Apostolic Vicariate of Darién, Panama 🇵🇦

Continent: Central America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: Darién / Darienen(sis) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Neighbouring Dioceses: Panamá (←), Colón–Kuna Yala (↖), Apartadó (↘), Istmina–Tadó (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1925.11.29: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Darién / Darienen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Panamá)
1988.12.15: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Colón

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2005.02.12 – ...):

Bishop Pedro Joaquin Hernández Cantarero, C.M.F. (72)

Titular Bishop of Thabraca

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Darién (Roman Rite)

Bishop Pedro Joaquin Hernández Cantarero, C.M.F. (72)
(2005.02.12 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Darién (Panama)
Titular Bishop of Thabraca

Te haré pescador de hombres

Born:	1954.06.29 (Jinotepe, Nicaragua)
Ordained Priest:	1986.11.15
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.03.19

Titular Bishop of Thabraca (2005.02.12 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Darién (Panama) (2005.02.12 – ...)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Panama (2019.03.11 – 2025.01.07)

Bishop Rómulo Emiliani Sánchez, C.M.F. (78)
(1988.12.15 – 2002.02.02)

Titular Bishop of Nigræ maiores
Auxiliary Bishop emeritus of San Pedro Sula (Honduras)

Born:	1948.05.03 (Colón, Honduras)
Ordained Priest:	1976.08.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1989.01.25

Vicar Apostolic of Darién (Panama) (1988.12.15 – 2002.02.02)

Titular Bishop of Nigræ maiores (1988.12.15 – ...)

Auxiliary Bishop of San Pedro Sula (Honduras) (2002.02.02 – 2017.03.21)

Bishop Carlos María Ariz Bolea, C.M.F.
(1981.07.22 – 1988.12.15)

Fuertes en la fe

Born:	1928.12.06 (Marcilla, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1953.06.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.11.21
Died:	2015.08.29 († 86)

Titular Bishop of Nigræ maiores (1981.07.22 – 1988.12.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Darién (Panama) (1981.07.22 – 1988.12.15)

Bishop of Colón (Panama) (1988.12.15 – 1997.06.13)

Bishop of Colón–Kuna Yala (Panama) (1997.06.13 – 2005.06.18)

Bishop Jesús Serrano Pastor, C.M.F.
(1956.04.07 – 1981.07.22)

Born:	1902.05.25 (Corella, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1926.05.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1956.08.22
Died:	1997.07.14 († 95)

Vicar Apostolic of Darién (Panama) (1956.04.07 – 1981.07.22)

Titular Bishop of Hypselis (1956.04.07 – 1997.07.14)

President of Episcopal Conference of Panama (1967 – 1969)

Bishop José María Preciado y Nieva, C.M.F.
(1934.02.26 – 1955.05.19)

Born:	1885.09.23 (Cadreita, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1912.06.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1934.05.31
Died:	1963.08.14 († 77)

Vicar Apostolic of Darién (Panama) (1934.02.26 – 1955.05.19)

Titular Bishop of Tegea (1934.02.26 – 1963.08.14)

Bishop Juan José Maíztegui y Besoitaiturria, C.M.F. (later Archbishop)
(1926.07.14 – 1932)

Born:	1878.04.30 (Yurreta, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1902.06.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1926.10.17
Died:	1943.09.28 († 65)

Vicar Apostolic of Darién (Panama) (1926.07.14 – 1932)

Titular Bishop of Tanais (1926.07.14 – 1933.02.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Panamá (Panama) (1932 – 1933.02.24)

Archbishop of Panamá (Panama) (1933.02.24 – 1943.09.28)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Marcos Zuluaga Arteche, C.M.F. (1976.12.09 – 1981.11.13)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de la Virgen de Guadalupe, Metetí, Darién

Panamá (←), Colón–Kuna Yala (↖), Apartadó (↘), Istmina–Tadó (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 16,666 km²

Population: 50,000 Catholics (76.9% of 65,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 10 parishes, 10 missions

Personnel: 11 priests (6 diocesan, 5 religious), 16 religious (6 brothers, 10 sisters), 1 seminarian