Diocese of

Florida

Uruguay

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Florida / Floriden(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Montevideo

Neighbouring Dioceses: San José de Mayo (←), Salto (↖), Tacuarembó (↑), Melo (↗), Maldonado–Punta del Este–Minas (→), Canelones (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, St. Raphael

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1931.08.11: Established as Diocese of Florida–Melo / Floriden(sis)–Melen(sis) (Latin) (from the suppressed Diocese of Melo and became suffragan of Montevideo)
1955.11.15: Renamed as Diocese of Florida / Floriden(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Diocese of Melo)
1960.10.22: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Tacuarembó

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1988.05)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2026.03.19 – ...):

Bishop-elect Alfonso María Bauer Ormazábal, S.D.B. (57)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Florida (Roman Rite)

Bishop-elect Alfonso María Bauer Ormazábal, S.D.B. (57)
(2026.03.19 – ...)

Bishop of Florida (Uruguay)

Born:	1968.07.23 (Montevideo, Uruguay)
Ordained Priest:	1996.11.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2026.05.31

Bishop of Florida (Uruguay) (2026.03.19 – ...)

Bishop Martín Pablo Pérez Scremini (76)
(2008.03.15 – 2026.03.19)

Bishop emeritus of Florida (Uruguay)

Para que tengan vida

Born:	1949.12.26 (Montevideo, Uruguay)
Ordained Priest:	1985.06.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.04.25

Priest of Montevideo (Uruguay) (1985.06.14 – 2004.03.06)

Titular Bishop of Vazari (2004.03.06 – 2008.03.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of Montevideo (Uruguay) (2004.03.06 – 2008.03.15)

Bishop of Florida (Uruguay) (2008.03.15 – 2026.03.19)

Bishop Raúl Horacio Scarrone Carrero
(1987.06.15 – 2008.03.15)

Born:	1931.04.18 (Montevideo, Uruguay)
Ordained Priest:	1955.09.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.12.12
Died:	2021.05.04 (Montevideo, Uruguay † 90)

Titular Bishop of Ulpiana (1982.10.13 – 1987.06.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of Montevideo (Uruguay) (1982.10.13 – 1987.06.15)

Bishop of Florida (Uruguay) (1987.06.15 – 2008.03.15)

President of Episcopal Conference of Uruguay (1991 – 1994)

President of Episcopal Conference of Uruguay (1997 – 2000)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Uruguay (2003 – 2009)

Bishop Humberto Tonna Zanotta
(1960.07.05 – 1987.06.15)

Born:	1912.05.31 (Salto, Uruguay)
Ordained Priest:	1934.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.09.24
Died:	1994.12.09 († 82)

Bishop of Florida (Uruguay) (1960.07.05 – 1987.06.15)

President of Episcopal Conference of Uruguay (1975 – 1979)

Bishop Miguel Paternain, C.SS.R. (later Archbishop)
(1955.11.15 – 1960.02.27)

Oportet Christum regnare

Born:	1894.11.16 (Minas, Egypt)
Ordained Priest:	1921.02.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1929.07.21
Died:	1970.10.19 († 75)

Bishop of Melo (Uruguay) (1929.04.20 – 1931.08.11)

Bishop of Florida–Melo (Uruguay) (1931.08.11 – 1955.11.15)

Bishop of Florida (Uruguay) (1955.11.15 – 1960.02.27)

Titular Bishop of Mades (1960.02.27 – 1960.09.21)

Titular Archbishop of Acrida (1960.09.21 – 1970.10.19)

Bishops of Florida–Melo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Miguel Paternain, C.SS.R. (later Archbishop)
(1931.08.11 – 1955.11.15)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica, National Shrine: Basílica Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Luján, Florida, Florida
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (20)

San José de Mayo (←), Salto (↖), Tacuarembó (↑), Melo (↗), Maldonado–Punta del Este–Minas (→), Canelones (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 22,624 km²

Population: 123,400 Catholics (95.3% of 129,425 total)

Pastoral Centres: 17 parishes

Personnel: 20 priests (8 diocesan, 12 religious), 5 deacons, 60 religious (16 brothers, 44 sisters), 1 seminarian

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.04.10

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