Mossoró (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Francisco de Sales Alencar Batista, O. Carm., Bishop
Mariano Manzana, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 28 July 1934
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Natal
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Rio Grande do Norte
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 18,832 (7,273 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 2
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesedemossoro.com/
Mailing Address: C.P. 16, Praca Coracao de Jesus s/n, 59600-022 Mossoro, RN, Brazil
Telephone: (084)3314-7255

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jaime de Barros Câmara † (19 Dec 1935 Appointed - 15 Sep 1941 Appointed, Archbishop of Belém do Pará)
João Batista Portocarrero Costa † (31 Jul 1943 Appointed - 3 Jul 1953 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Olinda e Recife, Pernambuco)
Elizeu Simões Mendes † (19 Sep 1953 Appointed - 17 Oct 1959 Appointed, Bishop of Campo Mourão, Parana)
Gentil Diniz Barreto † (11 Jun 1960 Appointed - 14 Mar 1984 Resigned)
José Freire de Oliveira Neto † (14 Mar 1984 Succeeded - 15 Jun 2004 Retired)
Mariano Manzana (15 Jun 2004 Appointed - 18 Nov 2023 Retired)
Francisco de Sales Alencar Batista, O. Carm. (18 Nov 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
28 July 1934	Erected	Diocese of Natal	Diocese of Mossoró (erected)
16 February 1952	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Mossoró (from Paraíba)

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

1950 350,000 400,000 87.5% 13 20 33 10,606 20 43 16 ap1951

1966 330,000 380,000 86.8% 28 7 35 9,428 7 38 18 ap1967

1968 286,000 356,708 80.2% 26 8 34 8,411 8 62 18 ap1971

1976 421,360 482,670 87.3% 19 14 33 12,768 14 50 21 ap1977

1980 435,089 555,089 78.4% 11 14 25 17,403 16 50 21 ap1981

1990 651,000 685,000 95.0% 18 12 30 21,700 16 68 20 ap1991

1999 751,000 780,000 96.3% 27 9 36 20,861 12 65 20 ap2000

2000 760,000 790,000 96.2% 27 9 36 21,111 12 44 20 ap2001

2001 768,000 798,000 96.2% 25 11 36 21,333 14 68 20 ap2002

2002 778,000 809,000 96.2% 25 11 36 21,611 13 59 20 ap2003

2003 793,000 825,000 96.1% 26 11 37 21,432 13 50 20 ap2004

2004 793,000 825,000 96.1% 26 11 37 21,432 13 60 20 ap2005

2013 889,000 924,000 96.2% 44 12 56 15,875 14 65 32 ap2014

2016 682,000 812,625 83.9% 45 13 58 11,758 3 19 69 32 ap2017

2019 654,000 817,826 80.0% 45 12 57 11,473 3 14 58 38 ap2020

2021 664,100 830,160 80.0% 57 57 11,650 7 2 66 39 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	350,000	400,000	87.5%	13	20	33	10,606		20	43	16	ap1951
1966	330,000	380,000	86.8%	28	7	35	9,428		7	38	18	ap1967
1968	286,000	356,708	80.2%	26	8	34	8,411		8	62	18	ap1971
1976	421,360	482,670	87.3%	19	14	33	12,768		14	50	21	ap1977
1980	435,089	555,089	78.4%	11	14	25	17,403		16	50	21	ap1981
1990	651,000	685,000	95.0%	18	12	30	21,700		16	68	20	ap1991
1999	751,000	780,000	96.3%	27	9	36	20,861		12	65	20	ap2000
2000	760,000	790,000	96.2%	27	9	36	21,111		12	44	20	ap2001
2001	768,000	798,000	96.2%	25	11	36	21,333		14	68	20	ap2002
2002	778,000	809,000	96.2%	25	11	36	21,611		13	59	20	ap2003
2003	793,000	825,000	96.1%	26	11	37	21,432		13	50	20	ap2004
2004	793,000	825,000	96.1%	26	11	37	21,432		13	60	20	ap2005
2013	889,000	924,000	96.2%	44	12	56	15,875		14	65	32	ap2014
2016	682,000	812,625	83.9%	45	13	58	11,758	3	19	69	32	ap2017
2019	654,000	817,826	80.0%	45	12	57	11,473	3	14	58	38	ap2020
2021	664,100	830,160	80.0%	57		57	11,650	7	2	66	39	ap2022