Diocese of

Humaitá

Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Humaitá / Humaitanen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Porto Velho

Neighbouring Dioceses: Porto Velho (↙), Lábrea (←), Borba (↗)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora da Conceição (December 8)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1961.06.26: Established as Territorial Prelature of Humaitá / Humaitanen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Manaus and Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho and became suffragan of Manaus)
1979.10.16: Promoted as Diocese of Humaitá / Humaitanen(sis) (Latin)
1982.10.04: Became suffragan of Porto Velho
1996.02.12: Exchanged territory with Territorial Prelature of Borba
2003.01.20: Gained territory from Territorial Prelature of Borba

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.08.12 – ...):

Bishop Antônio Fontinele de Melo (58)

Apostolic Administrator of Rio Branco (Brazil)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Humaitá (Roman Rite)

Bishop Antônio Fontinele de Melo (58)
(2020.08.12 – ...)

Bishop of Humaitá (Brazil)
Apostolic Administrator of Rio Branco (Brazil)

Estou no meio de Vós, como aquele que serve

Born:	1968.05.09 (Camocim, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1999.09.18
Consecrated Bishop:	2020.10.17

Priest of Porto Velho (Brazil) (1999.09.18 – 2020.08.12)

Bishop of Humaitá (Brazil) (2020.08.12 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Rio Branco (Brazil) (2026.07.01 – ...)

Bishop Franz Josef Meinrad Merkel, C.S.Sp. (81)
(2000.07.26 – 2020.08.12)

Bishop emeritus of Humaitá (Brazil)

Sufficit tibi gratia mea

Born:	1944.09.22 (Hardheim, Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1971.05.22
Consecrated Bishop:	2000.10.15

Bishop of Humaitá (Brazil) (2000.07.26 – 2020.08.12)

Bishop José Jovêncio Balestieri, S.D.B.
(1991.03.06 – 1998.07.29)

Eis-me aqui! Eu vou!

Born:	1939.05.18 (Massaranduba, SC, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1968.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1991.05.19
Died:	2023.04.02 (Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil † 83)

Bishop of Humaitá (Brazil) (1991.03.06 – 1998.07.29)

Coadjutor Bishop of Rio do Sul (Brazil) (1998.07.29 – 2000.08.30)

Bishop of Rio do Sul (Brazil) (2000.08.30 – 2008.03.19)

Bishop Miguel D’Aversa, S.D.B.
(1979.10.16 – 1991.03.06)

Born:	1915.06.13 (Cercemaggiore, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1945.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.08.05
Died:	2004.03.20 († 88)

Titular Bishop of Macri (1962.05.21 – 1978.05.26)

Bishop-Prelate of Humaitá (Brazil) (1962.05.21 – 1979.10.16)

Bishop of Humaitá (Brazil) (1979.10.16 – 1991.03.06)

Prelates of Humaitá (Roman Rite)

Bishop Miguel D’Aversa, S.D.B.
(1962.05.21 – 1979.10.16)

(see above)

Bishop José Domitrovitsch, S.D.B.
(1961.08.05 – 1962.02.27)

Born:	1893.03.14 (Somettendorf, Hungary)
Ordained Priest:	1923.11.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1950.03.19
Died:	1962.02.27 († 68)

Titular Bishop of Podalia (1949.12.19 – 1961.08.05)

Coadjutor Bishop-Prelate of Rio Negro (Brazil) (1949.12.19 – 1961.08.05)

Bishop-Prelate of Humaitá (Brazil) (1961.08.05 – 1962.02.27)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Humaitá, Amazonas

Churches by City (17)

Porto Velho (↙), Lábrea (←), Borba (↗)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 135,000 km²

Population: 83,000 Catholics (66.0% of 125,700 total)

Pastoral Centres: 8 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 16 priests (7 diocesan, 9 religious), 13 deacons, 23 religious (10 brothers, 13 sisters), 6 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.07.14

© 2026 GCatholic.org