Ciudad Real (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gerardo Melgar Viciosa, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 4 February 1980
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Toledo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Spain
Square Kilometers: 19,813 (7,652 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesisciudadreal.es/
Mailing Address: Obispado, Calle Caballeros 5, 13001 Ciudad Real, Espana
Telephone: 926.25.02.50
Fax: 926.25.12.58

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Ciudad Real
- Latin Name: Cluniensis
- Erected: 18 November 1875
- Immediately Subject to the Holy See
- Country: Spain

Past and Present Ordinaries

Victoriano Guisasola y Rodríguez † (28 May 1877 Appointed - 27 Mar 1882 Confirmed, Bishop of Orihuela)
Antonio María Cascajares y Azara † (27 Mar 1882 Appointed - 27 Mar 1884 Appointed, Bishop of Calahorra y La Calzada)
José María Rancés y Villanueva † (10 Jun 1886 Appointed - 28 Nov 1898 Appointed, Bishop of Cádiz y Ceuta)
Casimiro Piñera y Naredo † (28 Nov 1898 Appointed - 28 Aug 1904 Died)
Remigio Gandásegui y Gorrochátegui † (27 Mar 1905 Appointed - 28 May 1914 Appointed, Bishop of Segovia)
Francisco Javier de Irastorza y Loinaz † (11 Jul 1914 Appointed - 27 Jun 1922 Appointed, Bishop of Orihuela)
Bl. Narciso de Esténaga y Echevarría † (14 Dec 1922 Appointed - 22 Aug 1936 Died)
Emeterio Echeverria Barrena † (29 Dec 1942 Appointed - 23 Dec 1954 Died)
Juan Hervás y Benet † (14 Mar 1955 Appointed - 30 Sep 1976 Resigned)
Rafael Torija de la Fuente † (30 Sep 1976 Appointed - 20 Mar 2003 Retired)
Antonio Ángel Algora Hernando † (20 Mar 2003 Appointed - 8 Apr 2016 Retired)
Gerardo Melgar Viciosa (8 Apr 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Ciudad Real
18 November 1875	Erected	Diocese of Córdoba Diocese of Cuenca Archdiocese of Toledo	Territorial Prelature of Ciudad Real (erected)
Diocese of Ciudad Real
4 February 1980	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Ciudad Real	Diocese of Ciudad Real (and Latin name change)

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

Territorial Prelature of Ciudad Real

1950 536,200 537,500 99.8% 155 80 235 2,281 118 643 132 ap1951

1970 540,269 540,822 99.9% 256 77 333 1,622 124 754 184 ap1971

Diocese of Ciudad Real

1980 496,771 498,205 99.7% 231 75 306 1,623 117 743 187 ap1981

1990 487,401 489,537 99.6% 228 53 281 1,734 87 731 160 ap1991

1999 480,700 482,820 99.6% 213 48 261 1,841 69 671 163 ap2000

2000 481,943 484,093 99.6% 212 60 272 1,771 79 675 163 ap2001

2001 480,910 483,510 99.5% 214 53 267 1,801 70 648 164 ap2002

2002 473,943 478,581 99.0% 210 54 264 1,795 69 586 164 ap2003

2003 479,238 484,338 98.9% 210 44 254 1,886 101 620 164 ap2004

2004 483,669 487,670 99.2% 206 46 252 1,919 102 611 164 ap2005

2006 493,060 500,060 98.6% 206 56 262 1,881 107 543 164 ap2007

2013 521,800 530,800 98.3% 205 33 238 2,192 106 462 164 ap2014

2016 508,487 513,713 99.0% 186 42 228 2,230 101 471 164 ap2017

2019 507,360 512,570 99.0% 180 34 214 2,370 49 405 164 ap2020

2021 472,735 495,095 95.5% 166 28 194 2,436 40 413 163 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Prelature of Ciudad Real
1950	536,200	537,500	99.8%	155	80	235	2,281	118	643	132	ap1951
1970	540,269	540,822	99.9%	256	77	333	1,622	124	754	184	ap1971
Diocese of Ciudad Real
1980	496,771	498,205	99.7%	231	75	306	1,623	117	743	187	ap1981
1990	487,401	489,537	99.6%	228	53	281	1,734	87	731	160	ap1991
1999	480,700	482,820	99.6%	213	48	261	1,841	69	671	163	ap2000
2000	481,943	484,093	99.6%	212	60	272	1,771	79	675	163	ap2001
2001	480,910	483,510	99.5%	214	53	267	1,801	70	648	164	ap2002
2002	473,943	478,581	99.0%	210	54	264	1,795	69	586	164	ap2003
2003	479,238	484,338	98.9%	210	44	254	1,886	101	620	164	ap2004
2004	483,669	487,670	99.2%	206	46	252	1,919	102	611	164	ap2005
2006	493,060	500,060	98.6%	206	56	262	1,881	107	543	164	ap2007
2013	521,800	530,800	98.3%	205	33	238	2,192	106	462	164	ap2014
2016	508,487	513,713	99.0%	186	42	228	2,230	101	471	164	ap2017
2019	507,360	512,570	99.0%	180	34	214	2,370	49	405	164	ap2020
2021	472,735	495,095	95.5%	166	28	194	2,436	40	413	163	ap2022