Diocese of Bilbao, Spain 🇪🇸

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Bilbao / Flaviobrigen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Burgos

Neighbouring Dioceses: Santander (←), San Sebastián (→), Vitoria (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Ignatius of Loyola (July 31), Saint Valentín Faustino Berrio-Ochoa de Aristi (July 4)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: December 30

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1949.11.02: Established as Diocese of Bilbao / Flaviobrigen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Santander and Diocese of Vitoria and became suffragan of Burgos)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2021.05.11 – ...):

Bishop Joseba Segura Etxezarraga (67)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Bilbao (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseba Segura Etxezarraga (67)
(2021.05.11 – ...)

Bishop of Bilbao (Spain)

Scio enim cui credidi

Born:	1958.05.10 (Bilbao, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1985.01.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2019.04.06

Priest of Bilbao (Spain) (1985.01.04 – 2019.02.12)

Titular Bishop of Baza (2019.02.12 – 2021.05.11)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bilbao (Spain) (2019.02.12 – 2021.05.11)

Bishop of Bilbao (Spain) (2021.05.11 – ...)

Bishop Mario Iceta Gavicagogeascoa (61) (later Archbishop)
(2010.08.24 – 2020.10.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Burgos (Spain)

Omnium servus

Born:	1965.03.21 (Gernika, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1994.07.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.04.12

Priest of Córdoba (Spain) (1994.07.16 – 2008.02.05)

Titular Bishop of Álava (2008.02.05 – 2010.08.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bilbao (Spain) (2008.02.05 – 2010.08.24)

Bishop of Bilbao (Spain) (2010.08.24 – 2020.10.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Burgos (Spain) (2020.10.06 – ...)

Bishop Ricardo Blázquez Pérez (83) (later Cardinal)
(1995.09.08 – 2010.03.13)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Vallicella
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Valladolid (Spain)

Resurrexit

Born:	1942.04.13 (Villanueva del Campillo, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1967.02.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1988.05.29
Created Cardinal:	2015.02.14

Priest of Ávila (Spain) (1967.02.18 – 1988.04.08)

Titular Bishop of Germa in Galatia (1988.04.08 – 1992.05.26)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) (1988.04.08 – 1992.05.26)

Bishop of Palencia (Spain) (1992.05.26 – 1995.09.08)

Bishop of Bilbao (Spain) (1995.09.08 – 2010.03.13)

President of Episcopal Conference of Spain (2005.03.08 – 2008.03.04)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Spain (2008.03.04 – 2014.03.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Valladolid (Spain) (2010.03.13 – 2022.06.17)

President of Episcopal Conference of Spain (2014.03.12 – 2020.03.03)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Vallicella (2015.02.14 [2015.10.11] – ...)

Bishop Luis María de Larrea y Legarreta
(1979.02.16 – 1995.09.08)

Ecce ego, mitte me

Born:	1918.04.19 (Miravalles, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1943.06.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1971.09.25
Died:	2009.05.27 († 91)

Bishop of León (Spain) (1971.07.09 – 1979.02.16)

Bishop of Bilbao (Spain) (1979.02.16 – 1995.09.08)

Bishop Antonio Añoveros Ataún
(1971.12.03 – 1978.09.25)

Born:	1909.06.13 (Pamplona, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1933.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.10.12
Died:	1987.10.24 (Bilbao, Spain † 78)

Auxiliary Bishop of Málaga (Spain) (1952.08.25 – 1954.10.27)

Titular Bishop of Tabuda (1952.08.25 – 1964.04.02)

Coadjutor Bishop of Cádiz y Ceuta (Spain) (1954.10.27 – 1964.04.02)

Bishop of Cádiz y Ceuta (Spain) (1964.04.02 – 1971.12.03)

Bishop of Bilbao (Spain) (1971.12.03 – 1978.09.25)

Bishop Pablo Gúrpide Beope
(1955.12.19 – 1968.11.18)

Mihi vivere Christus est

Born:	1898.01.25 (Ochagavia, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1923.09.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1951.09.23
Died:	1968.11.18 († 70)

Bishop of Sigüenza (Spain) (1951.01.03 – 1955.12.19)

Bishop of Bilbao (Spain) (1955.12.19 – 1968.11.18)

Bishop Casimiro Morcillo González (later Archbishop)
(1950.05.13 – 1955.09.21)

Born:	1904.01.26 (Soto del Real, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1926.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1943.05.09
Died:	1971.05.30 († 67)

Titular Bishop of Agathopolis (1943.01.25 – 1950.05.13)

Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid y Alcalá de Henares (Spain) (1943.01.25 – 1950.05.13)

Bishop of Bilbao (Spain) (1950.05.13 – 1955.09.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Zaragoza (Spain) (1955.09.21 – 1964.03.27)

Undersecretary of Central Commission for the Coordination of the Postconciliar Work and the Interpretation of Conciliar Resolutions (1962 – 1967)

Archbishop of Madrid (Spain) (1964.03.27 – 1971.05.30)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Spain (1966 – 1969)

President of Episcopal Conference of Spain (1969 – 1971.05.30)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joseba Segura Etxezarraga (67) (2019.02.12 – 2021.05.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Mario Iceta Gavicagogeascoa (61) (later Archbishop) (2008.02.05 – 2010.08.24)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Carmelo Echenagusia Uribe (1995.09.08 – 2008.02.05)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Juan María Uriarte Goiricelaya (1976.09.17 – 1991.10.17)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica, World Heritage Site: Catedral de Santiago Apóstol, Bilbao, Vizcaya, País Vasco
Minor Basilica: Basílica de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora, Lekeitio, Vizcaya, País Vasco
Minor Basilica: Basílica de la Purísima Concepción (Sortzez Garbia), Elorrio, Vizcaya, País Vasco
Minor Basilica: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Begoña, Bilbao, Vizcaya, País Vasco
Minor Basilica: Basílica de Santa María de Portugalete, Portugalete, Vizcaya, País Vasco
Minor Basilica: Basílica de Santa María de Uribarri, Durango, Vizcaya, País Vasco
World Heritage Site: Colegiata de la Asunción de María, Ziortza-Bolibar, Vizcaya, País Vasco
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)

Churches by City (325)

Santander (←), San Sebastián (→), Vitoria (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,193 km²

Population: 998,000 Catholics (87.6% of 1,139,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 306 parishes, 16 missions

Personnel: 401 priests (212 diocesan, 189 religious), 9 deacons, 1,136 religious (315 brothers, 821 sisters), 8 seminarians