The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Felipe () is a
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 ...
located in the city of
San Felipe in the
ecclesiastical province
An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian churches, including those of both Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity, that have traditional hierarchical structures. An ecclesiastical province consist ...
of
Santiago de Chile
Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital city, capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's Chilean Central Valley, central valley and is the center ...
in Chile. The diocese was led by an apostolic administrator, Jaime Ortiz de Lazcano Piquer, from 21 September 2018 (when
Pope Francis
Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
accepted the resignation of Bishop Cristián Contreras Molina, whom the Vatican had found innocent of charges of sexual abuse and who had had civil charges dropped for lack of evidence.
) until 26 May 2020, when
Gonzalo Arturo Bravo Álvarez was appointed the new Bishop (consecrated and installed on 13 August).
History
* 18 October 1925: Established as Diocese of San Felipe from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile
Leadership
*
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
s of San Felipe (Roman Rite), in reverse chronological order
** Bishop Gonzalo Arturo Bravo Álvarez (26 May 2020 – present)
** Bishop Cristián Contreras Molina,
O. de M. (19 July 2002 – 21 September 2018)
** Bishop
Manuel Camilo Vial Risopatrón (20 December 1983 – 21 September 2001), appointed Bishop of Temuco
** Archbishop (personal title)
Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos (25 March 1974 – 3 May 1983), appointed Archbishop (personal title) of Valparaíso
** Bishop
Enrique Alvear Urrutia (7 June 1965 – 9 February 1974)
** Bishop
José Luis Castro Cabrera (10 May 1963 – 26 January 1965)
** Bishop
Ramón Munita Eyzaguirre (23 November 1957 – 23 April 1963)
** Bishop
Roberto Benardino Berríos Gaínza,
O.F.M. (19 March 1938 – 23 November 1957)
** Bishop
Melquisedec del Canto Terán (14 December 1925 – 19 March 1938)
References
Sources
GCatholic.org Diocese website
Roman Catholic dioceses in Chile
Christian organizations established in 1925
Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century
San Felipe, Roman Catholic Diocese of
1925 establishments in Chile
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