The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of the Blessed Assumption () is an ecclesiastical territory or

diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, prov ...

of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...

. It was created as the Diocese of Paraguay by

Pope Paul III Pope Paul III (; ; born Alessandro Farnese; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death, in November 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era follo ...

on July 1, 1547, and was elevated to the rank of a

metropolitan archdiocese A metropolis, metropolitanate or metropolitan diocese is an episcopal see whose bishop is the metropolitan bishop or archbishop of an ecclesiastical province. Metropolises, historically, have been important cities in their provinces. Eastern Ortho ...

Pope Pius XI Pope Pius XI (; born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, ; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939) was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 until his death in February 1939. He was also the first sovereign of the Vatican City State u ...

on May 1, 1929, with the

suffragan sees A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Catholic Church, a suffragan bishop leads a diocese within an ecclesiastical province other than the principal diocese, the metropolitan archdiocese; the diocese led by ...

Benjamín Aceval Benjamín Aceval is a city in the Department of Presidente Hayes in Paraguay. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Benjamín Aceval. Etymology The city is named after Tomás Benjamín Aceval Marín, the Paraguayan diplomat wh ...

Caacupé Caacupé (; Guaraní language, Guarani: Ka'akupe , literally: "Behind the Mount") is a city and district in Paraguay. It is the capital of the Department (subnational entity), department of Cordillera Department, Cordillera. The town was founded i ...

Carapeguá Carapeguá (, '' Guaraní: Karapegua'') is a city and ''district'' of the Paraguarí Department, Paraguay, located 84 km from Asunción. It was founded in 1725. Settled by the Caañabé river and over the Route 1 "Mariscal Francisco Solano ...

Ciudad del Este Ciudad del Este (, Spanish for Eastern City; often shortened as CDE) is the second-largest city in Paraguay and capital of the Alto Paraná Department, situated on the Paraná River. It is located 327 km east of Asunción, the capital, and i ...

, Concepción,

Coronel Oviedo Coronel Oviedo (), locally simply known as Oviedo, is a city in east-central Paraguay. It is the capital of the Caaguazú Department, about 150 kilometers east of Asunción, and was founded in 1758. The city has a population of about 52,400 ( ...

, Encarnación,

San Juan Bautista de las Misiones San Juan Bautista (), capital of the Department of Misiones, Paraguay, is considered the cradle of the religious mission culture. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Juan Bautista de las Misiones. Geography San Juan Baut ...

San Lorenzo San Lorenzo is the Italian and Spanish name for Saint Lawrence, the 3rd-century Christian martyr, and may refer to: Places Argentina * San Lorenzo, Santa Fe * San Lorenzo Department, Chaco * Villa San Lorenzo, town and municipality in Salta P ...

, San Pedro, and Villarrica del Espíritu Santo. The archdiocese's

mother church Mother church or matrice is a term depicting the Christian Church as a mother in her functions of nourishing and protecting the believer. It may also refer to the primary church of a Christian denomination or diocese, i.e. a cathedral church, or ...

and thus seat of its archbishop is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. As the only metropolitan in Paraguay, it is the principal

episcopal see An episcopal see is the area of a bishop's ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Phrases concerning actions occurring within or outside an episcopal see are indicative of the geographical significance of the term, making it synonymous with ''diocese'' ...

of that country. The archdiocese has 1.58 million Catholics (90.6%) in 2012. Archbishop Flores succeeded to the see on March 6, 2022.

Bishops

Ordinaries

;''Diocese of Paraguay'' ''Erected: 1 July 1547''
''Latin Name: de Paraguay'' #

Juan de los Barrios Friar Juan de los Barrios y Toledo, OFM (1496 – February 12, 1569) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as the first Archbishop of Santafé de Bogotá of the New Kingdom of Granada, (1564–1569), ''(in Latin)'' Bishop of Santa Marta (1 ...

, O.F.M. (1547–1552), appointed Bishop of Santa Marta, Colombia #

Pedro de la Torre Pedro de la Torre (died 1573) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Paraguay (1554–1573). ''(in Latin)'' Biography Pedro de la Torre was ordained a priest in the Order of Friars Minor. On 27 August 1554, he was appointed duri ...

, O.F.M. (1554–1573) #

Alfonso Guerra (bishop) Alfonso Guerra OP (died 18 June 1596) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Michoacán (1592–1596) ''(in Latin)'' ''(in Latin)'' and Bishop of Paraguay (1579–1592). ''(in Latin)'' Biography Alfonso Guerra was born in Vallad ...

, O.P. (1579–1592), appointed Bishop of Michoacán, México #

Thomas Vásquez de Liaño Thomas Vásquez de Liaño (1546 – 28 December 1599) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Paraguay (1596–1599). ''(in Latin)'' Biography On 18 December 1596, Thomas Vásquez de Liaño was appointed during the papacy of Pope C ...

(1596–1599) ''(in Latin)'' #

Martín Ignacio de Loyola Martín Ignacio Martínez de Mallea, known as Martín Ignacio de Loyola (c. 1550 in Eibar, Guipuzcoa, Spain – 1606 in Buenos Aires), was a Franciscan friar, best known for his two travels around the world in 1580–1584 and 1585–1589, bein ...

(1601–1608) #

Reginaldo de Lizárraga Reginaldo may refer to: * Maicosuel Reginaldo de Matos (born 1986), footballer * Reginaldo Araújo (born 1977), Brazilian defender * Reginaldo de Santana (born 1975), Brazilian football player * Reginaldo (footballer born 1983) full name Reginaldo ...

, O.P. (1609) #

Lorenzo Pérez de Grado Lorenzo may refer to: People * Lorenzo (name) Places Peru * San Lorenzo Island (Peru), sometimes referred to as the island of Lorenzo United States * Lorenzo, Illinois * Lorenzo, Texas * San Lorenzo, California, formerly Lorenzo * Lorenzo State ...

(1615–1619), appointed Bishop of Cuzco, Peru #

Tomás de la Torre Gibaja Tomás de la Torre Gibaja, O.P. or Tomás de Torres (1570–1630) was a Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Córdoba (1628–1630) and Bishop of Paraguay (1620–1628). ''(in Latin)'' Biography Tomás de la Torre Gibaja was born in Madri ...

, O.P. (1620–1628), appointed Bishop of Córdoba (Tucumán), Argentina #

Cristóbal de Aresti Martínez de Aguilar Cristóbal de Aresti Martínez de Aguilar, Order of Saint Benedict, O.S.B. (1578–1641) was a Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Buenos Aires (1635–1641) and Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Asunción, Bishop of Paraguay (1629–1635). ''(i ...

, O.S.B. (1629–1635), appointed Bishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina #

Francisco de la Serna Francisco de la Serna, O.E.S.A. (1568 – April 1647) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of La Paz (1645–1647), Bishop of Popayán (1638–1645), and Bishop of Paraguay (1635–1638). ''(in Latin)'' Biography Francisco de la ...

, O.E.S.A. (1635–1638), appointed Bishop of Popayán, Colombia #

Bernardino de Cárdenas Ponce Bernardino is a name of Italian, Hispanic, or Portuguese origin. Notable people with the name include: Given name *Bernardino of Fossa (1420–1503), Italian Franciscan historian and ascetical writer *Bernardino of Siena (1380–1444), Italian ...

, O.F.M. (1640–1666), appointed Bishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia #

Gabriel de Guilléstegui In the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), Gabriel ( ) is an archangel with the power to announce God's will to mankind, as the messenger of God. He is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Quran. Many Chris ...

, O.F.M. (1666–1670), appointed Bishop of La Paz, Bolivia # Ferdinandus de Valcácer (1672) # Faustino Casas Hernández, O. de M. (1674–1686) # Sebastián de Pastrana, O. de M. (1693–1700) #

Pedro Díaz de Durana Pedro is a masculine given name. Pedro is the Spanish, Portuguese, and Galician name for ''Peter''. Its French equivalent is Pierre while its English and Germanic form is Peter. The counterpart patronymic surname of the name Pedro, meaning ...

(1704–1718) #

José Luis Palos Bord José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced very differently in each of the two languages: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , ...

, O.F.M. (1724–1738) # José Cayetano Paravicino, O.F.M. (1738–1747), appointed Bishop of Trujillo, Peru #

Bernardo José Pérez de Oblitas Bernardo is a given name, possibly derived from the Germanic Bernhard. It may refer to: People * Bernardo the Japanese (died 1557), early Japanese Christian convert and disciple of Saint Francis Xavier * Bernardo Accolti (1465–1536), Italian ...

(1747–1756), appointed Bishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia # Manuel Antonio de la Torre (1756–1762), appointed Bishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina # Emmanuel López de Espinosa (1762–1770) # Juan José Priego y Caro, O.P. (1772–1779) # Luis Velasco y Maeda, O.F.M. (1779–1792) # Lorenzo Suarez de Cantillana (1797–1799) # Nicolás Videla del Pino (1802–1806), appointed Bishop of Salta, Argentina # Pedro García de Panés, O.F.M. (1807–1838) # Basilio López (1844–1859) # Juan Gregorio Urbieta (1860–1865) # Manuel Antonio Palacios (1865–1868) # Pietro Giovanni Aponte (1879–1891) #

Juan Sinforiano Bogarín Juan Sinforiano Bogarín (August 21, 1863 - February 25, 1949) was an eminent Paraguayan clergyman, the first Roman Catholic archbishop of Paraguay. His life Bogarín was born in Mbuyapey, a town in the Paraguarí Department, to Juan José B ...

(1894–1929), elevated along with the diocese (see below) ;''Archdiocese of Asunción'' ''Elevated: 1 May 1929''
''Latin Name: Sanctissimae Assumptionis'' #

(1929–1949) #

Juan José Aníbal Mena Porta ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish and Manx versions of ''John''. The name is of Hebrew origin and has the meaning "God has been gracious." It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking countries around the world and in the Philippi ...

(1949–1970) #

Ismael Blas Rolón Silvero Ismael may refer to: People * Ismael Khalid (born 2000), American live-streamer known as Johnny Somali * Ismael Balkhi, political activist from Afghanistan * Ismael Blanco (born 1983), Argentine professional footballer * Ismael Prego, Spanish Yo ...

, S.D.B. (1970–1989) # Felipe Santiago Benítez Ávalos (1989–2002) #

Pastor Cuquejo Eustaquio Pastor Cuquejo Verga C.Ss.R. (20 September 1939 – 22 August 2023) was a Paraguayan Roman Catholic prelate who was the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Asunción. Biography Cuquejo was born on San Estanislao on 20 Sep ...

, C.Ss.R. (2002–2014) #

Edmundo Valenzuela Archbishop Edmundo Ponziano Valenzuela Mellid SDB (born 19 November 1944) is a Roman Catholic missionary currently serving in Paraguay as the sixth Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Asunción. On February 13, 2006, he was appointed ...

, S.D.B. (2014–2022) #

Adalberto Martínez Flores Adalberto Martínez Flores (born 8 July 1951) is a Paraguayan prelate of the Catholic Church who was named as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Asunción, Archbishop of Asunción in 2022. He has been a bishop since 1997. Flores was created a Car ...

(2022–present)

Coadjutor bishops

* Martín de Sarricolea y Olea (1720), did not take effect *

, O.F.M. (1721–1724) * Manuel Antonio Palacios (1863–1865) *

(1941–1949) * Edmundo Ponziano Valenzuela Mellid, S.D.B. (2011–2014)

Auxiliary bishops

* Marco Antonio Maiz (1844–1848) * Juan Gregorio Urbieta (1856–1860), appointed Bishop here *

(1936–1941), appointed Coadjutor here * Ramón Pastor Bogarín Argaña (1954–1957), appointed Bishop of San Juan Bautista de las Misiones *

Aníbal Maricevich Fleitas Aníbal is the Spanish and Portuguese masculine given name equivalent of Hannibal (q.v.), itself a latinization of the Greek name Hanníbas (Ἁννίβας), derived from “ḥnbʿl” in the Carthaginian language (Carthaginian Punic script, � ...

(1957–1965), appointed Bishop of Concepción y Chaco *

Felipe Santiago Benitez Avalos Felipe is the Spanish variant of the name Philip, which derives from the Greek adjective ''Philippos'' "friend of horses". Felipe is also widely used in Portuguese-speaking Brazil alongside Filipe, the form commonly used in Portugal. Noteworthy ...

(1961–1965), appointed Bishop of Villarrica (later returned here as Archbishop) *

Julio Benigno Laschi González Julio is the Spanish equivalent of the month July and may refer to: *Julio (given name) * Julio (surname) * Júlio de Castilhos, a municipality of the western part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil * ''Julio'' (album), a 1983 compilation al ...

(1965–1969) *

Juan Moleón Andreu ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish and Manx versions of ''John''. The name is of Hebrew origin and has the meaning "God has been gracious." It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking countries around the world and in the Philippi ...

(1967–1972), appointed Bishop of Paraguay, Military *

Jorge Adolfo Carlos Livieres Banks Jorge Adolfo Carlos Livieres Banks (22 February 1929 – 17 December 2018) was a Paraguayan Roman Catholic bishop. Biography Livieres Banks was born in Paraguay and was ordained to the priesthood in 1956. He served as titular bishop of ''Uti ...

(1976–1987), appointed Prelate of Encarnación * Eustaquio Pastor Cuquejo Verga, C.Ss.R. (1982–1992), appointed Bishop of Paraguay, Military (later returned here as Archbishop) * Claudio Giménez Medina, P. Schönstatt (1991–1995), appointed Bishop of Caacupé *

Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios Ricardo is the Spanish and Portuguese cognate of the name Richard. It derived from Proto-Germanic ''*rīks'' 'king, ruler' + ''*harduz'' 'hard, brave'. It may be a given name, or a surname. People Given name * Ricardo de Araújo Pereira (born ...

(1993–2003), appointed Bishop of Paraguay, Military *

(1997–2000), appointed Bishop of San Lorenzo

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

* Juan González Melgarejo, appointed Bishop of Santiago de Chile in 1743 *

Joaquín Hermes Robledo Romero Joaquín or Joaquin is a male given name, the Spanish version of Joachim. Given name * Joaquín (footballer, born 1956) (Joaquín Alonso González), Spanish football midfielder * Joaquín (footballer, born 1981) (Joaquín Sánchez Rodríguez), ...

(priest here, 1975–2000), appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Carapeguá in 2009

References

External links

Official site

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asuncion Organisations based in Asunción 1547 establishments in the Spanish Empire Religious organizations established in the 1540s Roman Catholic dioceses in Paraguay Roman Catholic dioceses established in the 16th century Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Asunción Roman Catholic ecclesiastical provinces in Paraguay