The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caracas is the Latin an ecclesiastical territory of the
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
in part of
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
. It was founded as the Diocese of Caracas on June 20, 1637, and was later elevated to the rank of a Metropolitan see on November 27, 1803.
This episcopal see occupies a territory of about 790 square kilometers and is not unlikely to be given several auxiliary bishops. The most recent
Archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdio ...
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereig ...
on September 19, 2005 (and elevated to Cardinal in 2006); retirement accepted July 9, 2018 by
Pope Francis
Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013 ...
cathedral
A cathedral is a church that contains the ''cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominations ...
episcopal see is the Catedral Metropolitana de Santa Ana, in national capital Caracas, Distrito Federal, which also has three
Minor Basilica
In the Catholic Church, a basilica is a designation given by the Pope to a church building. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectural sense (a rectangular ...
s: Basílica de Santa Teresa, Basílica San Pedro Apóstol and Basílica Santuario de Santa Capilla (also a National Shrine).
History
* Established on 20 June 1637 as Diocese of Caracas alias Santiago de Venezuela, on vast territory split off from the suppressed
Diocese of Coro
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Coro ( la, Archidioecesis Corensis) is a Latin Metropolitan archdiocese in western Venezuela.Papal Bull ''Pro Excellentia praeeminentia'' issued by
Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII ( la, Clemens VII; it, Clemente VII; born Giulio de' Medici; 26 May 1478 – 25 September 1534) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 November 1523 to his death on 25 September 1534. Deemed "the ...
in St. Peter's in Rome on 21 June of that year and was based in Coro,
Falcón State
)
, anthem =
, image_map = Falcon in Venezuela.svg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Location within Venezuela
, pushpin_map =
, pushpin_map_alt =
, pushpin_mapsiz ...
Catholic-Hierarchy.org
''Catholic-Hierarchy.org'' is an online database of bishops and dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Catholic Churches. The website is not officially sanctioned by the Church. It is run as a private project by David M. Cheney in ...
''. David M. Cheney. Retrieved March 19, 2016"Archdiocese of Caracas" ''GCatholic.org''. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved March 19, 2016
* It lost territories in 1715 to establish the
Apostolic Prefecture of Curaçao
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Willemstad ( la, Dioecesis Gulielmopolitana; nl, Bisdom Willemstad; pap, Diosesano (di Obispado) di Willemstad) is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The diocese encompasses t ...
and on 16 February 1778 to establish the Diocese of Mérida (Venezuela).
* The Diocese was elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Caracas by the papal bull ''In universalis ecclesiae regimine'' issued by
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII ( it, Pio VII; born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti; 14 August 1742 – 20 August 1823), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 14 March 1800 to his death in August 1823. Chiaramonti was also a m ...
on November 24, 1803. Until then it was a
suffragan
A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations.
In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdiction ...
in the
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian Churches with traditional hierarchical structure, including Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity. In general, an ecclesiastical province consists of sev ...
of the
Archdiocese of Santo Domingo
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santo Domingo ( la, Archidioecesis Metropolitae Sancti Dominici; es, Arquidiócesis Metropolitana de Santo Domingo) is a Latin Metropolitan Archdiocese in the Dominican Republic. The see was erected ...
on
Hispaniola
Hispaniola (, also ; es, La Española; Latin and french: Hispaniola; ht, Ispayola; tnq, Ayiti or Quisqueya) is an island in the Caribbean that is part of the Greater Antilles. Hispaniola is the most populous island in the West Indies, and th ...
, now in the
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with ...
.
* It lost more territories repeatedly to establish Dioceses : on 1863.03.07 to establish the
Calabozo
Calabozo, officially Villa de Todos los Santos de Calabozo, is a city in Venezuela located in the Guárico state, capital of the Francisco de Miranda Municipality and former capital of the state. It has a population of 168,605, according to t ...
, on 1922.10.12
Valencia (Venezuela)
Valencia () is the capital city of Carabobo State and the third-largest city in Venezuela.
The city is an economic hub that contains Venezuela's top industries and manufacturing companies. It is also the largest city in the Valencia-Maracay m ...
, on 1958.06.21
Maracay
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption =Top:Maracay Municipal Garden and Las Delicias area, Second: Sindoni Tower, Los Tamarindo residential area and overview to Maracay, Third:Maestranza Cesar Giron Bullring Stadium, Girardot Square and Maraca ...
, on 1965.07.23
Los Teques
Los Teques
) is the capital of the state of Miranda and the municipality of Guaicaipuro Municipality. It is located in the capital region of north-central Venezuela. More specifically, southwest of Caracas, 10° 21' 00" N latitude and 67° 02' ...
(its suffragan) and on 1970.04.15
La Guaira
La Guaira () is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of the same name (formerly named Vargas) and the country's main port. It was founded in 1577 as an outlet for Caracas, to the southeast. The town and the port were badly damaged during ...
(also its suffragan).
* It enjoyed papal visits by
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
in January 1985 and February 1996.
Province
Its
ecclesiastical province
An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian Churches with traditional hierarchical structure, including Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity. In general, an ecclesiastical province consists of sev ...
in Venezuela comprises the metropolitan's own archdiocese and the following
suffragan sees
A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations.
In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdiction ...
:
*
Roman Catholic Diocese of Guarenas
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Guarenas ( la, Guarenen(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Guarenas in the ecclesiastical province of Caracas in Venezuela.
History
On 30 November 1996 Blessed John Paul II established the Diocese of Guarenas ...
*
Roman Catholic Diocese of La Guaira
The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Guaira ( la, Dioecesis Guairiensis) is a diocese located in the city of La Guaira in the Ecclesiastical province of Caracas in Venezuela.
History
On 15 April 1970 Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of La Guaira ...
*
Roman Catholic Diocese of Los Teques
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Los Teques ( la, Dioecesis Tequinensis) is a diocese located in the city of Los Teques in the Ecclesiastical province of Caracas in Venezuela.
History
On 23 July 1965 Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Los Tequ ...
Bishops
Ordnaries
;''Bishops of Caracas''
*
Juan López de Agurto de la Mata
Juan López de Agurto de la Mata (December 22, 1572 – December 24, 1637) was a Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Coro (later Bishop of Caracas) (1634–1637) and Bishop of Puerto Rico (1630–1634).
Biography
Juan López de Agurto ...
(1637)
*
Mauro Diego de Tovar y Valle Maldonado
Mauro Diego de Tovar y Valle Maldonado, Order of St. Benedict, O.S.B. or Marcos de Tovar y Valle Maldonado (1586 – 22 October 1666) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Roman Catholic Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Bishop of Chiap ...
,
O.S.B.
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, found ...
(1639-1652), appointed
Bishop of Chiapas
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ...
*
Alonso de Briceño
Alonso de Briceño y Arias de Córdoba, O.F.M. or Alonso de Brizeño (1587 – 16 November 1668) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Caracas (Santiago de Venezuela) (1653–1668) ''(in Latin)''
and Bishop of Nicaragua (16 ...
, O.F.M. (1653–1668)
* Antonio González de Acuña (1670–1682)
* Diego de Baños y Sotomayor (1683–1706)
* Francisco del Rincón, O.M. (1714–1716), Archbishop (personal title); appointed Archbishop of Santafé en Nueva Granada
* Juan José de Escalona y Calatayud (1717–1728), appointed
Bishop of Michoacán
The Archdiocese of Morelia ( la, Archidioecesis Moreliensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in western central Mexico.Bishop of Michoacán
The Archdiocese of Morelia ( la, Archidioecesis Moreliensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in western central Mexico.Bishop of Palencia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Palencia ( la, Palentin(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Palencia in the ecclesiastical province of Burgos, Spain.
* Ramón Méndez (1827–1839)
* Ignacio Fernández Peña (1841–1849)
* Silvestre Guevara y Lira (1852–1876)
* José Antonio Ponte (1876–1883)
* Críspulo Uzcátegui (1884–1904)
* Juan Bautista-Castro (1904–1915)
* Felipe Rincón González (1916–1946)
* Lucas Guillermo Castillo Hernández (1946–1955)
* Rafael Arias Blanco (1955–1959)
* Cardinal José Humberto Quintero Parra (1960–1980)
* Cardinal José Lebrún Moratinos (1980–1995)
* Cardinal
Ignacio Velasco
Antonio Ignacio Velasco García, S.D.B. (17 January 1929 – 6 July 2003) was a Venezuelan prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caracas, Archbishop of Caracas from 27 May 1995 until his death.
Biogra ...
José Rincón Bonilla
José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ).
In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacul ...
Marcial Augusto Ramírez Ponce Marcial is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include:
People with the given name
* Marcial Ávalos, Paraguayan footballer
* Marcial Calleja (1863–1914), Filipino lawyer
* Marcial Cuquerella (born 1977), Spanish busines ...
Manuel Arteaga y Betancourt
Manuel Arteaga y Betancourt (December 28, 1879 – March 20, 1963) was a Cuban prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Havana from 1941 to 1963. He raised to the rank of cardinal in 1946.
Biography
He was born in Camagüey, ...
, appointed Archbishop of San Cristobal de la Habana, Cuba in 1941 (Cardinal in 1946)
See also
*
Roman Catholicism in Venezuela
The Catholic Church in Venezuela is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The Roman Catholic Church in Venezuela comprises nine archdioceses, three vicariates, a military ordinariate, and two ...