Diocese of Valparaíso

Dioecesis Vallis Paradisi

Bishop(s)

Jorge Patricio Vega Velasco, S.V.D., Bishop
Mario Andrés Salas Becerra, O. de M., Auxiliary Bishop
Gonzalo Duarte García de Cortázar, SS.CC., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Established: 2 November 1872
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Chile
Square Kilometers: 4,736 (1,829 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://obispadodevalparaiso.cl
Mailing Address: Calle Carrera 430, Valparaiso, Chile
Telephone: (32)225.55.38
Fax: 274.90.37

Past and Present Ordinaries

Mariano Jaime Casanova Casanova † (2 Nov 1872 Appointed - 1885 Resigned)
Salvador Donos Rodríguez † ( 1885 Appointed - 8 Aug 1892 Died)
Manuel Tomás Mesa Albornoz † (12 Sep 1892 Appointed - 1894 Resigned)
Ramón Ángel Jara Ruz † (13 Mar 1894 Appointed - 2 May 1898 Appointed, Bishop of San Carlos de Ancud)
Eduardo Gimpert Paut † (10 Mar 1906 Appointed - 29 Aug 1937 Died)
Rafael Lira Infante † (17 Mar 1938 Appointed - 26 Sep 1958 Died)
Raúl Silva Henríquez, S.D.B. † (24 Oct 1959 Appointed - 14 May 1961 Appointed, Archbishop of Santiago de Chile)
Emilio Tagle Covarrubias † (22 May 1961 Appointed - 3 May 1983 Retired)
Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos † (3 May 1983 Appointed - 16 Apr 1993 Retired)
Jorge Arturo Augustin Medina Estévez † (16 Apr 1993 Appointed - 21 Jun 1996 Resigned)
Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, P. Schönstatt (24 Sep 1996 Appointed - 24 Apr 1998 Appointed, Archbishop of Santiago de Chile)
Gonzalo Duarte García de Cortázar, SS.CC. (4 Dec 1998 Appointed - 11 Jun 2018 Retired)
Jorge Patricio Vega Velasco, S.V.D. (8 Jun 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
2 November 1872	Established		Diocese of Valparaíso (as Territory to become a Diocese in the future)
18 October 1925	Erected	Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile (Valparaiso and Juan Fernandez islands)	Diocese of Valparaíso (erected)
16 November 1964	Territory Lost	Diocese of Valparaíso (Chagres in Aconcagua)	Diocese of San Felipe
28 October 1981	Territory Lost	Diocese of Valparaíso (Llay Llay)	Diocese of San Felipe

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

1949 390,000 400,000 97.5% 75 139 214 1,822 190 500 32 ap1951

1965 643,000 715,000 89.9% 77 176 253 2,541 248 499 57 ap1967

1968 600,000 750,000 80.0% 85 151 236 2,542 237 461 59 ap1971

1973 660,000 750,000 88.0% 73 110 183 3,606 15 170 510 70 ap1977

1977 680,000 780,000 87.2% 72 120 192 3,541 15 196 504 69 ap1981

1990 826,000 1,033,000 80.0% 72 103 175 4,720 18 150 344 68 ap1991

1999 817,500 1,090,000 75.0% 74 106 180 4,541 29 155 351 66 ap2000

2000 817,500 1,090,000 75.0% 80 102 182 4,491 29 137 323 67 ap2001

2001 817,500 1,144,594 71.4% 86 110 196 4,170 35 126 310 68 ap2002

2002 960,000 1,200,000 80.0% 84 122 206 4,660 34 147 332 70 ap2003

2003 918,488 1,148,111 80.0% 87 104 191 4,808 34 143 349 69 ap2004

2004 918,488 1,148,111 80.0% 102 96 198 4,638 37 148 302 69 ap2005

2010 932,000 1,259,000 74.0% 93 102 195 4,779 46 157 313 69 ap2011

2014 966,000 1,304,000 74.1% 86 85 171 5,649 71 133 273 69 ap2015

2017 996,108 1,345,160 74.1% 82 71 153 6,510 78 102 228 69 ap2018

2020 1,033,670 1,396,700 74.0% 67 39 106 9,751 89 65 153 69 ap2021

2022 1,064,000 1,438,000 74.0% 61 24 85 12,517 88 43 165 69 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1949	390,000	400,000	97.5%	75	139	214	1,822		190	500	32	ap1951
1965	643,000	715,000	89.9%	77	176	253	2,541		248	499	57	ap1967
1968	600,000	750,000	80.0%	85	151	236	2,542		237	461	59	ap1971
1973	660,000	750,000	88.0%	73	110	183	3,606	15	170	510	70	ap1977
1977	680,000	780,000	87.2%	72	120	192	3,541	15	196	504	69	ap1981
1990	826,000	1,033,000	80.0%	72	103	175	4,720	18	150	344	68	ap1991
1999	817,500	1,090,000	75.0%	74	106	180	4,541	29	155	351	66	ap2000
2000	817,500	1,090,000	75.0%	80	102	182	4,491	29	137	323	67	ap2001
2001	817,500	1,144,594	71.4%	86	110	196	4,170	35	126	310	68	ap2002
2002	960,000	1,200,000	80.0%	84	122	206	4,660	34	147	332	70	ap2003
2003	918,488	1,148,111	80.0%	87	104	191	4,808	34	143	349	69	ap2004
2004	918,488	1,148,111	80.0%	102	96	198	4,638	37	148	302	69	ap2005
2010	932,000	1,259,000	74.0%	93	102	195	4,779	46	157	313	69	ap2011
2014	966,000	1,304,000	74.1%	86	85	171	5,649	71	133	273	69	ap2015
2017	996,108	1,345,160	74.1%	82	71	153	6,510	78	102	228	69	ap2018
2020	1,033,670	1,396,700	74.0%	67	39	106	9,751	89	65	153	69	ap2021
2022	1,064,000	1,438,000	74.0%	61	24	85	12,517	88	43	165	69	ap2023