Olinda e Recife (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Paulo Jackson Nóbrega de Sousa, Archbishop
Josivaldo José Bezerra, Auxiliary Bishop-Elect
Nereudo Freire Henrique, Auxiliary Bishop-Elect
José Cardoso Sobrinho, O. Carm., Archbishop Emeritus
Fernando Antônio Saburido, O.S.B., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Name Changed: 26 July 1918
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Pernambuco
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 4,058 (1,567 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 2
Official Web Site: http://www.arquidioceseolindarecife.org/
Mailing Address: Av. Rui Barbosa 409, Gracas, 52011-040 Recife, PE, Brazil
Telephone: (081)3271-4270

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Pernambuco
- Erected: 15 July 1614
- Country: Brazil
Diocese of Olinda
- Latin Name: Olindensis
- Elevated: 16 November 1676
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia
- Country: Brazil
Archdiocese of Olinda
- Latin Name: Olindensis
- Elevated: 5 December 1910
- Metropolitan See
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Estevão Brioso de Figueiredo † (16 Nov 1676 Appointed - 27 Sep 1683 Appointed, Bishop of Funchal)
João Duarte do Sacramento, C.O. † (10 Sep 1685 Appointed - 10 Jan 1686 Died)
Matias de Figueiredo e Mello † (12 May 1687 Appointed - 18 Jul 1694 Died)
Francisco de Lima (Lemos), O. Carm. † (22 Aug 1695 Appointed - 29 Apr 1704 Died)
Manuel Álvares da Costa † (7 Jun 1706 Confirmed - 20 Jan 1721 Confirmed, Bishop of Angra)
José de Fialho, O. Cist. † (21 Feb 1725 Appointed - 3 Sep 1738 Confirmed, Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia)
Luiz de Santa Teresa da Cruz Salgado de Castilho, O.C.D. † (3 Sep 1738 Confirmed - 17 Nov 1757 Died)
Francisco Xavier Aranha † (17 Nov 1757 Succeeded - 5 Oct 1771 Died)
Francisco da Assumpção e Brito, O.E.S.A. † (8 Mar 1773 Confirmed - 20 Dec 1773 Confirmed, Archbishop of Goa)
Tomaz da Encarnação da Costa e Lima, C.R.S.A. † (18 Apr 1774 Confirmed - 14 Jan 1784 Died)
Diego de Jesus Jardim, O.S.H. † (14 Feb 1785 Confirmed - 21 Feb 1794 Confirmed, Bishop of Elvas)
José Joaquim da Cunha Azevedo Coutinho † (12 Sep 1794 Confirmed - 6 Oct 1806 Confirmed, Bishop of Elvas)
José Maria de Araújo, O.S.H. † (6 Oct 1806 Confirmed - 21 Sep 1809 Died)
Antônio de São José Bastos, O.S.B. † (15 Mar 1815 Confirmed - 19 Jul 1819 Died)
Gregório José Viegas, T.O.R. † (8 Jan 1821 Confirmed - 1822 Resigned)
Tomas Manoel de Noronha e Brito, O.P. † (23 Jun 1828 Confirmed - 30 Jun 1830 Resigned)
João da Purificação Marques Perdigão, O.S.A. † (28 Feb 1831 Confirmed - 30 Apr 1864 Died)
Manoel do Rego Medeiros † (25 Sep 1865 Appointed - 16 Sep 1866 Died)
Francisco Cardoso Ayres † (20 Dec 1867 Confirmed - 14 May 1870 Died)
Vital Maria Gonçalves de Oliveira, O.F.M. Cap. † (22 Dec 1871 Confirmed - 4 Jul 1878 Died)
José Pereira da Silva Barros † (13 May 1881 Confirmed - 12 May 1891 Appointed, Bishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro)
João Fernando Santiago Esberard (Esberrard) † (12 May 1891 Succeeded - 12 Sep 1893 Appointed, Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro)
Manoel dos Santos Pereira † (12 Sep 1893 Appointed - 25 Apr 1900 Died)
Luís Raimundo da Silva Brito † (23 Feb 1901 Appointed - 9 Dec 1915 Died)
Sebastião Leme da Silveira Cintra † (29 Apr 1916 Appointed - 15 Mar 1921 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro)
Miguel de Lima Valverde † (10 Feb 1922 Appointed - 7 May 1951 Died)
Antônio de Almeida Moraes Junior † (17 Nov 1951 Appointed - 23 Apr 1960 Appointed, Archbishop of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro)
Carlos Gouvêa Coelho † (23 Apr 1960 Appointed - 7 Mar 1964 Died)
Hélder Pessoa Câmara † (12 Mar 1964 Appointed - 2 Apr 1985 Retired)
José Cardoso Sobrinho, O. Carm. (2 Apr 1985 Appointed - 1 Jul 2009 Retired)
Fernando Antônio Saburido, O.S.B. (1 Jul 2009 Appointed - 14 Jun 2023 Retired)
Paulo Jackson Nóbrega de Sousa (14 Jun 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Pernambuco
1614	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of Pernambuco	Apostolic Administration of São Luís do Maranhão (erected)
15 July 1614	Erected	Diocese of São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos	Territorial Prelature of Pernambuco (erected)
Diocese of Olinda
16 November 1676	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Pernambuco	Diocese of Olinda
6 June 1854	Territory Lost	Diocese of Olinda	Diocese of Fortaleza (Ceará) (erected)
27 April 1892	Territory Lost	Diocese of Olinda	Diocese of Paraíba (erected)
2 July 1900	Territory Lost	Diocese of Olinda (Alagoas)	Diocese of Alagôas (erected)
5 December 1910	Territory Lost	Diocese of Olinda	Diocese of Floresta (erected)
Archdiocese of Olinda
5 December 1910	Elevated	Diocese of Olinda	Archdiocese of Olinda
Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife
26 July 1918	Name Changed	Archdiocese of Olinda	Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife
2 August 1918	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife (Northern part)	Diocese of Garanhuns (erected)
2 August 1918	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife (Southern part)	Diocese of Nazaré (erected)
2 August 1918	Territory Lost	Diocese of Floresta Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife (Pesqueira, Belho Jardim, Brejo da Mae de Deus, Cimbres, Pedra, and Buique)	Diocese of Pesqueira
7 August 1948	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nazaré (Santa Cruz) Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife (Nossa Senhora das Dores de Garuarú, Nossa Senhora do Rosario de Garuará, São Gaetano, Santo Antonio de Cachoeirinha, Nossa Senhora do Ó Altinho, Santo Antonio de Behedouro, São Joaquim, Nossa Senhora da Gonceção do Bonito, São Felix de Gamocim, São José..) Diocese of Pesqueira (Riacho das Almas)	Diocese of Caruaru (erected)
13 January 1962	Territory Lost	Diocese of Garanhuns (Cities of Palmares, Barreiros, Agua Prêta, Joaquim Nabuco, Catende, Beiern de Maria, Maraial, Lagôa dos Gatos, and Cupira) Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife (Cities of Rio Formoso, Sirinhaém, Gameleira, Ribeirâo, and Cortes)	Diocese of Palmares (erected)

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

Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife

1949 973,842 990,000 98.4% 74 142 216 4,508 270 882 47 ap1951

1965 1,320,000 106 196 302 4,370 320 850 68 ap1967*

1968 1,760,796 .0% 113 185 298 0 332 930 66 ap1971

1976 2,123,160 2,374,929 89.4% 86 144 230 9,231 236 848 71 ap1977

1980 2,330,000 2,600,000 89.6% 81 137 218 10,688 263 1,013 72 ap1981

1990 2,994,000 3,341,635 89.6% 75 143 218 13,733 275 995 82 ap1991

1999 3,119,000 3,350,000 93.1% 71 123 194 16,077 234 550 94 ap2000

2000 3,083,000 3,311,290 93.1% 86 129 215 14,339 2 288 499 96 ap2001

2001 3,311,290 .0% 90 135 225 0 2 293 640 97 ap2002*

2002 3,127,000 3,358,000 93.1% 88 140 228 13,714 243 552 97 ap2003

2003 3,127,000 3,311,290 94.4% 89 141 230 13,595 1 239 418 99 ap2004

2004 3,371,975 3,570,703 94.4% 89 141 230 14,660 8 237 331 99 ap2005

2013 3,777,000 3,996,000 94.5% 124 151 275 13,734 23 251 965 109 ap2014

2016 3,868,000 4,092,000 94.5% 92 160 252 15,349 49 284 936 123 ap2017

2019 3,963,150 4,191,900 94.5% 142 149 291 13,619 45 234 950 137 ap2020

2021 4,065,000 4,300,818 94.5% 150 145 295 13,779 48 223 404 142 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife
1949	973,842	990,000	98.4%	74	142	216	4,508		270	882	47	ap1951
1965	1,320,000			106	196	302	4,370		320	850	68	ap1967*
1968		1,760,796	.0%	113	185	298	0		332	930	66	ap1971
1976	2,123,160	2,374,929	89.4%	86	144	230	9,231		236	848	71	ap1977
1980	2,330,000	2,600,000	89.6%	81	137	218	10,688		263	1,013	72	ap1981
1990	2,994,000	3,341,635	89.6%	75	143	218	13,733		275	995	82	ap1991
1999	3,119,000	3,350,000	93.1%	71	123	194	16,077		234	550	94	ap2000
2000	3,083,000	3,311,290	93.1%	86	129	215	14,339	2	288	499	96	ap2001
2001		3,311,290	.0%	90	135	225	0	2	293	640	97	ap2002*
2002	3,127,000	3,358,000	93.1%	88	140	228	13,714		243	552	97	ap2003
2003	3,127,000	3,311,290	94.4%	89	141	230	13,595	1	239	418	99	ap2004
2004	3,371,975	3,570,703	94.4%	89	141	230	14,660	8	237	331	99	ap2005
2013	3,777,000	3,996,000	94.5%	124	151	275	13,734	23	251	965	109	ap2014
2016	3,868,000	4,092,000	94.5%	92	160	252	15,349	49	284	936	123	ap2017
2019	3,963,150	4,191,900	94.5%	142	149	291	13,619	45	234	950	137	ap2020
2021	4,065,000	4,300,818	94.5%	150	145	295	13,779	48	223	404	142	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Severino Mariano de Aguiar †
Antônio de Almeida Moraes Junior † (Archbishop: 17 Nov 1951 to 23 Apr 1960)
Manuel Álvares da Costa † (Bishop: 7 Jun 1706 to 20 Jan 1721)
Francisco Xavier Aranha † (Coadjutor Bishop: 11 Feb 1754; Bishop: 17 Nov 1757 to 5 Oct 1771)
José Maria de Araújo, O.S.H. † (Bishop: 6 Oct 1806 to 21 Sep 1809)
Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti † (Priest: 4 Apr 1874 to 26 Jun 1890)
Francisco da Assumpção e Brito, O.E.S.A. † (Bishop: 8 Mar 1773 to 20 Dec 1773)
Antônio de São José Bastos, O.S.B. † (Bishop: 15 Mar 1815 to 19 Jul 1819)
Estevão Brioso de Figueiredo † (Bishop: 16 Nov 1676 to 27 Sep 1683)
Antônio Campelo de Aragão, S.D.B. †
Francisco Cardoso Ayres † (Bishop: 20 Dec 1867 to 14 May 1870)
Tomaz da Encarnação da Costa e Lima, C.R.S.A. † (Bishop: 18 Apr 1774 to 14 Jan 1784)
Luiz de Santa Teresa da Cruz Salgado de Castilho, O.C.D. † (Bishop: 3 Sep 1738 to 17 Nov 1757)
José Joaquim da Cunha Azevedo Coutinho † (Bishop: 12 Sep 1794 to 6 Oct 1806)
João José da Mota e Albuquerque †
Augusto Álvaro da Silva † (Priest: 5 Mar 1899 to 12 May 1911)
Luís Raimundo da Silva Brito † (Bishop: 23 Feb 1901; Archbishop: 5 Dec 1910 to 9 Dec 1915)
Silvério Jarbas Paulo de Albuquerque, O.F.M. †
Luis do Amaral Mousinho †
Francisco do Rêgo Maia † (Deacon: 1 Oct 1871; Priest: 4 Feb 1872 to 12 Sep 1893)
Manoel do Rego Medeiros † (Bishop: 25 Sep 1865 to 16 Sep 1866)
Manoel dos Santos Pereira † (Bishop: 12 Sep 1893 to 25 Apr 1900)
João Duarte do Sacramento, C.O. † (Bishop: 10 Sep 1685 to 10 Jan 1686)
João Fernando Santiago Esberard (Esberrard) † (Coadjutor Bishop: 26 Jun 1890; Bishop: 12 May 1891 to 12 Sep 1893)
José de Fialho, O. Cist. † (Bishop: 21 Feb 1725 to 3 Sep 1738)
Matias de Figueiredo e Mello † (Bishop: 12 May 1687 to 18 Jul 1694)
Vital Maria Gonçalves de Oliveira, O.F.M. Cap. † (Bishop: 22 Dec 1871 to 4 Jul 1878)
Carlos Gouvêa Coelho † (Archbishop: 23 Apr 1960 to 7 Mar 1964)
Diego de Jesus Jardim, O.S.H. † (Bishop: 14 Feb 1785 to 21 Feb 1794)
João Irineu Joffily (Joffly) † (Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Aug 1914 to 4 May 1916)
Sebastião Leme da Silveira Cintra † (Archbishop: 29 Apr 1916 to 15 Mar 1921)
Francisco de Lima (Lemos), O. Carm. † (Bishop: 22 Aug 1695 to 29 Apr 1704)
Miguel de Lima Valverde † (Archbishop: 10 Feb 1922 to 7 May 1951)
João da Purificação Marques Perdigão, O.S.A. † (Bishop: 28 Feb 1831 to 30 Apr 1864)
João Evangelista Martins Terra, S.J. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Aug 1988 to 15 Jun 1994)
Tomas Manoel de Noronha e Brito, O.P. † (Bishop: 23 Jun 1828 to 30 Jun 1830)
José Pereira Alves † (Priest: 17 Nov 1907 to 27 Oct 1922)
José Pereira da Silva Barros † (Bishop: 13 May 1881 to 12 May 1891)
Hélder Pessoa Câmara † (Archbishop: 12 Mar 1964 to 2 Apr 1985)
Marcelo Pinto Carvalheira †
João Batista Portocarrero Costa † (Priest: 30 Oct 1927 to 31 Jul 1943; Coadjutor Archbishop: 3 Jul 1953 to 6 Jan 1959)
Ricardo Ramos de Castro Vilela † (Priest: 20 Nov 1910 to 3 Jul 1919)
José Lamartine Soares † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Nov 1962 to 2 Apr 1985)
João Tavares de Moura † (Priest: 11 Feb 1906 to 3 Jul 1919)
José Vicente Távora †
Jerónimo Thomé da Silva † (Deacon: 25 May 1872; Priest: 21 Dec 1872 to 26 Jun 1890)
Gregório José Viegas, T.O.R. † (Bishop: 8 Jan 1821 to 1822)

Source(s)

Diocese of Olinda
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 134, to Page 135
Archdiocese of Olinda
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 2, Page 945
Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 10, Page 401, and Page 402

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Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife

Archidioecesis Olindensis et Recifensis