Bucaramanga (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Ismael Rueda Sierra, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 14 December 1974
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Colombia
Square Kilometers: 5,397 (2,084 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.arquibucaramanga.com/
Mailing Address: Arzobispado, Calle 33 N. 21-16, Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia
Telephone: (7)6424.387; 6425.132
Fax: 6421.361

Historical Details

Diocese of Bucaramanga
- Latin Name: Bucaramanguensis
- Erected: 17 December 1952
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Nueva Pamplona
- Country: Colombia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Aníbal Muñoz Duque † (18 Dec 1952 Appointed - 3 Aug 1959 Appointed, Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona)
Héctor Rueda Hernández † (6 May 1960 Appointed - 7 Nov 1991 Appointed, Archbishop of Medellín)
Darío Castrillón Hoyos † (16 Dec 1992 Appointed - 15 Jun 1996 Resigned)
Víctor Manuel López Forero † (27 Jun 1998 Appointed - 13 Feb 2009 Retired)
Ismael Rueda Sierra (13 Feb 2009 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Bucaramanga
17 December 1952	Erected	Diocese of Nueva Pamplona (Santander del Sur)	Diocese of Bucaramanga (erected)
29 May 1956	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Bucaramanga (from Bogotá)
Archdiocese of Bucaramanga
14 December 1974	Elevated	Diocese of Bucaramanga	Archdiocese of Bucaramanga
7 July 1987	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bucaramanga (Capitanejo, Carcasí, Cefitá, Cerrito, Concepción, Enciso, Guaca, Macaravita, Málaga, Molagavita, San Andrés, San José de Miranda, and San Miguel (all in García Rovira)) Diocese of Duitama (Boavita, Cobarachía, La Uvita, Soatá, Susacón, and Tipacoque (all in Norte) and Oliscas, El Cocuy, El Espino, Guacamayas, Güicán, Panqueva, and San Mateo (all in Gutiérrez))	Diocese of Málaga-Soatá (erected)

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

Diocese of Bucaramanga

1958 358,177 363,820 98.4% 66 43 109 3,286 61 358 41 ap1960

1966 565,287 569,297 99.3% 87 80 167 3,384 93 448 51 ap1967

1970 579,998 593,998 97.6% 84 58 142 4,084 101 1,031 58 ap1971

Archdiocese of Bucaramanga

1976 601,605 619,198 97.2% 84 41 125 4,812 61 340 67 ap1977

1980 675,682 695,815 97.1% 85 48 133 5,080 72 398 69 ap1981

1990 832,684 858,586 97.0% 89 68 157 5,303 3 101 563 69 ap1991

1999 1,045,884 1,070,133 97.7% 137 68 205 5,101 10 106 612 90 ap2000

2000 1,072,035 1,096,896 97.7% 146 68 214 5,009 10 142 552 90 ap2001

2001 1,104,214 1,130,517 97.7% 148 68 216 5,112 10 138 625 92 ap2002

2002 1,126,749 1,153,589 97.7% 147 65 212 5,314 14 115 632 94 ap2003

2003 1,149,284 1,176,660 97.7% 150 65 215 5,345 20 122 636 94 ap2004

2004 1,168,525 1,192,350 98.0% 143 70 213 5,486 24 125 581 96 ap2005

2012 1,343,760 1,376,252 97.6% 183 61 244 5,507 56 105 574 105 ap2013

2015 1,412,063 1,446,206 97.6% 179 57 236 5,983 60 80 553 105 ap2016

2018 1,440,000 1,498,200 96.1% 184 90 274 5,255 70 114 593 109 ap2019

2020 1,240,000 1,290,431 96.1% 189 95 284 4,366 62 111 571 110 ap2021

2022 1,265,529 1,316,368 96.1% 180 96 276 4,585 59 116 555 110 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Bucaramanga
1958	358,177	363,820	98.4%	66	43	109	3,286		61	358	41	ap1960
1966	565,287	569,297	99.3%	87	80	167	3,384		93	448	51	ap1967
1970	579,998	593,998	97.6%	84	58	142	4,084		101	1,031	58	ap1971
Archdiocese of Bucaramanga
1976	601,605	619,198	97.2%	84	41	125	4,812		61	340	67	ap1977
1980	675,682	695,815	97.1%	85	48	133	5,080		72	398	69	ap1981
1990	832,684	858,586	97.0%	89	68	157	5,303	3	101	563	69	ap1991
1999	1,045,884	1,070,133	97.7%	137	68	205	5,101	10	106	612	90	ap2000
2000	1,072,035	1,096,896	97.7%	146	68	214	5,009	10	142	552	90	ap2001
2001	1,104,214	1,130,517	97.7%	148	68	216	5,112	10	138	625	92	ap2002
2002	1,126,749	1,153,589	97.7%	147	65	212	5,314	14	115	632	94	ap2003
2003	1,149,284	1,176,660	97.7%	150	65	215	5,345	20	122	636	94	ap2004
2004	1,168,525	1,192,350	98.0%	143	70	213	5,486	24	125	581	96	ap2005
2012	1,343,760	1,376,252	97.6%	183	61	244	5,507	56	105	574	105	ap2013
2015	1,412,063	1,446,206	97.6%	179	57	236	5,983	60	80	553	105	ap2016
2018	1,440,000	1,498,200	96.1%	184	90	274	5,255	70	114	593	109	ap2019
2020	1,240,000	1,290,431	96.1%	189	95	284	4,366	62	111	571	110	ap2021
2022	1,265,529	1,316,368	96.1%	180	96	276	4,585	59	116	555	110	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Darío Castrillón Hoyos † (Archbishop: 16 Dec 1992 to 15 Jun 1996)
Isaías Duarte Cancino † (Priest: 1 Dec 1963; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Apr 1985 to 18 Jun 1988)
Víctor Manuel López Forero † (Archbishop: 27 Jun 1998 to 13 Feb 2009)
Gustavo Martínez Frías †
Aníbal Muñoz Duque † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1952 to 3 Aug 1959)
Carlos Prada Sanmiguel † (Priest: 6 Feb 1966 to 20 Jan 1988)
Héctor Rueda Hernández † (Bishop: 6 May 1960; Archbishop: 14 Dec 1974 to 7 Nov 1991)
Rafael Sarmiento Peralta † (Priest: 17 Dec 1952 to 26 Oct 1962)

Source(s)

Diocese of Bucaramanga
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 387, to Page 389
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 693, to Page 695
Archdiocese of Bucaramanga
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 67, Page 165, and Page 166

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Archdiocese of Bucaramanga

Archidioecesis Bucaramanguensis