Diocese of Copiapó, Chile 🇨🇱

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Copiapó (español) / Copiapoën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: La Serena

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora del Rosario (October 7)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: January 20 (1851)

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1946.11.09: Established as Apostolic Administration of Copiapó (español) / Copiapoën(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of La Serena)
1955.04.21: Promoted as Territorial Prelature of Copiapó (español) / Copiapoën(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of La Serena)
1957.10.31: Promoted as Diocese of Copiapó (español) / Copiapoën(sis) (Latin)

Contact Info

Address: Chacabuco 441, Copiapó, Chile

Phone: 52-352320

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.06.20 – ...):

Bishop Ricardo Basilio Morales Galindo, O. de M. (53)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Copiapó (Roman Rite)

Bishop Ricardo Basilio Morales Galindo, O. de M. (53)
(2020.06.20 – ...)

Bishop of Copiapó (Chile)

Non ministrari sed ministrare

Born:	1972.09.11 (San Fernando, Chile)
Ordained Priest:	2006.03.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2020.09.12

Apostolic Administrator of Puerto Montt (Chile) (2018.06.11 – 2019.12.27)

Bishop of Copiapó (Chile) (2020.06.20 – ...)

Bishop Celestino Aós Braco, O.F.M. Cap. (80) (later Cardinal)
(2014.07.25 – 2019.03.23)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Santiago (Chile)
former President of Episcopal Conference of Chile

Amar y servir

Born:	1945.04.06 (Artaiz, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1968.03.30
Consecrated Bishop:	2014.10.18
Created Cardinal:	2020.11.28

Bishop of Copiapó (Chile) (2014.07.25 – 2019.03.23)

Apostolic Administrator of Santiago (Chile) (2019.03.23 – 2019.12.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago (Chile) (2019.12.27 – 2023.10.25)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo (2020.11.28 [2021.06.19] – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Chile (2021.07.28 – 2023.10.25)

Bishop Gaspar Francisco Quintana Jorquera, C.M.F.
(2001.05.26 – 2014.07.25)

Conservar la palabra en el corazón

Born:	1936.10.05 (Santiago, Chile)
Ordained Priest:	1964.03.22
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.07.01
Died:	2025.12.27 (Santiago, Chile † 89)

Bishop of Copiapó (Chile) (2001.05.26 – 2014.07.25)

Bishop Fernando Ariztía Ruiz
(1976.12.11 – 2001.05.26)

Para que tengan vida y la tengan en abundancia

Born:	1925.05.27 (Santiago, Chile)
Ordained Priest:	1951.09.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.07.09
Died:	2003.11.25 († 78)

Titular Bishop of Timici (1967.05.25 – 1976.12.11)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago (Chile) (1967.05.25 – 1976.12.11)

Apostolic Administrator of Copiapó (Chile) (1975 – 1976.12.11)

Bishop of Copiapó (Chile) (1976.12.11 – 2001.05.26)

President of Episcopal Conference of Chile (1992 – 1995)

Bishop Fernando Ariztía Ruiz
(Apostolic Administrator 1975 – 1976.12.11)

Bishop Carlos Marcio Camus Larenas
(1968.01.31 – 1976.12.11)

El Reino de los Cielos es un tesoro escondido

Born:	1927.01.14 (Valparaiso, Chile)
Ordained Priest:	1957.09.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.03.03
Died:	2014.03.16 († 87)

Bishop of Copiapó (Chile) (1968.01.31 – 1976.12.11)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Chile (1974 – 1976)

Bishop of Linares (Chile) (1976.12.11 – 2003.01.17)

Bishop Juan Francisco Fresno Larraín (later Cardinal)
(1958.06.15 – 1967.07.28)

Adveniat regnum tuum

Born:	1914.07.26 (Santiago, Chile)
Ordained Priest:	1937.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1958.08.15
Created Cardinal:	1985.05.25
Died:	2004.10.14 (Santiago, Chile † 90)

Priest of Santiago (Chile) (1937.12.18 – 1958.06.15)

Bishop of Copiapó (Chile) (1958.06.15 – 1967.07.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Serena (Chile) (1967.07.28 – 1983.05.03)

President of Episcopal Conference of Chile (1976 – 1977)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago (Chile) (1983.05.03 – 1990.03.30)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Immacolata di Lourdes a Boccea (1985.05.25 – 2004.10.14)

Prelates of Copiapó (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos (later Archbishop)
(1956.05.24 – 1957.08.20)

Scio cui credidi

Born:	1917.10.10 (Buin, Chile)
Ordained Priest:	1943.09.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1956.07.15
Died:	1998.02.20 († 80)

Bishop-Prelate of Copiapó (Chile) (1955.06.27 – 1956.05.24)

Titular Bishop of Ægeæ (1956.05.24 – 1957.08.20)

Bishop-Prelate of Copiapó (Chile) (1956.05.24 – 1957.08.20)

Bishop of Antofagasta (Chile) (1957.08.20 – 1967.06.28)

Apostolic Administrator of Calama (Chile) (1965.07.21 – 1968.05.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Antofagasta (Chile) (1967.06.28 – 1974.03.25)

Apostolic Administrator of Calama (Chile) (1970.04 – 1970.06.02)

Archbishop-Bishop of San Felipe (Chile) (1974.03.25 – 1983.05.03)

President of Episcopal Conference of Chile (1977 – 1980)

Archbishop-Bishop of Valparaíso (Chile) (1983.05.03 – 1993.04.16)

Bishop-elect Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos (later Archbishop)
(1955.06.27 – 1956.05.24)

(see above)

Archbishop Alfredo Cifuentes Gómez
(Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis 1947.03.19 – 1948.06.17)

Special Churches

Churches by City (21)

Antofagasta (↑), Cafayate (↗), Catamarca (→), La Rioja (→), San Juan de Cuyo (↘), La Serena (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 75,176 km²

Population: 236,060 Catholics (75.5% of 312,765 total)

Pastoral Centres: 21 parishes

Personnel: 26 priests (19 diocesan, 7 religious), 27 deacons, 55 religious (7 brothers, 48 sisters)