Rio Branco (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Joaquín Pertíñez Fernández, O.A.R., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 15 February 1986
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Porto Velho
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Acre
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 102,595 (39,627 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Noroeste
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesederiobranco.org.br/
Mailing Address: Travessa da Catedral 4, 69908-000 Rio Branco; C.P. 141, 69900-094 Rio Branco, AC, Brazil
Telephone: (068)3223-2201
Fax: 3301-5671

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
- Latin Name: Acrensis et Puruensis
- Erected: 4 October 1919
- Metropolitan: Diocese of Belém do Pará
- Country: Brazil
Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus
- Latin Name: Sancti Peregrini Latiosi in Superioribus Acre et Purus
- Name Changed: 10 December 1926
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Belém do Pará
- Country: Brazil
Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
- Latin Name: Acrensis et Puruensis
- Name Changed: 26 April 1958
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Manaus
- State: Acre
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Próspero Maria Gustavo Bernardi, O.S.M. † (15 Dec 1919 Appointed - 1 Feb 1944 Died)
Antônio Julio Maria Mattioli, O.S.M. † (10 Jan 1948 Appointed - 13 Apr 1962 Died)
Giocondo Maria Grotti, O.S.M. † (16 Nov 1962 Appointed - 28 Sep 1971 Died)
Moacyr Grechi, O.S.M. † (10 Jul 1972 Appointed - 29 Jul 1998 Appointed, Archbishop of Porto Velho, Rondonia)
Joaquín Pertíñez Fernández, O.A.R. (24 Feb 1999 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
4 October 1919	Erected	Diocese of Amazonas (Alto Acre and Alto Purus)	Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus (erected)
Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus
10 December 1926	Name Changed	Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus	Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus
13 January 1933	Territory Added	Territorial Prelature of Lábrea (Floriano Peixoto)	Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus
16 February 1952	Metropolitan Changed		Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus (from Belém do Pará)
Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
26 April 1958	Name Changed	Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus	Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
Diocese of Rio Branco
15 February 1986	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus	Diocese of Rio Branco
31 August 2001	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Rio Branco (from Manaus)

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

Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus

1949 100,000 100,000 100.0% 8 8 12,500 9 15 5 ap1951

Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus

1966 150,000 150,000 100.0% 1 14 15 10,000 7 36 7 ap1967

1968 145,000 150,000 96.7% 3 12 15 9,666 12 45 4 ap1971

1976 190,000 265,000 71.7% 2 11 13 14,615 14 55 8 ap1977

1980 145,000 197,000 73.6% 4 12 16 9,062 1 18 65 9 ap1981

Diocese of Rio Branco

1990 312,000 364,000 85.7% 9 14 23 13,565 14 89 15 ap1991

1999 357,000 425,000 84.0% 7 10 17 21,000 10 71 18 ap2000

2000 361,000 430,000 84.0% 8 10 18 20,055 12 79 18 ap2001

2001 396,000 472,329 83.8% 9 11 20 19,800 13 79 19 ap2002

2002 401,000 478,000 83.9% 11 10 21 19,095 1 11 90 21 ap2003

2003 347,042 433,803 80.0% 10 14 24 14,460 1 18 95 21 ap2004

2004 356,658 448,062 79.6% 18 6 24 14,860 1 10 84 21 ap2005

2010 369,000 491,000 75.2% 21 13 34 10,852 11 25 93 27 ap2011

2011 378,000 502,000 75.3% 18 12 30 12,600 23 24 98 27 ap2012

2014 443,000 589,625 75.1% 23 10 33 13,424 22 19 86 32 ap2015

2017 453,900 631,568 71.9% 26 16 42 10,807 28 24 78 33 ap2018

2020 488,800 680,111 71.9% 22 16 38 12,863 41 23 67 41 ap2021

2022 501,000 699,066 71.7% 23 16 39 12,846 41 22 72 41 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus
1949	100,000	100,000	100.0%		8	8	12,500		9	15	5	ap1951
Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
1966	150,000	150,000	100.0%	1	14	15	10,000		7	36	7	ap1967
1968	145,000	150,000	96.7%	3	12	15	9,666		12	45	4	ap1971
1976	190,000	265,000	71.7%	2	11	13	14,615		14	55	8	ap1977
1980	145,000	197,000	73.6%	4	12	16	9,062	1	18	65	9	ap1981
Diocese of Rio Branco
1990	312,000	364,000	85.7%	9	14	23	13,565		14	89	15	ap1991
1999	357,000	425,000	84.0%	7	10	17	21,000		10	71	18	ap2000
2000	361,000	430,000	84.0%	8	10	18	20,055		12	79	18	ap2001
2001	396,000	472,329	83.8%	9	11	20	19,800		13	79	19	ap2002
2002	401,000	478,000	83.9%	11	10	21	19,095	1	11	90	21	ap2003
2003	347,042	433,803	80.0%	10	14	24	14,460	1	18	95	21	ap2004
2004	356,658	448,062	79.6%	18	6	24	14,860	1	10	84	21	ap2005
2010	369,000	491,000	75.2%	21	13	34	10,852	11	25	93	27	ap2011
2011	378,000	502,000	75.3%	18	12	30	12,600	23	24	98	27	ap2012
2014	443,000	589,625	75.1%	23	10	33	13,424	22	19	86	32	ap2015
2017	453,900	631,568	71.9%	26	16	42	10,807	28	24	78	33	ap2018
2020	488,800	680,111	71.9%	22	16	38	12,863	41	23	67	41	ap2021
2022	501,000	699,066	71.7%	23	16	39	12,846	41	22	72	41	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Próspero Maria Gustavo Bernardi, O.S.M. † (Prelate: 15 Dec 1919 to 1 Feb 1944)
Moacyr Grechi, O.S.M. † (Prelate: 10 Jul 1972; Bishop: 19 Mar 1986 to 29 Jul 1998)
Giocondo Maria Grotti, O.S.M. † (Prelate: 16 Nov 1962 to 28 Sep 1971)
Antônio Julio Maria Mattioli, O.S.M. † (Apostolic Administrator: 1941; Prelate: 10 Jan 1948 to 13 Apr 1962)
Laurentius Zeller, O.S.B. † (Apostolic Administrator: 7 Jan 1939 to 1 Sep 1945)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 12, Page 5, to Page 8
Territorial Prelature of São Peregrino Laziosi no Alto Acre e Alto Purus
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 55, and Page 56
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 26, Page 435
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 606, to Page 608
Territorial Prelature of Acre e Purus
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 50, Page 629, and Page 630
Diocese of Rio Branco
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 78, Page 901, and Page 902
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 78, Page 1,369
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 94, Page 354

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