Esteli (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Rolando José Álvarez Lagos, Apostolic Administrator
Rubén López Ardón, Bishop Emeritus
Juan Abelardo Mata Guevara, S.D.B., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 17 December 1962
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Managua
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nicaragua
Square Kilometers: 7,298 (2,818 Square Miles)
Description: Esteli, Nueva Segovia, and Madriz
Mailing Address: Obispado, Comarca San Ramon Km. 151 Carretera Panamericana Norte, Estelí, Nicaragua
Telephone: 8433-85-77

Past and Present Ordinaries

Clemente Carranza y López † (12 Jan 1963 Appointed - 7 Feb 1978 Died)
Rubén López Ardón (2 Jan 1979 Appointed - 6 Mar 1990 Resigned)
Juan Abelardo Mata Guevara, S.D.B. (6 Mar 1990 Appointed - 6 Jul 2021 Retired)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
17 December 1962	Erected	Diocese of León en Nicaragua (Esteli, Madriz, and Nueva Segovia)	Diocese of Esteli (erected)

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

1966 168,000 169,500 99.1% 12 4 16 10,500 4 43 16 ap1967

1968 185,500 191,218 97.0% 12 6 18 10,305 6 12 ap1971

1976 230,324 233,324 98.7% 17 8 25 9,212 13 44 17 ap1977

1977 243,950 251,450 97.0% 17 6 23 10,606 12 44 17 ap1981

1990 282,000 314,000 89.8% 14 18 32 8,812 30 35 26 ap1991

1999 580,600 650,500 89.3% 30 17 47 12,353 5 26 27 23 ap2000

2000 638,660 715,550 89.3% 33 17 50 12,773 5 26 27 23 ap2001

2001 638,660 715,550 89.3% 14 10 24 26,610 5 19 27 23 ap2002

2002 730,550 760,850 96.0% 17 10 27 27,057 5 19 29 23 ap2003

2003 740,450 775,540 95.5% 21 14 35 21,155 5 23 29 23 ap2004

2004 814,495 853,094 95.5% 20 14 34 23,955 5 23 29 24 ap2005

2006 913,862 957,171 95.5% 22 9 31 29,479 5 18 29 24 ap2007

2013 1,026,000 1,068,000 96.1% 33 9 42 24,428 5 16 32 32 ap2014

2016 1,116,744 1,394,319 80.1% 38 10 48 23,265 1 15 41 32 ap2017

2019 1,169,400 1,466,000 79.8% 32 10 42 27,842 7 24 33 41 ap2020

2021 1,162,860 1,440,820 80.7% 36 21 57 20,401 5 28 37 43 ap2022

2023 1,143,000 1,416,000 80.7% 39 21 60 19,050 5 28 37 43 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	168,000	169,500	99.1%	12	4	16	10,500		4	43	16	ap1967
1968	185,500	191,218	97.0%	12	6	18	10,305		6		12	ap1971
1976	230,324	233,324	98.7%	17	8	25	9,212		13	44	17	ap1977
1977	243,950	251,450	97.0%	17	6	23	10,606		12	44	17	ap1981
1990	282,000	314,000	89.8%	14	18	32	8,812		30	35	26	ap1991
1999	580,600	650,500	89.3%	30	17	47	12,353	5	26	27	23	ap2000
2000	638,660	715,550	89.3%	33	17	50	12,773	5	26	27	23	ap2001
2001	638,660	715,550	89.3%	14	10	24	26,610	5	19	27	23	ap2002
2002	730,550	760,850	96.0%	17	10	27	27,057	5	19	29	23	ap2003
2003	740,450	775,540	95.5%	21	14	35	21,155	5	23	29	23	ap2004
2004	814,495	853,094	95.5%	20	14	34	23,955	5	23	29	24	ap2005
2006	913,862	957,171	95.5%	22	9	31	29,479	5	18	29	24	ap2007
2013	1,026,000	1,068,000	96.1%	33	9	42	24,428	5	16	32	32	ap2014
2016	1,116,744	1,394,319	80.1%	38	10	48	23,265	1	15	41	32	ap2017
2019	1,169,400	1,466,000	79.8%	32	10	42	27,842	7	24	33	41	ap2020
2021	1,162,860	1,440,820	80.7%	36	21	57	20,401	5	28	37	43	ap2022
2023	1,143,000	1,416,000	80.7%	39	21	60	19,050	5	28	37	43	ap2024