Kwito-Bi� (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vicente Sanombo, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 16 May 1979
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Huambo
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Angola
Square Kilometers: 73,025 (28,205 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, C.P. 16, Kuito-Bie, Angola
Telephone: 923.725.775

Historical Details

Diocese of Silva Porto
- Latin Name: Silva Portuensis
- Erected: 4 September 1940
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Huambo
- Country: Angola

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antonio Ildefonso dos Santos Silva, O.S.B. † (3 Nov 1941 Appointed - 14 Aug 1958 Died)
Manuel Ant�nio Pires † (23 Sep 1958 Succeeded - 15 Jun 1979 Resigned)
Pedro Lu�s Ant�nio † (15 Jun 1979 Appointed - 15 Jan 1997 Retired)
Jos� Nambi † (15 Jan 1997 Succeeded - 31 Oct 2022 Died)
Vicente Sanombo (28 Mar 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Silva Porto
4 September 1940	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Cubango in Angola (Bi� (Bi� and Moxico) and Lunda (in Malanje))	Diocese of Silva Porto (erected)
25 November 1957	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Luanda (Malanje) Diocese of Silva Porto (Lunda)	Diocese of Malanje (erected)
1 July 1963	Territory Lost	Diocese of Silva Porto (Moxico)	Diocese of Luso (erected)
10 August 1975	Territory Lost	Diocese of Silva Porto (Cuando-Cubango) Diocese of S� da Bandeira (Ganguela and Jamba (in Huila))	Diocese of Serpa Pinto (erected)
3 February 1977	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Silva Porto (from Luanda)
Diocese of Kwito-Bi�
16 May 1979	Name Changed	Diocese of Silva Porto	Diocese of Kwito-Bi�

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 Silva Porto

1950 63,536 943,529 6.7% 46 46 1,381 42 15 2 ap1951

1969 243,743 600,000 40.6% 12 44 56 4,352 66 82 26 ap1971

Diocese of Kwito-Bi�

1980 329,000 723,000 45.5% 3 6 9 36,555 8 15 22 ap1981

1990 326,300 767,000 42.5% 1 5 6 54,383 9 26 24 ap1991

1999 415,655 981,179 42.4% 11 4 15 27,710 12 34 10 ap2000

2000 420,344 985,120 42.7% 10 2 12 35,028 5 30 11 ap2001

2001 426,774 995,991 42.8% 13 2 15 28,451 5 37 11 ap2002

2002 432,626 1,000,131 43.3% 13 4 17 25,448 7 37 11 ap2003

2003 440,627 1,001,914 44.0% 13 5 18 24,479 10 35 11 ap2004

2004 453,347 1,016,688 44.6% 13 5 18 25,185 9 41 11 ap2005

2013 806,639 1,295,000 62.3% 21 11 32 25,207 32 60 134 ap2014

2016 873,977 1,401,855 62.3% 24 10 34 25,705 44 74 18 ap2017

2019 955,245 1,531,800 62.4% 26 14 40 23,881 49 81 16 ap2020

2021 1,016,000 1,630,155 62.3% 29 12 41 24,780 44 84 18 ap2022

2023 1,079,000 1,731,000 62.3% 41 12 53 20,358 44 83 21 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Silva Porto
1950	63,536	943,529	6.7%		46	46	1,381	42	15	2	ap1951
1969	243,743	600,000	40.6%	12	44	56	4,352	66	82	26	ap1971
Diocese of Kwito-Bi�
1980	329,000	723,000	45.5%	3	6	9	36,555	8	15	22	ap1981
1990	326,300	767,000	42.5%	1	5	6	54,383	9	26	24	ap1991
1999	415,655	981,179	42.4%	11	4	15	27,710	12	34	10	ap2000
2000	420,344	985,120	42.7%	10	2	12	35,028	5	30	11	ap2001
2001	426,774	995,991	42.8%	13	2	15	28,451	5	37	11	ap2002
2002	432,626	1,000,131	43.3%	13	4	17	25,448	7	37	11	ap2003
2003	440,627	1,001,914	44.0%	13	5	18	24,479	10	35	11	ap2004
2004	453,347	1,016,688	44.6%	13	5	18	25,185	9	41	11	ap2005
2013	806,639	1,295,000	62.3%	21	11	32	25,207	32	60	134	ap2014
2016	873,977	1,401,855	62.3%	24	10	34	25,705	44	74	18	ap2017
2019	955,245	1,531,800	62.4%	26	14	40	23,881	49	81	16	ap2020
2021	1,016,000	1,630,155	62.3%	29	12	41	24,780	44	84	18	ap2022
2023	1,079,000	1,731,000	62.3%	41	12	53	20,358	44	83	21	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Vicente Sanombo (Bishop: 28 Mar 2024 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Pedro Lu�s Ant�nio † (Bishop: 15 Jun 1979 to 15 Jan 1997)
Antonio Ildefonso dos Santos Silva, O.S.B. † (Bishop: 3 Nov 1941 to 14 Aug 1958)
Jos� Nambi † (Coadjutor Bishop: 15 Dec 1995; Bishop: 15 Jan 1997 to 31 Oct 2022)
Manuel Ant�nio Pires † (Coadjutor Bishop: 7 Mar 1955; Bishop: 23 Sep 1958 to 15 Jun 1979)

Source(s)

Diocese of Silva Porto
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 33, Page 14, to Page 18
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 69, Page 138, and Page 139
Diocese of Kwito-Bi�
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 71, Page 951, and Page 952

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Diocese of Kwito-Bi�

Dioecesis Kvitobiensis