sebastião Roque Rabelo Mendes † (Priest: 8 Dec 1954 to 5 Aug 1985; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 May 1989 to 15 Dec 2004)
João Resende (Rezende) Costa, S.D.B. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 19 Jul 1957; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1967 to 5 Feb 1986)
Arnaldo Ribeiro † (Priest: 13 Mar 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Nov 1975 to 28 Dec 1988)
Werner Franz Siebenbrock, S.V.D. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Oct 1988 to 9 Nov 1994)

Source(s)

Diocese of Belo Horizonte
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 13, Page 336, to Page 338
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 15, Page 451, and Page 452
Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 16, Page 264, and Page 265
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 56, Page 265, to Page 267

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Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte

Archidioecesis Bellohorizontina