Zamboanga (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Julius Sullan Tonel, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 19 May 1958
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Philippines
Square Kilometers: 1,483 (572 Square Miles)
Web Site: http://www.cbcponline.net/jurisdictions/zamboanga.html
Mailing Address: Centro Pastoral, P.O. Box 1, Puerto del Sol, Gov. Camins Ave., 7000 Zamboanga City, Philippines
Telephone: (062)992-7667
Fax: 993-2608

Past and Present Ordinaries

Charles Warren Currier † (25 Jun 1910 Appointed - Did Not Take Effect)
Michael James O’Doherty † (19 Jun 1911 Appointed - 6 Sep 1916 Appointed, Archbishop of Manila)
James Paul McCloskey † (5 Feb 1917 Appointed - 8 Mar 1920 Appointed, Bishop of Jaro o Santa Elisabetta)
José Clos y Pagés, S.J. † (7 May 1920 Appointed - 2 Aug 1931 Died)
Luis Valdesco Del Rosario, S.J. † (16 Mar 1933 Appointed - 12 Aug 1966 Retired)
Lino Rasdesales Gonzaga † (12 Aug 1966 Appointed - 25 Aug 1973 Resigned)
Francisco Raval Cruces † (22 Aug 1973 Appointed - 7 Dec 1994 Retired)
Carmelo Dominador Flores Morelos † (8 Dec 1994 Appointed - 13 Nov 2006 Retired)
Romulo Geolina Valles (13 Nov 2006 Appointed - 11 Feb 2012 Appointed, Archbishop of Davao)
Romulo Tolentino de la Cruz † (15 Mar 2014 Appointed - 10 Dec 2021 Died)
Julius Sullan Tonel (25 Apr 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Zamboanga
10 April 1910	Erected	Diocese of Cebu Diocese of Jaro o Santa Elisabetta	Diocese of Zamboanga (erected)
20 January 1933	Territory Lost	Diocese of Zamboanga (Surigao (with islands of Dinagat and Siargao), Agusom, Eastern Misamis (with island of Camiguin), Western Misamis, Bukidnon, and Southern part of Lanao)	Diocese of Cagayan de Oro (erected)
28 April 1934	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Zamboanga (from Manila)
17 December 1949	Territory Lost	Diocese of Zamboanga (Davao)	Territorial Prelature of Davao (erected)
11 August 1950	Territory Lost	Diocese of Zamboanga (Cotabato and Sulu)	Territorial Prelature of Cotabato and Sulu (erected)
29 June 1951	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Zamboanga (from Cebu)
Archdiocese of Zamboanga
19 May 1958	Elevated	Diocese of Zamboanga	Archdiocese of Zamboanga
12 October 1963	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Zamboanga (Basilan City)	Territorial Prelature of Isabela (erected)
31 July 1967	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Zamboanga (Zamboanga dei Norte)	Diocese of Dipolog (erected)
12 November 1971	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Zamboanga (Pagadian with Libangan, Dimataling with Tabina and Midsahip, Dinas, San Miguel, Dumalinao, San Pablo, Tukuran, Aurora, Domingag, Mahayag, Molave, Ramon Magsaysay, and Tambulig)	Diocese of Pagadian (erected)
24 December 1979	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Zamboanga (Alicia, Buug, Ipil, Kabasalan, Mabuhay, Malangas, Margosatubig, Siay, and Subanipa)	Territorial Prelature of Ipil (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 Zamboanga

1950 289,537 531,945 54.4% 9 21 30 9,651 31 22 19 ap1951

Archdiocese of Zamboanga

1970 679,552 887,144 76.6% 8 69 77 8,825 73 49 37 ap1971

1980 503,000 647,000 77.7% 12 30 42 11,976 32 74 28 ap1981

1990 390,000 422,752 92.3% 25 25 15,600 10 77 13 ap1991

1999 453,283 549,722 82.5% 40 16 56 8,094 34 65 23 ap2000

2000 454,563 564,772 80.5% 41 16 57 7,974 32 66 23 ap2001

2001 456,096 600,127 76.0% 45 18 63 7,239 34 72 22 ap2002

2002 453,825 601,794 75.4% 50 23 73 6,216 41 96 23 ap2003

2003 461,180 623,217 74.0% 49 16 65 7,095 24 107 24 ap2004

2004 474,399 645,404 73.5% 48 16 64 7,412 22 107 25 ap2005

2010 570,000 735,000 77.6% 51 24 75 7,600 26 85 25 ap2011

2012 618,000 790,000 78.2% 57 21 78 7,923 21 75 25 ap2015

2017 698,830 970,600 72.0% 54 20 74 9,443 20 77 26 ap2018

2020 774,800 1,068,000 72.5% 57 22 79 9,807 22 70 28 ap2021

2022 763,743 1,137,000 67.2% 57 21 78 9,791 21 73 27 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Zamboanga
1950	289,537	531,945	54.4%	9	21	30	9,651	31	22	19	ap1951
Archdiocese of Zamboanga
1970	679,552	887,144	76.6%	8	69	77	8,825	73	49	37	ap1971
1980	503,000	647,000	77.7%	12	30	42	11,976	32	74	28	ap1981
1990	390,000	422,752	92.3%	25		25	15,600	10	77	13	ap1991
1999	453,283	549,722	82.5%	40	16	56	8,094	34	65	23	ap2000
2000	454,563	564,772	80.5%	41	16	57	7,974	32	66	23	ap2001
2001	456,096	600,127	76.0%	45	18	63	7,239	34	72	22	ap2002
2002	453,825	601,794	75.4%	50	23	73	6,216	41	96	23	ap2003
2003	461,180	623,217	74.0%	49	16	65	7,095	24	107	24	ap2004
2004	474,399	645,404	73.5%	48	16	64	7,412	22	107	25	ap2005
2010	570,000	735,000	77.6%	51	24	75	7,600	26	85	25	ap2011
2012	618,000	790,000	78.2%	57	21	78	7,923	21	75	25	ap2015
2017	698,830	970,600	72.0%	54	20	74	9,443	20	77	26	ap2018
2020	774,800	1,068,000	72.5%	57	22	79	9,807	22	70	28	ap2021
2022	763,743	1,137,000	67.2%	57	21	78	9,791	21	73	27	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Leopoldo Arayata Arcaira † (Auxiliary Bishop: 6 Nov 1961 to 17 Oct 1966)
José Clos y Pagés, S.J. † (Bishop: 7 May 1920 to 2 Aug 1931)
Francisco Raval Cruces † (Archbishop: 22 Aug 1973 to 7 Dec 1994)
Charles Warren Currier † (Bishop: 25 Jun 1910 - Did Not Take Effect)
Romulo Tolentino de la Cruz † (Archbishop: 15 Mar 2014 to 10 Dec 2021)
Luis Valdesco Del Rosario, S.J. † (Bishop: 16 Mar 1933; Archbishop: 19 May 1958 to 12 Aug 1966)
Lino Rasdesales Gonzaga † (Archbishop: 12 Aug 1966 to 25 Aug 1973)
James Paul McCloskey † (Bishop: 5 Feb 1917 to 8 Mar 1920)
Carmelo Dominador Flores Morelos † (Archbishop: 8 Dec 1994 to 13 Nov 2006)
Michael James O’Doherty † (Bishop: 19 Jun 1911 to 6 Sep 1916)
Honesto Chaves Pacana, S.J. †
Jesus Yu Varela † (Auxiliary Bishop: 28 Mar 1967 to 17 Feb 1971)

Source(s)

Diocese of Zamboanga
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 27, Page 263, and Page 264
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 163, to Page 167
Archdiocese of Zamboanga
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 99, and Page 100

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Archdiocese of Zamboanga

Archidioecesis Zamboangensis

Bishop(s)

Suffragan Dioceses

General Information

Historical Details

Past and Present Ordinaries

Historical Summary

Statistics

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Source(s)