Roman Catholic Diocese of Rancagua

Diocese of Rancagua
Dioecesis Rancaguensis
Diócesis de Rancagua

The Cathedral of Rancagua
Location
Country Chile
Ecclesiastical province Santiago de Chile
Metropolitan Santiago de Chile
Statistics
Area 16,042 km2 (6,194 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2010)
869,000
699,000 (80.4%)
Parishes 64
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Rite Latin Rite
Established 18 October 1925 (90 years ago)
Cathedral Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Rancagua
Patron saint Holy Cross
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop Alejandro Goic Karmelic
Metropolitan Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati Andrello
Emeritus Bishops Francisco Javier Prado Aránguiz
Website
Website of the Diocese

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rancagua (in Latin: Dioecesis Rancaguensis) is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile. The diocese was established on 18 October 1925 as Diócesis de Santa Cruz de Rancagua, by Pope Pius XII by means of the papal bull Apostolici muneris ratio.

The current bishop is Msgr. Alejandro Goic Karmelic, the president of the Chilean Conference of Catholic bishops. The retired (emeritus) bishop is Msgr. Francisco Javier Prado Aránguiz, SS.CC.

Diocesan statistics

The diocese comprises the three provinces of the O'Higgins Region of Chile: Cachapoal, Colchagua and Cardenal Caro, with the exception of the comuna of Navidad, of the latter province, which belongs to the diocese of Melipilla. It covers a territory of 16,042 km2 (6,194 sq mi) and has 63 parishes. It is estimated that 80 percent of the population of the diocese is Catholic. This figure represents about 625,000 Catholics out of a total population of 781,000 persons.

The diocesan cathedral is located in the city of Rancagua.

Bishops of Rancagua

Name Reign began Reign ended Notes
Rafael Lira Infante † 14 December 1925 18 March 1938 Appointed bishop of Valparaíso
Eduardo Larraín Cordovez † 9 July 1938 2 February 1970 Retired
Alejandro Durán Moreira † 2 February 1970 30 May 1986 Retired
Jorge Medina Estévez 25 November 1987 16 April 1993 Appointed bishop of Valparaíso; Cardinal Protodeacon until 2007
Francisco Javier Prado Aránguiz 16 April 1993 23 April 2004 Retired
Alejandro Goic Karmelic 27 October 1994 10 July 2003 Translated from Osorno

External links


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