Diocese of Socorro y San Gil

Dioecesis Succursensis et Sancti Aegidii

Bishop(s)

Luis Augusto Campos Flórez, Bishop
Carlos Germán Mesa Ruiz, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 19 January 1928
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bucaramanga
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Colombia
Square Kilometers: 6,734 (2,601 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesisdesocorroysangil.org/
Mailing Address: Obispado, Carrera 9 N. 12-42, San Gil [Santander], Colombia
Telephone: (7)724.22.05; 723.60.19

Historical Details

Diocese of Socorro
- Latin Name: Succursensis
- Erected: 20 March 1895
- Country: Colombia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Evaristo Blanco † (19 Apr 1897 Appointed - 27 Mar 1909 Appointed, Bishop of Nueva Pamplona)
Francisco Cristóbal Toro † (18 Oct 1910 Appointed - 16 Dec 1913 Appointed, Bishop of Santa Marta)
Antonio Vicente Arenas y Rueda † (28 May 1914 Appointed - 19 Jul 1922 Died)
Leonidas Medina † (7 Mar 1923 Appointed - 19 Jul 1947 Retired)
Ángel María Ocampo Berrio, S.J. † (19 Jul 1947 Succeeded - 6 Dec 1950 Appointed, Bishop of Tunja)
Aníbal Muñoz Duque † (8 Apr 1951 Appointed - 18 Dec 1952 Appointed, Bishop of Bucaramanga)
Pedro José Rivera Mejía † (20 Feb 1953 Appointed - 25 Oct 1975 Resigned)
Ciro Alfonso Gómez Serrano † (25 Oct 1975 Succeeded - 19 Jan 1980 Died)
Víctor Manuel López Forero † (6 Dec 1980 Appointed - 7 Jun 1985 Appointed, Bishop of Colombia, Military)
Jorge Leonardo Gómez Serna, O.P. (6 Mar 1986 Appointed - 3 Nov 2001 Appointed, Bishop of Magangué)
Ismael Rueda Sierra (27 Jun 2003 Appointed - 13 Feb 2009 Appointed, Archbishop of Bucaramanga)
Carlos Germán Mesa Ruiz (2 Feb 2010 Appointed - 12 Dec 2019 Retired)
Luis Augusto Campos Flórez (12 Dec 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Socorro
20 March 1895	Erected	Diocese of Nueva Pamplona	Diocese of Socorro (erected)
Diocese of Socorro y San Gil
19 January 1928	Name Changed	Diocese of Socorro	Diocese of Socorro y San Gil
2 April 1928	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nueva Pamplona Diocese of Santa Marta Diocese of Socorro y San Gil	Territorial Prelature of Río Magdalena (erected)
29 May 1956	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Socorro y San Gil (from Bogotá)
20 June 1964	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Socorro y San Gil (from Nueva Pamplona)
14 December 1974	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Socorro y San Gil (from Tunja)
14 May 2003	Territory Lost	Diocese of Socorro y San Gil (Albania, Barbosa, Bolivar, Chipatá, El Guacamayo, El Peñón, Guavatá, Güepsa, Jesús María, La Aguada, La Belleza, La Paz, Lándazuri, Puente Nacional, San Benito, Santa Elena, Sucre, and Vélez)	Diocese of Vélez (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 Socorro y San Gil

1950 345,406 345,546 100.0% 60 25 85 4,063 47 209 50 ap1951

1966 418,748 424,159 98.7% 78 23 101 4,146 23 215 60 ap1967

1970 402,000 410,000 98.0% 93 13 106 3,792 19 318 59 ap1971

1976 300,000 390,000 76.9% 85 6 91 3,296 8 352 64 ap1977

1980 460,500 462,600 99.5% 82 7 89 5,174 9 260 64 ap1981

1990 397,000 407,000 97.5% 94 12 106 3,745 14 309 69 ap1991

1999 429,350 445,700 96.3% 127 8 135 3,180 16 257 73 ap2000

2000 429,350 445,700 96.3% 130 8 138 3,111 16 257 73 ap2001

2001 429,350 445,700 96.3% 133 8 141 3,045 16 257 73 ap2002

2002 426,279 439,479 97.0% 138 6 144 2,960 13 219 73 ap2003

2003 255,217 255,677 99.8% 110 4 114 2,238 11 168 46 ap2004

2004 246,749 254,381 97.0% 87 4 91 2,711 7 164 46 ap2005

2010 264,000 274,000 96.4% 103 5 108 2,444 6 117 47 ap2011

2014 246,198 286,600 85.9% 95 5 100 2,461 5 122 51 ap2015

2017 285,360 296,400 96.3% 100 6 106 2,692 1 6 115 53 ap2018

2020 227,970 240,322 94.9% 112 6 118 1,931 1 7 63 53 ap2021

2022 226,635 240,322 94.3% 115 7 122 1,857 2 8 78 53 ap2023

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 Socorro y San Gil
1950	345,406	345,546	100.0%	60	25	85	4,063		47	209	50	ap1951
1966	418,748	424,159	98.7%	78	23	101	4,146		23	215	60	ap1967
1970	402,000	410,000	98.0%	93	13	106	3,792		19	318	59	ap1971
1976	300,000	390,000	76.9%	85	6	91	3,296		8	352	64	ap1977
1980	460,500	462,600	99.5%	82	7	89	5,174		9	260	64	ap1981
1990	397,000	407,000	97.5%	94	12	106	3,745		14	309	69	ap1991
1999	429,350	445,700	96.3%	127	8	135	3,180		16	257	73	ap2000
2000	429,350	445,700	96.3%	130	8	138	3,111		16	257	73	ap2001
2001	429,350	445,700	96.3%	133	8	141	3,045		16	257	73	ap2002
2002	426,279	439,479	97.0%	138	6	144	2,960		13	219	73	ap2003
2003	255,217	255,677	99.8%	110	4	114	2,238		11	168	46	ap2004
2004	246,749	254,381	97.0%	87	4	91	2,711		7	164	46	ap2005
2010	264,000	274,000	96.4%	103	5	108	2,444		6	117	47	ap2011
2014	246,198	286,600	85.9%	95	5	100	2,461		5	122	51	ap2015
2017	285,360	296,400	96.3%	100	6	106	2,692	1	6	115	53	ap2018
2020	227,970	240,322	94.9%	112	6	118	1,931	1	7	63	53	ap2021
2022	226,635	240,322	94.3%	115	7	122	1,857	2	8	78	53	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Luis Augusto Campos Flórez (Bishop: 12 Dec 2019 - )
Jorge Leonardo Gómez Serna, O.P. (Bishop: 6 Mar 1986 to 3 Nov 2001)
Carlos Germán Mesa Ruiz (Bishop: 2 Feb 2010 to 12 Dec 2019)
Luis José Rueda Aparicio (Deacon: 23 Nov 1988; Priest: 23 Nov 1989 to 2 Feb 2012)
Ismael Rueda Sierra (Bishop: 27 Jun 2003 to 13 Feb 2009)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Rafael Afanador y Cadena † (Priest: 3 Jul 1898 to 5 Jun 1916)
Jorge Ardila Serrano †
Antonio Vicente Arenas y Rueda † (Deacon: 22 Feb 1888; Priest: 25 Feb 1888; Bishop: 28 May 1914 to 19 Jul 1922)
Evaristo Blanco † (Bishop: 19 Apr 1897 to 27 Mar 1909)
José Joaquín Flórez Hernández † (Priest: 21 Jul 1940 to 7 Mar 1955)
Ciro Alfonso Gómez Serrano † (Priest: 7 Dec 1941 to 8 Apr 1961; Coadjutor Bishop: 24 Jul 1972; Bishop: 25 Oct 1975 to 19 Jan 1980)
Víctor Manuel López Forero † (Bishop: 6 Dec 1980 to 7 Jun 1985)
Gustavo Martínez Frías † (Priest: 27 Nov 1960 to 16 Jan 1987)
José de Jesús Martinez Vargas †
Leonidas Medina † (Bishop: 7 Mar 1923 to 19 Jul 1947)
Aníbal Muñoz Duque † (Bishop: 8 Apr 1951 to 18 Dec 1952)
Ángel María Ocampo Berrio, S.J. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 23 Jun 1942; Bishop: 19 Jul 1947 to 6 Dec 1950)
José de Jesús Pimiento Rodriguez † (Priest: 14 Dec 1941 to 14 Jun 1955)
Pedro José Rivera Mejía † (Bishop: 20 Feb 1953 to 25 Oct 1975)
Francisco Cristóbal Toro † (Bishop: 18 Oct 1910 to 16 Dec 1913)

Source(s)

Diocese of Socorro y San Gil
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 21, Page 97, and Page 98
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 693, to Page 695
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 361, and Page 362
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 67, Page 165, and Page 166

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