Valdivia (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Santiago Jaime Silva Retamales, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 8 July 1944
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Concepción (Santissima Concezione)
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Chile
Square Kilometers: 13,679 (5,283 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.obispadodevaldivia.cl/
Mailing Address: Obispado, Maipu 168, Casilla 520, Valdivia, Chile
Telephone: (63)226.83.01

Historical Details

Mission "Sui Iuris" of Valdivia
- Latin Name: Valdiviensis
- Erected: 14 June 1910
- Country: Chile
Apostolic Administration of Valdivia
- Latin Name: Valdiviensis
- Elevated: 25 September 1924
- Country: Chile

Past and Present Ordinaries

Augusto Klinke Leier † (19 Jun 1910 Appointed - 14 Nov 1928 Resigned)
Guido Benedito Beck de Ramberga, O.F.M. Cap. † (14 Nov 1928 Appointed - 10 Apr 1931 Resigned)
Teodoro Bernardo Eugenín Barrientos, SS.CC. † (10 Apr 1931 Appointed - 20 Jun 1942 Appointed, Bishop of Chile, Military)
Arturo Mery Beckdorf † (29 Jul 1944 Appointed - 20 Apr 1955 Appointed, Titular Archbishop of Phasis)
José Manuel Santos Ascarza, O.C.D. † (21 Sep 1955 Appointed - 3 May 1983 Appointed, Archbishop of Concepción (Santissima Concezione))
Alejandro Jiménez Lafeble † (12 Dec 1983 Appointed - 29 Feb 1996 Resigned)
Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, S.D.B. (28 Jun 1996 Appointed - 10 Jul 2001 Appointed, Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago de Chile)
Ignacio Francisco Ducasse Medina (31 May 2002 Appointed - 8 Jun 2017 Appointed, Archbishop of Antofagasta)
Santiago Jaime Silva Retamales (23 Dec 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Valdivia
14 June 1910	Erected	Diocese of San Carlos de Ancud	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Valdivia (erected)
Apostolic Administration of Valdivia
25 September 1924	Elevated	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Valdivia	Apostolic Administration of Valdivia
30 March 1938	Territory Lost	Apostolic Administration of Valdivia (Freiré)	Vicariate Apostolic of Araucanía
8 July 1944	Territory Lost	Apostolic Administration of Valdivia (Loncoche, Gorbea, and Pitrufquén)	Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca
8 July 1944	Territory Added	Prefecture Apostolic of Arauca (Los Lagos, Futrono, Trumao, San Pablo, Quilacahuin, San Juan de la Costa, Rahue, and part of Panguipulli)	Apostolic Administration of Valdivia
Diocese of Valdivia
8 July 1944	Elevated	Apostolic Administration of Valdivia	Diocese of Valdivia
15 November 1955	Territory Lost	Diocese of Puerto Montt (Puerto Octay in Osorno) Diocese of Valdivia (Osorno)	Diocese of Osorno (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 Valdivia

1950 224,235 257,395 87.1% 18 44 62 3,616 50 121 23 ap1951

1964 200,000 225,000 88.9% 19 24 43 4,651 30 88 13 ap1967

1968 204,120 231,955 88.0% 14 23 37 5,516 27 83 12 ap1971

1976 206,396 233,977 88.2% 11 22 33 6,254 23 74 18 ap1977

1980 221,661 251,282 88.2% 11 24 35 6,333 35 73 18 ap1981

1990 269,035 300,324 89.6% 16 23 39 6,898 26 55 23 ap1991

1999 219,000 275,000 79.6% 14 19 33 6,636 18 23 65 18 ap2000

2000 222,000 279,000 79.6% 12 18 30 7,400 19 22 68 18 ap2001

2001 212,000 267,000 79.4% 13 21 34 6,235 19 23 74 19 ap2002

2002 214,000 269,000 79.6% 13 21 34 6,294 19 23 70 19 ap2003

2003 214,000 267,000 80.1% 13 21 34 6,294 19 23 72 19 ap2004

2004 226,487 282,580 80.1% 13 21 34 6,661 19 23 72 19 ap2005

2010 237,000 297,000 79.8% 17 14 31 7,645 25 15 52 17 ap2011

2014 245,500 308,000 79.7% 10 17 27 9,092 28 18 42 17 ap2015

2017 253,110 372,520 67.9% 12 14 26 9,735 15 45 18 ap2018

2020 260,400 383,400 67.9% 17 13 30 8,680 26 15 37 17 ap2021

2022 267,915 394,734 67.9% 10 8 18 14,884 25 9 30 17 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 Valdivia
1950	224,235	257,395	87.1%	18	44	62	3,616		50	121	23	ap1951
1964	200,000	225,000	88.9%	19	24	43	4,651		30	88	13	ap1967
1968	204,120	231,955	88.0%	14	23	37	5,516		27	83	12	ap1971
1976	206,396	233,977	88.2%	11	22	33	6,254		23	74	18	ap1977
1980	221,661	251,282	88.2%	11	24	35	6,333		35	73	18	ap1981
1990	269,035	300,324	89.6%	16	23	39	6,898		26	55	23	ap1991
1999	219,000	275,000	79.6%	14	19	33	6,636	18	23	65	18	ap2000
2000	222,000	279,000	79.6%	12	18	30	7,400	19	22	68	18	ap2001
2001	212,000	267,000	79.4%	13	21	34	6,235	19	23	74	19	ap2002
2002	214,000	269,000	79.6%	13	21	34	6,294	19	23	70	19	ap2003
2003	214,000	267,000	80.1%	13	21	34	6,294	19	23	72	19	ap2004
2004	226,487	282,580	80.1%	13	21	34	6,661	19	23	72	19	ap2005
2010	237,000	297,000	79.8%	17	14	31	7,645	25	15	52	17	ap2011
2014	245,500	308,000	79.7%	10	17	27	9,092	28	18	42	17	ap2015
2017	253,110	372,520	67.9%	12	14	26	9,735		15	45	18	ap2018
2020	260,400	383,400	67.9%	17	13	30	8,680	26	15	37	17	ap2021
2022	267,915	394,734	67.9%	10	8	18	14,884	25	9	30	17	ap2023