Metropolitan Archdiocese of Guayaquil, Ecuador 🇪🇨

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Guayaquil / Guayaquilen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Babahoyo, Daule, San Jacinto, Santa Elena

Neighbouring Dioceses: Santa Elena (←), Daule (↑), Babahoyo (↗), San Jacinto (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1838.01.29: Established as Diocese of Guayaquil / Guayaquilen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Cuenca and became suffragan of Lima)
1848.01.13: Became suffragan of Quito
1870.03.23: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Portoviejo
1948.07.15: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Los Ríos
1954.07.26: Lost territory to establish Territorial Prelature of El Oro
1956.01.22: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Guayaquil / Guayaquilen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Portoviejo, El Oro and Los Ríos)
1957.11.14: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Galápagos
1961.09.11: Lost suffragan see El Oro
1994.02.25: Lost suffragan see Portoviejo
2009.11.04: Lost territory to establish Diocese of San Jacinto de Yaguachi and gained suffragan see San Jacinto de Yaguachi
2022.02.02: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Daule and Diocese of Santa Elena and gained suffragan sees Daule and Santa Elena

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2015.09.24 – ...):

Cardinal Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, O.F.M. (70)

Cardinal-Priest of Santa Famiglia di Nazareth a Centocelle

President of Episcopal Conference of Ecuador

Auxiliary Bishop (2021.10.23 – ...):

Bishop Gerardo Miguel Nieves Loja (62)

Titular Bishop of Tigisi in Numidia

Auxiliary Bishop (2025.11.11 – ...):

Bishop John Kwamevi Cudjoe, S.V.D. (50)

Titular Bishop of Calama

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Guayaquil (Roman Rite)

Cardinal Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, O.F.M. (70)
(2015.09.24 – ...)

Cardinal-Priest of Santa Famiglia di Nazareth a Centocelle
Metropolitan Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador)
President of Episcopal Conference of Ecuador

Verbum Domini nuntiantes

Born:	1955.10.11 (Azogues, Ecuador)
Ordained Priest:	1983.09.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.07.04
Created Cardinal:	2024.12.07

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cuenca (Ecuador) (2009.04.20 – 2015.09.24)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Ecuador (2011 – 2014)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (2015.09.24 – ...)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Ecuador (2017.04.28 – 2020.11.11)

President of Episcopal Conference of Ecuador (2020.11.11 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Daule (Ecuador) (2022.03.17 – 2022.04.22)

Cardinal-Priest of Santa Famiglia di Nazareth a Centocelle (2024.12.07 [2025.10.18] – ...)

Archbishop Antonio Arregui Yarza, Opus Dei
(2003.05.07 – 2015.09.24)

Ipsa duce

Born:	1939.06.03 (Oñata, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1964.03.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.02.22
Died:	2026.02.05 (Guayaquil, Ecuador † 86)

Priest of Opus Dei (Italy) (1964.03.13 – 1990.01.04)

Titular Bishop of Auzegera (1990.01.04 – 1995.07.25)

Auxiliary Bishop of Quito (Ecuador) (1990.01.04 – 1995.07.25)

Bishop of Ibarra (Ecuador) (1995.07.25 – 2003.05.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (2003.05.07 – 2015.09.24)

President of Episcopal Conference of Ecuador (2011 – 2014.05.08)

Archbishop Juan Ignacio Larrea Holguín, Opus Dei
(1989.12.07 – 2003.05.07)

Caritas Christi urget nos

Born:	1927.08.09 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1962.08.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.06.15
Died:	2006.08.27 (Quito, Ecuador † 79)

Titular Bishop of Cellæ in Proconsulari (1969.05.17 – 1980.06.28)

Auxiliary Bishop of Quito (Ecuador) (1969.05.17 – 1980.06.28?)

Bishop of Ibarra (Ecuador) (1980.06.28 – 1983.08.05)

Military Vicar of Ecuador (Ecuador) (1983.08.05 – 1986.07.21)

Titular Bishop of Novi (1983.08.05 – 1988.03.25)

Military Ordinary of Ecuador (Ecuador) (1986.07.21 – 1988.03.25)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1988.03.25 – 1989.12.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1989.12.07 – 2003.05.07)

Archbishop Bernardino Echeverría Ruiz, O.F.M. (later Cardinal)
(1969.04.10 – 1989.12.07)

Pax et bonum

Born:	1912.11.12 (Cotacachí, Ecuador)
Ordained Priest:	1937.07.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1949.12.04
Created Cardinal:	1994.11.26
Died:	2000.04.06 (Quito, Ecuador † 87)

Bishop of Ambato (Ecuador) (1949.10.23 – 1969.04.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1969.04.10 – 1989.12.07)

President of Episcopal Conference of Ecuador (1973 – 1975)

Apostolic Administrator of Galápagos (Ecuador) (1982.12.08 – 1984.05.18)

President of Episcopal Conference of Ecuador (1984 – 1987)

Apostolic Administrator of Ibarra (Ecuador) (1990 – 1995.07.25)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Nereo ed Achilleo (1994.11.26 – 2000.04.06)

Archbishop Cesar Antonio Mosquera Corral
(1956.01.22 – 1969.03.11)

Born:	1896.04.22 (Riobamba, Ecuador)
Ordained Priest:	1921.01.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1937.01.24
Died:	1971.04.26 († 75)

Bishop of Ibarra (Ecuador) (1936.09.18 – 1954.10.11)

Bishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1954.10.11 – 1956.01.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1956.01.22 – 1969.03.11)

President of Episcopal Conference of Ecuador (1968 – 1969)

Titular Archbishop of Vescovìo (1969.03.11 – 1970.12.27)

Bishops of Guayaquil (Roman Rite)

Bishop Cesar Antonio Mosquera Corral (later Archbishop)
(1954.10.11 – 1956.01.22)

(see above)

Bishop Giuseppe Felix Heredia Zurita, S.J.
(1937.12.16 – 1954.08.02)

Born:	1881.02.11 (Licto, Ecuador)
Ordained Priest:	1910.08.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1938.02.06
Died:	1954.08.02 († 73)

Bishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1937.12.16 – 1954.08.02)

Bishop Carlos María Javier de la Torre (later Cardinal)
(1926.12.20 – 1933.09.08)

Obœdientia et pax

Born:	1873.11.14 (Quito, Ecuador)
Ordained Priest:	1896.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1912.05.26
Created Cardinal:	1953.01.12
Died:	1968.07.31 (Quito, Ecuador † 94)

Bishop of Loja (Ecuador) (1911.12.30 – 1919.08.21)

Bishop of Bolivar (Ecuador) (1919.08.21 – 1926.12.20)

Bishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1926.12.20 – 1933.09.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Quito (Ecuador) (1933.09.08 – 1967.06.23)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Aquiro pro hac vice Title (1953.01.15 – 1968.07.31)

President of Episcopal Conference of Ecuador (1958 – 1967)

Bishop Andrea Machado, S.J.
(1916.04.26 – 1926.01.22)

Born:	1850.08.16 (Cuenca, Ecuador)
Consecrated Bishop:	1908.02.16
Died:	1926.01.22 († 75)

Bishop of Bolivar (Ecuador) (1907.11.16 – 1916.04.26)

Bishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1916.04.26 – 1926.01.22)

Apostolic Administrator of Portoviejo (Ecuador) (1918 – 1922)

Bishop Juan María Riesa, O.P.
(1912.01.19 – 1915.11.20)

Born:	1866.01.30 (Ambato, Ecuador)
Ordained Priest:	1890.08.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1908.05.03
Died:	1915.11.20 († 49)

Bishop of Portoviejo (Ecuador) (1907.12.16 – 1912.01.19)

Bishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1912.01.19 – 1915.11.20)

Bishop Isidorus Barriga
(Apostolic Administrator 1890.06.26 – 1894?)

Bishop Roberto Maria Pozo y Martin, S.J.
(1884.11.13 – 1912.05.03)

Born:	1836.08.25 (Ibarra, Ecuador)
Consecrated Bishop:	1885.02.15
Died:	1912.05.03 (Lima, Peru † 75)

Bishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1884.11.13 – 1912.05.03)

Bishop José María Lizarzabaru, S.J.
(1869.11.22 – 1877.10.17)

Born:	1833.06.22 (Guano, Ecuador)
Ordained Priest:	1860.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1870.06.12
Died:	1877.10.17 († 44)

Bishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1869.11.22 – 1877.10.17)

Bishop José Tomás Aguirre y Anzoategui
(1861.07.22 – 1868.05.14)

Born:	1811? (Guayaquil, Ecuador)
Consecrated Bishop:	1861.11.03
Died:	1868.05.14 († 56)

Bishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1861.07.22 – 1868.05.14)

Bishop Francisco Xavier de Garaycoa Llaguno (later Archbishop)
(1838 – 1851.09.05)

Born:	1775.12.04 (Guayaquil, Ecuador)
Ordained Priest:	1799.03.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1838.10.14
Died:	1859.12.02? († 83)

Bishop of Guayaquil (Ecuador) (1838 – 1851.09.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Quito (Ecuador) (1851.09.05 – 1859.12.02?)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Juan Ignacio Larrea Holguín, Opus Dei (1988.03.25 – 1989.12.07)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Gustavo Adolfo Rosales Escobar (61) (2022.06.03 – 2025.01.31)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Antonio Crameri, S.S.C. (57) (2019.12.20 – 2021.07.05)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Giovanni Battista Piccioli (68) (2013.10.26 – 2022.02.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Bertram Víctor Wick Enzler (71) (2013.10.26 – 2015.03.24)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Guido Iván Minda Chalá (66) (2009.11.04 – 2022.02.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Valter Dario Maggi (69) (2008.02.19 – 2011.03.25)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Marcos Aurelio Pérez Caicedo (58) (later Archbishop) (2006.06.10 – 2012.02.10)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Aníbal Nieto Guerra, O.C.D. (77) (2006.06.10 – 2009.11.04)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Victor Manuel Maldonado Barreno, O.F.M. (1990.02.02 – 2003.10.04)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Olindo Natale Spagnolo Martellozzo, M.C.C.J. (1990.02.02 – 2001.03.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Archbishop Ernesto Álvarez Álvarez, S.D.B. (1980.07.21 – 1984.10.31)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Luis Enrique Orellana Ricaurte, S.J. (1978.01.26 – 1986)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Hugolino Cerasuolo Stacey, O.F.M. (1975.05.30 – 1985.05.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Gabriel Diaz Cueva (1975.04.29 – 1999.12.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Raúl Eduardo Vela Chiriboga (later Cardinal) (1972.04.20 – 1975.04.29)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Ernesto Álvarez Álvarez, S.D.B. (later Archbishop) (1967.12.01 – 1970.05.01)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Vicente Rodrigo Cisneros Durán (later Archbishop) (1967.12.01 – 1969.07.04)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Gabriel Diaz Cueva (1964.01.13 – 1967)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Luis Alfredo Carvajal Rosales (1955.07.28 – 1963)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Silvio Luis Haro Alvear (1950.07.17 – 1955.03.23)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Luis Tola y Avilés (1863.10.01 – 1871.03.06)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Metropolitana San Pedro Apóstol, Guayaquil, Guayas
Minor Basilica: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de La Merced, Guayaquil, Guayas
National Shrine: Santuario Nacional de la Divina Misericordia, Guayaquil, Guayas
National Shrine: Santuario Nacional de Schoenstatt, Guayaquil, Guayas
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (169)

Santa Elena (←), Daule (↑), Babahoyo (↗), San Jacinto (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,302 km²

Population: 2,314,700 Catholics (82.2% of 2,815,130 total)

Pastoral Centres: 223 parishes, 985 missions

Personnel: 356 priests (233 diocesan, 123 religious), 32 deacons, 547 religious (213 brothers, 334 sisters), 55 seminarians