Palmira (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Rodrigo Gallego Trujillo, Bishop
Edgar de Jesús Garcia Gil, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 17 December 1952
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cali
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Colombia
Square Kilometers: 4,976 (1,921 Square Miles)
Description: Candelaria, Darién, El Cerrito, Florida, Ginebra, Palmira, Pradera, Restrepo, Vijes, and Yotoco
Official Web Site: https://diocesispalmira.org
Mailing Address: Obispado, Calle 30 N. 29-79, Palmira, Valle, Colombia
Telephone: (2)272.50.52
Fax: 272.30.32

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jesús Antonio Castro Becerra † (18 Dec 1952 Appointed - 20 Aug 1983 Retired)
José Mario Escobar Serna † (20 Aug 1983 Succeeded - 13 Oct 2000 Resigned)
Orlando Antonio Corrales García (9 Apr 2001 Appointed - 12 Jan 2007 Appointed, Archbishop of Santa Fe de Antioquia)
Abraham Escudero Montoya † (2 Feb 2007 Appointed - 6 Nov 2009 Died)
Edgar de Jesús Garcia Gil (24 May 2010 Appointed - 31 May 2024 Retired)
Rodrigo Gallego Trujillo (31 May 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
17 December 1952	Erected	Diocese of Cali (Buga, San Pedro, Tuluá, Andalucía, Bugalagrande, Sevilla, and Caicedonia) Archdiocese of Popayán (Florida, Candelaria, Pradera, Palmira, Cerrito, Guacarí, and Ginebra)	Diocese of Palmira (erected)
20 June 1964	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Palmira (from Popayán)
29 June 1966	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Cali (Trujillo and Riofrio) Diocese of Palmira (Guacari, Buga, San Pedro, Tuluá, Andalucía, Bugalagrande, Sevilla, and Caicedonia)	Diocese of Buga (erected)
29 June 1966	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Cali (Darien, Yotoco, Restrepo, and Vijes)	Diocese of Palmira

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

1966 520,000 531,000 97.9% 72 46 118 4,406 75 326 37 ap1967

1970 285,000 40 15 55 5,181 37 244 27 ap1971

1976 310,000 325,000 95.4% 46 8 54 5,740 27 137 30 ap1977

1980 327,000 368,000 88.9% 43 10 53 6,169 29 122 29 ap1981

1990 584,000 651,000 89.7% 46 8 54 10,814 13 221 39 ap1991

1999 920,000 976,000 94.3% 50 9 59 15,593 12 215 39 ap2000

2000 600,000 650,000 92.3% 48 9 57 10,526 1 15 216 39 ap2001

2001 600,000 650,000 92.3% 57 9 66 9,090 1 15 217 41 ap2002

2002 600,000 650,000 92.3% 56 12 68 8,823 18 216 41 ap2003

2003 600,000 650,000 92.3% 50 12 62 9,677 18 217 43 ap2004

2004 600,000 700,000 85.7% 50 12 62 9,677 18 217 43 ap2005

2013 713,000 790,000 90.3% 74 9 83 8,590 1 16 210 47 ap2014

2016 737,275 817,171 90.2% 73 7 80 9,215 17 204 48 ap2017

2019 762,200 848,500 89.8% 75 7 82 9,295 19 192 49 ap2020

2021 795,000 885,600 89.8% 78 8 86 9,244 6 13 201 49 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1966	520,000	531,000	97.9%	72	46	118	4,406		75	326	37	ap1967
1970	285,000			40	15	55	5,181		37	244	27	ap1971
1976	310,000	325,000	95.4%	46	8	54	5,740		27	137	30	ap1977
1980	327,000	368,000	88.9%	43	10	53	6,169		29	122	29	ap1981
1990	584,000	651,000	89.7%	46	8	54	10,814		13	221	39	ap1991
1999	920,000	976,000	94.3%	50	9	59	15,593		12	215	39	ap2000
2000	600,000	650,000	92.3%	48	9	57	10,526	1	15	216	39	ap2001
2001	600,000	650,000	92.3%	57	9	66	9,090	1	15	217	41	ap2002
2002	600,000	650,000	92.3%	56	12	68	8,823		18	216	41	ap2003
2003	600,000	650,000	92.3%	50	12	62	9,677		18	217	43	ap2004
2004	600,000	700,000	85.7%	50	12	62	9,677		18	217	43	ap2005
2013	713,000	790,000	90.3%	74	9	83	8,590	1	16	210	47	ap2014
2016	737,275	817,171	90.2%	73	7	80	9,215		17	204	48	ap2017
2019	762,200	848,500	89.8%	75	7	82	9,295		19	192	49	ap2020
2021	795,000	885,600	89.8%	78	8	86	9,244	6	13	201	49	ap2022