León en Nicaragua (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

René Sócrates Sándigo Jirón, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 2 December 1913
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Managua
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nicaragua
Square Kilometers: 10,279 (3,970 Square Miles)
Description: León and Chinandega
Mailing Address: Obispado, Costado sur de Catedral, León, Nicaragua
Telephone: 2311.4820

Historical Details

Diocese of Nicaragua
- Latin Name: Nicaraguensis (seu de Nicaragua)
- Erected: 3 November 1534
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Guatemala
- Country: Nicaragua

Past and Present Ordinaries

Venerable Diego Alvarez de Osorio † (26 Feb 1531 Appointed - May 1536 Died)
Francisco de Mendavia, O.S.H. † (5 Dec 1537 Appointed - 6 Oct 1540 Died)
Antonio de Valdivieso, O.P. † (29 Feb 1544 Appointed - 26 Feb 1549 Died)
Fernando González de Bariodero † (18 Dec 1555 Appointed - 2 May 1556 Died)
Lázaro Carrasco † ( 1556 Appointed - 20 Nov 1562 Died)
Fernando González de Bariodero † ( 1556 Ordained Bishop - 2 May 1556 Died)
Luís de la Fuente (Fuentes) † (28 Apr 1564 Appointed - Dec 1566 Died)
Pedro Gómez (Fernández) de Córdoba, O.S.H. † (2 Jun 1568 Appointed - 18 Jun 1574 Appointed, Bishop of Santiago de Guatemala)
Antonio de Zayas, O.F.M. † (19 Jan 1575 Appointed - 8 Mar 1582 Resigned)
Domingo de Ulloa, O.P. † (4 Feb 1585 Appointed - 9 Dec 1591 Appointed, Bishop of Popayán)
Jerónimo de Escobar, O.S.A. † (22 May 1592 Appointed - 19 Mar 1593 Died)
Alfonso de la Mota y Escobar † (31 Mar 1594 Appointed - 1595 Resigned)
Juan Antonio Diaz de Salcedo, O.F.M. Obs. † (28 Jul 1597 Appointed - 1603 Died)
Pedro de Villarreal † (22 Oct 1603 Appointed - 1619 Died)
Benito Rodriguez Valtodano (Baltodano), O.S.B. † (17 Mar 1621 Confirmed - 1629 Died)
Agustin de Hinojosa y Montalvo, O.F.M. † (12 Aug 1630 Appointed - 5 Jul 1631 Died)
Juan Barahona Zapata del Águila † (29 Mar 1632 Confirmed - 19 Nov 1632 Died)
Fernando Núñez Sagredo, O.SS.T. † (14 Mar 1633 Appointed - 31 Mar 1639 Died)
Alonso de Briceño (Brizeño), O.F.M. Obs. † (14 Nov 1644 Confirmed - 18 Aug 1653 Appointed, Bishop of Caracas, Santiago de Venezuela)
Tomás Manso, O.F.M. † (29 Apr 1658 Confirmed - 1659 Died)
Juan de la Torre y Castro, O.F.M. † (19 Dec 1661 Appointed - Dec 1662 Died)
Alfonso Bravo de Laguna, O.F.M. † (1 Sep 1670 Confirmed - 9 Jun 1674 Died)
Andrés de las Navas y Quevedo, O. de M. † (13 Sep 1677 Appointed - 15 Feb 1683 Confirmed, Bishop of Santiago de Guatemala)
Juan de Rojas y Asúa, O. de M. † (8 Mar 1683 Confirmed - 25 Nov 1685 Died)
Nicolás Delgado, O.F.M. † (12 May 1687 Appointed - 25 Nov 1698 Died)
Diego Morcillo Rubio de Auñón de Robledo, O.SS.T. † (21 Nov 1701 Appointed - 14 May 1708 Appointed, Bishop of La Paz)
Juan Benito Garret y Arlovi, O. Praem. † (3 Oct 1708 Confirmed - 7 Oct 1716 Died)
Andrés Quiles Galindo, O.F.M. † (9 Feb 1718 Appointed - 2 Jul 1719 Died)
José Xirón de Alvarado, O.P. † (28 May 1721 Appointed - 21 Jun 1724 Died)
Francisco Dionisio de Villavicencio, O.S.A. † (1 Jul 1726 Appointed - 25 Dec 1735 Died)
Domingo Antonio de Zatarain † (3 Mar 1738 Confirmed - 6 Feb 1741 Died)
Isidoro Marín Bullón y Figueroa † (2 Dec 1743 Confirmed - 19 Jul 1748 Died)
Pedro Agustín Morell de Santa Cruz y Lora † (20 Oct 1749 Confirmed - 28 May 1753 Confirmed, Bishop of Santiago de Cuba)
José Antonio Flores de Rivera † (23 Jul 1753 Confirmed - Dec 1756 Died)
Matías José de Navia Bolaños y Moscoso, O.E.S.A. † (26 Sep 1757 Appointed - 2 Feb 1762 Died)
Juan Carlos de Vilches y Cabrera † (27 Mar 1765 Appointed - 14 Apr 1774 Died)
Esteban Lorenzo de Tristán y Esmenota † (11 Sep 1775 Appointed - 15 Dec 1783 Appointed, Bishop of Durango)
Juan Félix de Villegas † (14 Feb 1785 Appointed - 23 Sep 1793 Appointed, Archbishop of Guatemala)
Juan Cruz Ruiz de Cabañas y Crespo † (12 Sep 1794 Appointed - 18 Dec 1795 Appointed, Bishop of Guadalajara, Jalisco)
José Antonio de la Huerta Caso † (24 Jul 1797 Appointed - 25 May 1803 Died)
Felipe Antonio (Juan José) Pérez del Notario † (28 May 1804 Confirmed - 15 May 1806 Died)
Nicolás García Jerez, O.P. † (17 Nov 1806 Appointed - 31 Jul 1825 Died)
José de Viteri y Ungo † (5 Nov 1849 Appointed - 25 Jul 1853 Died)
José Bernardo Piñol y Aycinena † (30 Nov 1854 Appointed - 20 Sep 1867 Appointed, Archbishop of Guatemala)
Manuel Ulloa y Calvo † (20 Sep 1867 Succeeded - 25 Jan 1879 Died)
Francisco Ulloa y Larios † (19 Oct 1880 Appointed - 30 Jul 1902 Died)
Simeón Pereira y Castellón † (30 Jul 1902 Succeeded - 2 Feb 1921 Died)
Agustin Nicolas Tijerino y Loáisiga † (21 Nov 1921 Appointed - 28 Mar 1945 Died)
Isidro Augusto Oviedo y Reyes † (13 Jun 1946 Appointed - 14 Apr 1969 Resigned)
Manuel Salazar y Espinoza † (30 Jan 1973 Appointed - 19 Dec 1981 Resigned)
Julián Luis Barni Spotti, O.F.M. † (18 Jun 1982 Appointed - 2 Apr 1991 Retired)
César Bosco Vivas Robelo † (2 Apr 1991 Appointed - 29 Jun 2019 Retired)
René Sócrates Sándigo Jirón (29 Jun 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Nicaragua
3 November 1534	Erected	Diocese of Santo Domingo	Diocese of Nicaragua (erected)
11 February 1547	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Nicaragua (From Seville (Spain) to Lima (Peru))
16 December 1743	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Nicaragua (From Lima (Peru) to Guatemala)
28 February 1850	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nicaragua	Diocese of San José de Costa Rica (erected) (Costa Rica)
2 December 1913	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nicaragua	Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields (erected)
2 December 1913	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nicaragua (Granada, Rivas, Chontales, and San Juan del Norie)	Diocese of Granada (erected)
2 December 1913	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nicaragua (Managua, Masaya, Carazo, Matagalpa, and Qinotega)	Archdiocese of Managua (erected)
Diocese of León en Nicaragua
2 December 1913	Name Changed	Diocese of Nicaragua (León, Chimandega, Esteli, and Nueva Segovia)	Diocese of León en Nicaragua
15 January 1962	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa (Totecacinte below Portillo de Totecacinte and Murupuxi)	Diocese of León en Nicaragua
17 December 1962	Territory Lost	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

Diocese of León en Nicaragua

1950 318,285 327,974 97.0% 39 26 65 4,896 26 83 51 ap1951

1966 187,252 187,372 99.9% 24 24 48 3,901 35 66 23 ap1967

1968 274,720 278,675 98.6% 27 20 47 5,845 32 66 18 ap1971

1976 332,700 390,000 85.3% 22 18 40 8,317 35 46 32 ap1977

1999 619,082 728,332 85.0% 53 11 64 9,673 2 20 90 41 ap2000

2000 629,000 739,000 85.1% 49 11 60 10,483 4 20 90 41 ap2001

2001 667,000 784,318 85.0% 55 11 66 10,106 2 20 93 43 ap2002

2002 673,000 791,000 85.1% 58 12 70 9,614 2 21 96 43 ap2003

2003 667,000 784,318 85.0% 59 13 72 9,263 4 22 96 47 ap2004

2004 667,000 784,318 85.0% 59 11 70 9,528 4 20 96 47 ap2005

2013 894,000 980,000 91.2% 72 13 85 10,517 6 19 56 54 ap2014

2016 822,000 905,000 90.8% 95 13 108 7,611 5 19 48 55 ap2017

2019 848,000 933,620 90.8% 96 22 118 7,186 6 29 65 57 ap2020

2021 783,880 863,028 90.8% 83 14 97 8,081 8 39 64 57 ap2022

2023 820,120 903,425 90.8% 87 14 101 8,120 7 34 67 63 ap2024

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 León en Nicaragua
1950	318,285	327,974	97.0%	39	26	65	4,896		26	83	51	ap1951
1966	187,252	187,372	99.9%	24	24	48	3,901		35	66	23	ap1967
1968	274,720	278,675	98.6%	27	20	47	5,845		32	66	18	ap1971
1976	332,700	390,000	85.3%	22	18	40	8,317		35	46	32	ap1977
1999	619,082	728,332	85.0%	53	11	64	9,673	2	20	90	41	ap2000
2000	629,000	739,000	85.1%	49	11	60	10,483	4	20	90	41	ap2001
2001	667,000	784,318	85.0%	55	11	66	10,106	2	20	93	43	ap2002
2002	673,000	791,000	85.1%	58	12	70	9,614	2	21	96	43	ap2003
2003	667,000	784,318	85.0%	59	13	72	9,263	4	22	96	47	ap2004
2004	667,000	784,318	85.0%	59	11	70	9,528	4	20	96	47	ap2005
2013	894,000	980,000	91.2%	72	13	85	10,517	6	19	56	54	ap2014
2016	822,000	905,000	90.8%	95	13	108	7,611	5	19	48	55	ap2017
2019	848,000	933,620	90.8%	96	22	118	7,186	6	29	65	57	ap2020
2021	783,880	863,028	90.8%	83	14	97	8,081	8	39	64	57	ap2022
2023	820,120	903,425	90.8%	87	14	101	8,120	7	34	67	63	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Venerable Diego Alvarez de Osorio † (Bishop: 26 Feb 1531 to May 1536)
Juan Barahona Zapata del Águila † (Bishop: 29 Mar 1632 to 19 Nov 1632)
Julián Luis Barni Spotti, O.F.M. † (Apostolic Administrator: 19 Dec 1981; Bishop: 18 Jun 1982 to 2 Apr 1991)
Alfonso Bravo de Laguna, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 1 Sep 1670 to 9 Jun 1674)
Alonso de Briceño (Brizeño), O.F.M. Obs. † (Bishop: 14 Nov 1644 to 18 Aug 1653)
Isidoro Marín Bullón y Figueroa † (Bishop: 2 Dec 1743 to 19 Jul 1748)
Octavio José Calderón y Padilla † (Priest: 20 Feb 1927 to 13 Jun 1946)
Lázaro Carrasco † (Bishop: 1556 to 20 Nov 1562)
Isidro Carrillo y Salazar † (Priest: 10 May 1900 to 11 Dec 1913)
Juan de la Torre y Castro, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 19 Dec 1661 to Dec 1662)
Nicolás Delgado, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 12 May 1687 to 25 Nov 1698)
Juan Antonio Diaz de Salcedo, O.F.M. Obs. † (Bishop: 28 Jul 1597 to 1603)
Jerónimo de Escobar, O.S.A. † (Bishop: 22 May 1592 to 19 Mar 1593)
José Antonio Flores de Rivera † (Bishop: 23 Jul 1753 to Dec 1756)
Luís de la Fuente (Fuentes) † (Bishop: 28 Apr 1564 to Dec 1566)
Nicolás García Jerez, O.P. † (Bishop: 17 Nov 1806 to 31 Jul 1825)
Juan Benito Garret y Arlovi, O. Praem. † (Bishop: 3 Oct 1708 to 7 Oct 1716)
Pedro Gómez (Fernández) de Córdoba, O.S.H. † (Bishop: 2 Jun 1568 to 18 Jun 1574)
Fernando González de Bariodero † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1555 to 2 May 1556)
Agustin de Hinojosa y Montalvo, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 12 Aug 1630 to 5 Jul 1631)
José Antonio de la Huerta Caso † (Bishop: 24 Jul 1797 to 25 May 1803)
Alfonso de la Mota y Escobar † (Bishop: 31 Mar 1594 to 1595)
Tomás Manso, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 29 Apr 1658 to 1659)
Francisco de Mendavia, O.S.H. † (Bishop: 5 Dec 1537 to 6 Oct 1540)
Diego Morcillo Rubio de Auñón de Robledo, O.SS.T. † (Bishop: 21 Nov 1701 to 14 May 1708)
Pedro Agustín Morell de Santa Cruz y Lora † (Bishop: 20 Oct 1749 to 28 May 1753)
Andrés de las Navas y Quevedo, O. de M. † (Bishop: 13 Sep 1677 to 15 Feb 1683)
Matías José de Navia Bolaños y Moscoso, O.E.S.A. † (Bishop: 26 Sep 1757 to 2 Feb 1762)
Fernando Núñez Sagredo, O.SS.T. † (Bishop: 14 Mar 1633 to 31 Mar 1639)
Isidro Augusto Oviedo y Reyes † (Priest: 25 Jul 1930 to 11 Dec 1939; Bishop: 13 Jun 1946 to 14 Apr 1969)
Simeón Pereira y Castellón † (Coadjutor Bishop: 2 Dec 1895; Bishop: 30 Jul 1902 to 2 Feb 1921)
Felipe Antonio (Juan José) Pérez del Notario † (Bishop: 28 May 1804 to 15 May 1806)
José Bernardo Piñol y Aycinena † (Bishop: 30 Nov 1854 to 20 Sep 1867)
Andrés Quiles Galindo, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 9 Feb 1718 to 2 Jul 1719)
Canuto José Reyes y Balladares † (Priest: 12 Jun 1887 to 12 Jul 1915)
Benito Rodriguez Valtodano (Baltodano), O.S.B. † (Bishop: 17 Mar 1621 to 1629)
Juan de Rojas y Asúa, O. de M. † (Bishop: 8 Mar 1683 to 25 Nov 1685)
Juan Cruz Ruiz de Cabañas y Crespo † (Bishop: 12 Sep 1794 to 18 Dec 1795)
Manuel Salazar y Espinoza † (Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Apr 1969; Bishop: 30 Jan 1973 to 19 Dec 1981)
Agustin Nicolas Tijerino y Loáisiga † (Bishop: 21 Nov 1921 to 28 Mar 1945)
Esteban Lorenzo de Tristán y Esmenota † (Bishop: 11 Sep 1775 to 15 Dec 1783)
Domingo de Ulloa, O.P. † (Bishop: 4 Feb 1585 to 9 Dec 1591)
Manuel Ulloa y Calvo † (Deacon: 3 May 1844; Priest: 5 May 1844; Coadjutor Bishop: 25 Sep 1865; Bishop: 20 Sep 1867 to 25 Jan 1879)
Francisco Ulloa y Larios † (Bishop: 19 Oct 1880 to 30 Jul 1902)
Antonio de Valdivieso, O.P. † (Bishop: 29 Feb 1544 to 26 Feb 1549)
Juan Carlos de Vilches y Cabrera † (Bishop: 27 Mar 1765 to 14 Apr 1774)
Pedro de Villarreal † (Bishop: 22 Oct 1603 to 1619)
Francisco Dionisio de Villavicencio, O.S.A. † (Bishop: 1 Jul 1726 to 25 Dec 1735)
Juan Félix de Villegas † (Bishop: 14 Feb 1785 to 23 Sep 1793)
José de Viteri y Ungo † (Bishop: 5 Nov 1849 to 25 Jul 1853)
César Bosco Vivas Robelo † (Bishop: 2 Apr 1991 to 29 Jun 2019)
José Xirón de Alvarado, O.P. † (Bishop: 28 May 1721 to 21 Jun 1724)
Domingo Antonio de Zatarain † (Bishop: 3 Mar 1738 to 6 Feb 1741)
Antonio de Zayas, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 19 Jan 1575 to 8 Mar 1582)

Source(s)

Diocese of Nicaragua
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 157
Diocese of León en Nicaragua
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 5, Page 549
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 54, Page 407, and Page 408

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Diocese of León en Nicaragua

Dioecesis Leonensis in Nicaragua