Villarrica del Esp�ritu Santo (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Miguel �ngel Cabello Almada, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 13 January 1990
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Asunci�n
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Paraguay
Square Kilometers: 3,946 (1,524 Square Miles)
Description: Guair�
Mailing Address: Mcal. Estigarribia y Natalicio Talavera 720, Villarrica, Paraguay
Telephone: (0541)42.687

Historical Details

Diocese of Villarrica
- Latin Name: Villaricensis
- Erected: 1 May 1929
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Asunci�n
- Country: Paraguay

Past and Present Ordinaries

Bartolom� Adorno † (30 Apr 1931 Appointed - Sep 1931 Resigned)
Agust�n Rodr�guez † (19 Oct 1931 Appointed - 4 Dec 1965 Appointed, Bishop of Paraguay, Military)
Felipe Santiago Benitez Avalos † (4 Dec 1965 Appointed - 20 May 1989 Appointed, Archbishop of Asunci�n)
Sebelio Peralta Alvarez † (19 Apr 1990 Appointed - 27 Dec 2008 Appointed, Bishop of San Lorenzo)
Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios (25 Jun 2010 Appointed - 29 Jun 2017 Appointed, Bishop of Caacup�)
Adalberto Mart�nez Flores (23 Jun 2018 Appointed - 17 Feb 2022 Appointed, Archbishop of Asunci�n)
Miguel �ngel Cabello Almada (5 Dec 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Villarrica
1 May 1929	Erected	Diocese of Paraguay (o Ssma Assunzione)	Diocese of Villarrica (erected)
19 January 1957	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Asunci�n (Villa Oliva, Alberdi, and Villa Franca (all in Neembucus)) Diocese of Villarrica (Misiones (S. Juan Bautista, Ayolas, S. Ignacio, Santa Mar�a, S. Miguel, S. Patricio, S. Rosa, Santiago, Villa Florida) and parts of Neembuc� (Pilar, Cerrito, Desmochados, General D�az, Guazucu�, Humaita, Isla Umb�, Laureles, Paso de Patria, Pedro ...)	Diocese of San Juan Bautista de las Misiones (erected)
21 January 1957	Territory Lost	Diocese of Concepci�n (Santissima Concezione) en Paraguay (Parts of Alto Paran�) Diocese of Villarrica (Departamento de Itap�a and part of Departamento de Alt� Paran�)	Territorial Prelature of Encarnaci�n y Alto Paran� (erected)
10 September 1961	Territory Lost	Diocese of Concepci�n (Santissima Concezione) en Paraguay (Parishes of Ypejhu, Igatimi, and Curuguaty) Diocese of Villarrica (Parishes of N. S. dei Rosario and Santa Maria Auxiliadora in Coronel Oviedo plus Yhu and Caaguazu)	Territorial Prelature of Coronel Oviedo (erected)
Diocese of Villarrica del Esp�ritu Santo
13 January 1990	Name Changed	Diocese of Villarrica	Diocese of Villarrica del Esp�ritu Santo
22 March 2025	Territory Lost	Diocese of Villarrica del Esp�ritu Santo (Caazap�)	Diocese of Caazap� (erected)

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 Villarrica

1950 600,000 620,000 96.8% 31 20 51 11,764 12 37 104 ap1951

1966 379,000 380,000 99.7% 54 18 72 5,263 18 54 34 ap1967

1970 420,000 .0% 51 17 68 0 21 65 36 ap1971

1976 373,920 393,625 95.0% 40 17 57 6,560 17 38 41 ap1977

1980 244,000 257,000 94.9% 24 13 37 6,594 13 55 31 ap1981

Diocese of Villarrica del Esp�ritu Santo

1990 397,000 414,000 95.9% 29 13 42 9,452 28 13 75 32 ap1991

1999 285,516 291,343 98.0% 42 12 54 5,287 45 12 113 33 ap2000

2000 290,000 296,000 98.0% 47 10 57 5,087 45 19 113 33 ap2001

2001 289,000 295,465 97.8% 51 12 63 4,587 45 20 113 33 ap2002

2002 289,000 295,465 97.8% 45 15 60 4,816 49 21 113 33 ap2003

2003 289,000 292,347 98.9% 41 15 56 5,160 49 21 113 33 ap2004

2004 290,140 293,500 98.9% 40 15 55 5,275 50 22 113 33 ap2005

2010 316,000 321,000 98.4% 38 8 46 6,869 54 17 41 31 ap2011

2014 342,000 343,000 99.7% 39 4 43 7,953 65 13 76 35 ap2015

2017 311,965 330,560 94.4% 46 3 49 6,366 57 3 68 38 ap2018

2020 315,200 345,000 91.4% 46 2 48 6,566 58 2 70 38 ap2021

2022 323,460 353,830 91.4% 52 4 56 5,776 62 4 75 39 ap2023

2023 327,665 358,430 91.4% 47 3 50 6,553 58 3 70 39 ap2024

2024 369,530 419,922 88.0% 53 9 62 5,960 82 59 40 bul:22Mar2025

2025 198,360 225,410 88.0% 35 7 42 4,722 43 53 25 bul:22Mar2025

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 Villarrica
1950	600,000	620,000	96.8%	31	20	51	11,764		12	37	104	ap1951
1966	379,000	380,000	99.7%	54	18	72	5,263		18	54	34	ap1967
1970		420,000	.0%	51	17	68	0		21	65	36	ap1971
1976	373,920	393,625	95.0%	40	17	57	6,560		17	38	41	ap1977
1980	244,000	257,000	94.9%	24	13	37	6,594		13	55	31	ap1981
Diocese of Villarrica del Esp�ritu Santo
1990	397,000	414,000	95.9%	29	13	42	9,452	28	13	75	32	ap1991
1999	285,516	291,343	98.0%	42	12	54	5,287	45	12	113	33	ap2000
2000	290,000	296,000	98.0%	47	10	57	5,087	45	19	113	33	ap2001
2001	289,000	295,465	97.8%	51	12	63	4,587	45	20	113	33	ap2002
2002	289,000	295,465	97.8%	45	15	60	4,816	49	21	113	33	ap2003
2003	289,000	292,347	98.9%	41	15	56	5,160	49	21	113	33	ap2004
2004	290,140	293,500	98.9%	40	15	55	5,275	50	22	113	33	ap2005
2010	316,000	321,000	98.4%	38	8	46	6,869	54	17	41	31	ap2011
2014	342,000	343,000	99.7%	39	4	43	7,953	65	13	76	35	ap2015
2017	311,965	330,560	94.4%	46	3	49	6,366	57	3	68	38	ap2018
2020	315,200	345,000	91.4%	46	2	48	6,566	58	2	70	38	ap2021
2022	323,460	353,830	91.4%	52	4	56	5,776	62	4	75	39	ap2023
2023	327,665	358,430	91.4%	47	3	50	6,553	58	3	70	39	ap2024
2024	369,530	419,922	88.0%	53	9	62	5,960	82		59	40	bul:22Mar2025
2025	198,360	225,410	88.0%	35	7	42	4,722	43		53	25	bul:22Mar2025

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Amancio Francisco Ben�tez Candia (Priest: 24 Apr 1999 to 16 Jun 2018)
Marcelo Ben�tez Mart�nez, O.F.M.
Miguel �ngel Cabello Almada (Bishop: 5 Dec 2024)
Adalberto Mart�nez Flores (Bishop: 23 Jun 2018 to 17 Feb 2022)
Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios (Bishop: 25 Jun 2010 to 29 Jun 2017)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Angel Nicol�s Acha Duarte † (Priest: 27 Oct 1957; Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Dec 1975 to 5 Jun 1978)
Bartolom� Adorno † (Bishop: 30 Apr 1931 to Sep 1931)
Felipe Santiago Benitez Avalos † (Bishop: 4 Dec 1965 to 20 May 1989)
Sebelio Peralta Alvarez † (Priest: 19 Dec 1964; Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Mar 1979; Bishop: 19 Apr 1990 to 27 Dec 2008)
Agust�n Rodr�guez † (Bishop: 19 Oct 1931 to 4 Dec 1965)

Source(s)

Diocese of Villarrica
- Acta Apostolic� Sedis, Volume 22, Page 5, to Page 8
Diocese of Villarrica del Esp�ritu Santo
- Acta Apostolic� Sedis, Volume 82, Page 202

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Diocese of Villarrica del Esp�ritu Santo

Dioecesis Villaricensis Spiritus Sancti