Bombay (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Oswald Gracias, Cardinal, Archbishop
John Rodrigues, Coadjutor Archbishop
Dominic Savio Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop
Allwyn D’Silva, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
Percival Joseph Fernandez, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
Agnelo Rufino Gracias, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
Bosco Penha, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 1 September 1886
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 9,731 (3,758 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://archdioceseofbombay.org/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, 21 Nathalal Parekh Marg, Mumbai-400001, India
Telephone: (022)2202.10.93; 2202.11.93
Fax: 2285.38.72

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Idalcan / Deccan / Bijapur
- Erected: 1637
- Vicariate
- Country: India
Vicariate Apostolic of Great Mogul (Mughals)
- Name Changed: 1669
- Vicariate
- Country: India
Vicariate Apostolic of Bombay
- Latin Name: Bombayensis
- Name Changed: 1820
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Matthieu de Castro Malo, C.O. † (14 Nov 1637 Appointed - 1669 Resigned)
Custodio do Pinho † (14 Jan 1669 Appointed - 1696 Resigned)
Fernand Palma d’Artois, O.C.D. † (20 Sep 1696 Appointed - 3 Jan 1701 Died)
Giovanni Maria (Pietro a Alcantara) de Leonardi, O.C.D. † (28 Apr 1704 Appointed - 1707 Died)
Antonio Baistrocchi, O. Carm. † (12 May 1708 Appointed - 15 May 1726 Died)
Pedro Alcántara de la Santísima Trinidad, O.C.D. † (28 Jan 1728 Appointed - 3 Nov 1744 Died)
Joannes Antonius Stratman, O.C.D. † (19 Jan 1746 Appointed - 6 Jun 1753 Died)
Joannes Dominicus (Michael Antonius) Chiavassa, O.C.D. † (15 Jun 1756 Appointed - 25 Jan 1772 Died)
Giorgio Antonio Vareschi, O.C.D. † (15 May 1773 Appointed - 6 Jan 1785 Died)
Angelin (Joseph Jakob) Geiselmayer, O.C.D. † (12 Aug 1785 Appointed - 12 Jul 1786 Died)
Victorius (Franciscus Xaverius) Schweizer, O.C.D. † (9 Nov 1787 Appointed - 31 May 1793 Died)
Antonio Ramazzini, O.C.D. † (3 Jun 1794 Appointed - 9 Oct 1840 Died)
Luigi Maria (Ferdinando) Fortini, O.C.D. † (9 Oct 1840 Succeeded - 5 Jan 1848 Died)
John Francis (William Joseph) Whelan, O.C.D. † (5 Jan 1848 Succeeded - 4 Aug 1850 Resigned)
Anastasius (Alois) Hartmann, O.F.M. Cap. † (13 Dec 1849 Appointed - 25 Jul 1858 Resigned)
Walter Herman Jacobus Steins, S.J. † (18 Dec 1860 Appointed - 11 Jan 1867 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Western Bengal)
Johann Gabriel Léon Louis Meurin, S.J. † (4 Jun 1867 Appointed - 1886 Resigned)
George Porter, S.J. † (21 Dec 1886 Appointed - 28 Sep 1889 Died)
Theodore Dalhoff, S.J. † (6 Dec 1891 Appointed - 12 May 1906 Died)
Severinus Noti, S.J. † (27 Sep 1906 Appointed - 17 Jan 1907 Resigned)
Hermann Jürgens (Juergens), S.J. † (28 May 1907 Appointed - 28 Sep 1916 Died)
Alban Goodier, S.J. † (15 Dec 1919 Appointed - 1 Oct 1926 Resigned)
Joachim Rodrigues Lima, S.J. † (4 May 1928 Appointed - 21 Jul 1936 Died)
Thomas Roberts, S.J. † (12 Aug 1937 Appointed - 4 Dec 1950 Resigned)
Valerian Gracias † (4 Dec 1950 Appointed - 11 Sep 1978 Died)
Simon Ignatius Pimenta † (10 Apr 1976 Appointed - Did Not Take Effect)
Simon Ignatius Pimenta † (11 Sep 1978 Succeeded - 8 Nov 1996 Retired)
Ivan Cornelius Dias † (8 Nov 1996 Appointed - 20 May 2006 Appointed, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples)
Oswald Gracias (14 Oct 2006 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Idalcan / Deccan / Bijapur
1637	Erected	Archdiocese of Goa	Vicariate Apostolic of Idalcan / Deccan / Bijapur (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Great Mogul (Mughals)
1669	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Idalcan / Deccan / Bijapur	Vicariate Apostolic of Great Mogul (Mughals)
1704	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Great Mogul (Mughals)	Prefecture Apostolic of Tibet (erected)
1769	Territory Added	Prefecture Apostolic of Tibet (suppressed)	Vicariate Apostolic of Great Mogul (Mughals)
17 May 1784	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Great Mogul (Mughals)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Hindustan (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Bombay
1820	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Great Mogul (Mughals)	Vicariate Apostolic of Bombay
8 March 1854	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bombay	Vicariate Apostolic of Poona (erected)
Archdiocese of Bombay
1 September 1886	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Bombay	Archdiocese of Bombay
25 January 1930	Territory Added	Diocese of Poona (Khandala and Kune)	Archdiocese of Bombay
1934	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bombay (Northern and central part of Quierat, from the river Mahi to the region of Sind, the whole peninsula of Kathiavar and the island of Gutch)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Ahmedabad (erected)
20 May 1948	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bombay (Sind and Baluchistan)	Diocese of Karachi (erected)
29 September 1966	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bombay (Panchmahals, Baroda, Broach, Surat, and Dangs (all in Gujarat))	Diocese of Baroda (erected)
30 April 1988	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bombay Diocese of Nashik Diocese of Poona	Diocese of Kalyan (Syro-Malabar) (erected) (Syro-Malabar Faithful)
22 May 1998	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bombay (Vasai, Bhiwandi, Shahapur, Wada, Jawahar, Palghar, Mokhada, Dahanu, and Talasari (all in Thane))	Diocese of Vasai (erected)

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 Bombay

1950 209,000 10,500,000 2.0% 167 120 287 728 120 253 86 ap1951

1959 298,435 10,783,795 2.8% 195 142 337 885 218 462 85 ap1960

1970 400,862 6,863,547 5.8% 272 223 495 809 369 1,015 99 ap1971

1980 518,486 9,703,000 5.3% 300 238 538 963 404 1,343 103 ap1981

1990 565,504 14,880,000 3.8% 331 272 603 937 410 1,517 122 ap1991

1999 544,177 14,636,931 3.7% 306 263 569 956 357 1,412 86 ap2000

2000 506,648 14,661,645 3.5% 291 265 556 911 370 1,428 86 ap2001

2001 485,790 14,661,645 3.3% 283 278 561 865 364 1,428 114 ap2002

2002 491,697 14,661,645 3.4% 286 271 557 882 383 1,435 113 ap2003

2003 497,850 14,955,000 3.3% 285 280 565 881 370 1,486 114 ap2004

2004 503,714 15,205,000 3.3% 286 262 548 919 358 1,500 116 ap2005

2006 506,976 19,444,203 2.6% 277 283 560 905 383 1,530 118 ap2007

2012 525,017 20,399,000 2.6% 284 310 594 883 9 401 1,587 122 ap2013

2015 517,001 21,204,000 2.4% 294 311 605 854 10 398 1,616 123 ap2016

2018 509,794 21,901,620 2.3% 293 320 613 831 15 399 1,605 124 ap2019

2020 503,888 21,928,200 2.3% 280 324 604 834 16 394 1,563 124 ap2021

2022 491,249 21,691,116 2.3% 265 312 577 851 15 375 1,538 124 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 Bombay
1950	209,000	10,500,000	2.0%	167	120	287	728		120	253	86	ap1951
1959	298,435	10,783,795	2.8%	195	142	337	885		218	462	85	ap1960
1970	400,862	6,863,547	5.8%	272	223	495	809		369	1,015	99	ap1971
1980	518,486	9,703,000	5.3%	300	238	538	963		404	1,343	103	ap1981
1990	565,504	14,880,000	3.8%	331	272	603	937		410	1,517	122	ap1991
1999	544,177	14,636,931	3.7%	306	263	569	956		357	1,412	86	ap2000
2000	506,648	14,661,645	3.5%	291	265	556	911		370	1,428	86	ap2001
2001	485,790	14,661,645	3.3%	283	278	561	865		364	1,428	114	ap2002
2002	491,697	14,661,645	3.4%	286	271	557	882		383	1,435	113	ap2003
2003	497,850	14,955,000	3.3%	285	280	565	881		370	1,486	114	ap2004
2004	503,714	15,205,000	3.3%	286	262	548	919		358	1,500	116	ap2005
2006	506,976	19,444,203	2.6%	277	283	560	905		383	1,530	118	ap2007
2012	525,017	20,399,000	2.6%	284	310	594	883	9	401	1,587	122	ap2013
2015	517,001	21,204,000	2.4%	294	311	605	854	10	398	1,616	123	ap2016
2018	509,794	21,901,620	2.3%	293	320	613	831	15	399	1,605	124	ap2019
2020	503,888	21,928,200	2.3%	280	324	604	834	16	394	1,563	124	ap2021
2022	491,249	21,691,116	2.3%	265	312	577	851	15	375	1,538	124	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Barthol Barretto (Priest: 8 Apr 1989; Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Dec 2016 to 30 Dec 2023)
Thomas Dabre (Priest: 31 Oct 1971; Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Apr 1990 to 22 May 1998)
Allwyn D’Silva (Priest: 19 Apr 1975; Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Dec 2016 to 13 May 2023)
Thomas Francis D’Souza (Priest: 18 Apr 1998 to 22 May 1998)
Dominic Savio Fernandes (Priest: 8 Apr 1989; Auxiliary Bishop: 15 May 2013)
Percival Joseph Fernandez (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Mar 2001 to 4 Jan 2011)
Elias Joseph Gonsalves (Priest: 11 Apr 1990 to 11 Jul 2012)
Agnelo Rufino Gracias (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Mar 2001 to 30 Jul 2014)
Oswald Gracias (Priest: 20 Dec 1970; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Jun 1997 to 7 Sep 2000; Archbishop: 14 Oct 2006 - )
Felix Anthony Machado (Priest: 30 Oct 1976 to 22 May 1998)
Bosco Penha (Priest: 20 Dec 1967; Auxiliary Bishop: 15 May 1987 to 14 Jan 2012)
Bernard Lancy Pinto (Priest: 29 Apr 1997 to 30 Dec 2023)
John Rodrigues (Priest: 18 Apr 1998; Auxiliary Bishop: 15 May 2013 to 25 Mar 2023; Coadjutor Archbishop: 30 Nov 2024)
Malcolm Sequeira

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Antonio Baistrocchi, O. Carm. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 May 1708 to 15 May 1726)
Matthieu de Castro Malo, C.O. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Nov 1637 to 1669)
Joannes Dominicus (Michael Antonius) Chiavassa, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Jun 1756 to 25 Jan 1772)
Joseph Marie Anthony Cordeiro †
Theodore Dalhoff, S.J. † (Archbishop: 6 Dec 1891 to 12 May 1906)
Ivan Cornelius Dias † (Priest: 8 Dec 1958 to 8 May 1982; Archbishop: 8 Nov 1996 to 20 May 2006)
Leo D’Mello †
Custodio do Pinho † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jan 1669 to 1696)
Vivian Anthony Dyer †
Angelo Innocent Fernandes † (Priest: 29 Aug 1937 to 4 Jun 1959)
Ferdinand Joseph Fonseca † (Priest: 5 Dec 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Mar 1980 to 2 Dec 2000)
Luigi Maria (Ferdinando) Fortini, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 8 Aug 1837; Vicar Apostolic: 9 Oct 1840 to 5 Jan 1848)
Angelin (Joseph Jakob) Geiselmayer, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Aug 1785 to 12 Jul 1786)
William Zephyrine Gomes † (Priest: 22 Dec 1941; Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Mar 1961 to 12 Jun 1967)
Alban Goodier, S.J. † (Archbishop: 15 Dec 1919 to 1 Oct 1926)
Valerian Gracias † (Priest: 3 Oct 1926; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Apr 1946; Archbishop: 4 Dec 1950 to 11 Sep 1978)
Anastasius (Alois) Hartmann, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Dec 1849 to 25 Jul 1858)
Hermann Jürgens (Juergens), S.J. † (Archbishop: 28 May 1907 to 28 Sep 1916)
Giovanni Maria (Pietro a Alcantara) de Leonardi, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Apr 1704 to 1707)
Winnibald Joseph Menezes † (Auxiliary Bishop: 29 Nov 1967 to 10 Jul 1976)
Johann Gabriel Léon Louis Meurin, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Jun 1867 to 1886)
Severinus Noti, S.J. † (Archbishop: 27 Sep 1906 to 17 Jan 1907)
Fernand Palma d’Artois, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 20 Sep 1696 to 3 Jan 1701)
Longinus Gabriel Pereira † (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 May 1955 to 13 Dec 1986)
Ignazio Camillo Guglielmo Maria Pietro Persico, O.F.M. Cap. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 8 Mar 1854 to 19 Dec 1856)
Simon Ignatius Pimenta † (Priest: 21 Dec 1949; Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Jun 1971; Archbishop: 10 Apr 1976 - Did Not Take Effect; Coadjutor Archbishop: 26 Feb 1977; Archbishop: 11 Sep 1978 to 8 Nov 1996)
Edwin Pinto, S.J. †
George Porter, S.J. † (Archbishop: 21 Dec 1886 to 28 Sep 1889)
Antonio Ramazzini, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 3 Jun 1794 to 9 Oct 1840)
Thomas Roberts, S.J. † (Archbishop: 12 Aug 1937 to 4 Dec 1950)
Joachim Rodrigues Lima, S.J. † (Archbishop: 4 May 1928 to 21 Jul 1936)
Pedro Alcántara de la Santísima Trinidad, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jan 1728 to 3 Nov 1744)
Victorius (Franciscus Xaverius) Schweizer, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Nov 1787 to 31 May 1793)
Maurelio Stabellini, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 2 May 1815 to 26 May 1827)
Walter Herman Jacobus Steins, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Dec 1860 to 11 Jan 1867)
Joannes Antonius Stratman, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Jan 1746 to 6 Jun 1753)
Giorgio Antonio Vareschi, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 May 1773 to 6 Jan 1785)
John Francis (William Joseph) Whelan, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 7 Jun 1842; Vicar Apostolic: 5 Jan 1848 to 4 Aug 1850)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Great Mogul (Mughals)
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 118

Archdiocese of Bombay

Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 22, Page 450

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024
Code: web_d, v3.4.9, 15 Sep 2024; Data: 16 Dec 2024

✠

Archdiocese of Bombay

Archidioecesis Bombayensis