Apostolic Vicariate of El Beni, Bolivia

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: El Beni / Beni / Benen(sis) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora de Loreto (October 7)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1917.12.01: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of El Beni / Beni / Benen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra)
1942.04.29: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Pando
1942.09.01: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Reyes

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2020.11.28 – ...):

Bishop Aurelio Pesoa Ribera, O.F.M. (62)

Titular Bishop of Leges

President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of El Beni (Roman Rite)

Bishop Aurelio Pesoa Ribera, O.F.M. (62)
(2020.11.28 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of El Beni (Bolivia)
Titular Bishop of Leges
President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia

Euntes docete omnes gentes

Born:	1962.10.10 (Concepción, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:	1989.04.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2014.06.05

Auxiliary Bishop of La Paz (Bolivia) (2014.03.25 – 2020.11.28)

Titular Bishop of Leges (2014.03.25 – ...)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (2015.11.06 – 2021.11.12)

Vicar Apostolic of El Beni (Bolivia) (2020.11.28 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (2021.11.12 – ...)

Bishop Roberto Bordi, O.F.M. (78)
(Apostolic Administrator 2020.02.22 – 2021.02.11)

Bishop Julio María Elías Montoya, O.F.M. (79)
(1986.11.17 – 2020.02.22)

Titular Bishop of Cuma
Vicar Apostolic emeritus of El Beni (Bolivia)

Born:	1945.02.07 (Medina del Pomar, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1968.07.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.03.25

Vicar Apostolic of El Beni (Bolivia) (1986.11.17 – 2020.02.22)

Titular Bishop of Cuma (1986.11.17 – ...)

Bishop Carlos Anasagasti Zulueta, O.F.M.
(1953.06.29 – 1986.11.17)

Born:	1910.11.04 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1934.03.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1953.09.13
Died:	1998.07.26 († 87)

Vicar Apostolic of El Beni (Bolivia) (1953.06.29 – 1986.11.17)

Titular Bishop of Caltadria (1953.06.29 – 1998.07.26)

Bishop Pedro Francisco Luna Pachón, O.F.M.
(1926.07.10 – 1953)

Born:	1881.06.29 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1905.06.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1926.09.26
Died:	1967.03.15 († 85)

Vicar Apostolic of El Beni (Bolivia) (1926.07.10 – 1953)

Titular Bishop of Titiopolis (1926.07.10 – 1967.03.15)

Bishop Ramón Calvó y Martí, O.F.M.
(1919.08.13 – 1926.03.05)

Born:	1862.02.27 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1888.12.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1919.11.09
Died:	1926.03.05 († 64)

Titular Bishop of Catenna (1919.08.13 – 1926.03.05)

Vicar Apostolic of El Beni (Bolivia) (1919.08.13 – 1926.03.05)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Roberto Bordi, O.F.M. (78) (2010.11.06 – 2021.02.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Francisco Focardi Mazzocchi, O.F.M. (2007.06.06 – 2009.07.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Manuel Eguiguren Galarraga, O.F.M. (1981.11.30 – 2007.06.06)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de la Santísima Trinidad, Trinidad, El Beni

Cochabamba (↙), Reyes (←), Pando (↖), Guajará-Mirim (↑), San Ignacio de Velasco (→), Ñuflo de Chávez (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 150,686 km²

Population: 202,000 Catholics (80.2% of 252,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 30 parishes

Personnel: 24 priests (12 diocesan, 12 religious), 44 religious (12 brothers, 32 sisters), 1 seminarian