Diocese of

La Paz

Mexico

Continent: North America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: La Paz / La Paz en la Baja California Sur / Pacien(sis) in California Inferiori Meridionali (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Tijuana

Neighbouring Dioceses: Ensenada (↑)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1957.04.13: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of La Paz / La Paz en la Baja California Sur / Pacien(sis) in California Inferiori Meridionali (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of California Inferiore and became suffragan of Durango)
1963.07.13: Became suffragan of Hermosillo
1976.03.01: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of La Paz / La Paz en la Baja California Sur / Pacien(sis) in California Inferiori Meridionali (Latin)
1988.03.21: Promoted as Diocese of La Paz / La Paz en la Baja California Sur / Pacien(sis) in California Inferiori Meridionali (Latin)
2006.11.25: Became suffragan of Tijuana

Contact Info

Address: Revolución y 5 de mayo, Centro, 23000 - La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico

Phone: (612) 1-22-25-96

Present Prelates

Bishop (2026.01.31 – ...):

Bishop Miguel Ángel Espinoza Garza (59)

Ordinaries

Bishops of La Paz (Roman Rite)

Bishop Miguel Ángel Espinoza Garza (59)
(2026.01.31 – ...)

Bishop of La Paz (Mexico)

Caminando juntos

Born:	1966.04.26 (San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1991.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.01.24

Priest of Monterrey (Mexico) (1991.08.15 – 2022.11.03)

Coadjutor Bishop of La Paz (Mexico) (2022.11.03 – 2026.01.31)

Bishop of La Paz (Mexico) (2026.01.31 – ...)

Bishop Miguel Angel Alba Díaz
(2001.06.16 – 2026.01.31)

Omnibus omnia factus sum

Born:	1951.01.23 (Monterrey, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1975.05.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.07.25
Died:	2026.02.02 (La Paz, Mexico † 75)

Priest of Monterrey (Mexico) (1975.05.31 – 1995.06.10)

Titular Bishop of Fesseë (1995.06.10 – 2001.06.16)

Auxiliary Bishop of Antequera (Mexico) (1995.06.10 – 2001.06.16)

Bishop of La Paz (Mexico) (2001.06.16 – 2026.01.31)

Bishop Braulio Rafael León Villegas
(1990.02.21 – 1999.12.11)

Born:	1945.03.26 (León, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1970.05.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.03.29
Died:	2024.12.30 (Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico † 79)

Priest of León (Mexico) (1970.05.17 – 1990.02.21)

Bishop of La Paz (Mexico) (1990.02.21 – 1999.12.11)

Bishop of Ciudad Guzmán (Mexico) (1999.12.11 – 2017.09.25)

Bishop Gilberto Valbuena Sánchez
(1988.03.21 – 1989.07.08)

Born:	1929.02.04 (Chietla, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1955.05.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.02.08
Died:	2021.12.22 (Colima, Mexico † 92)

Auxiliary Bishop of Tacámbaro (Mexico) (1972.12.09 – 1976.03.01)

Titular Bishop of Vazari-Didda (1972.12.09 – 1988.03.21)

Vicar Apostolic of La Paz (Mexico) (1976.03.01 – 1988.03.21)

Bishop of La Paz (Mexico) (1988.03.21 – 1989.07.08)

Bishop of Colima (Mexico) (1989.07.08 – 2005.06.09)

Vicars Apostolic of La Paz (Roman Rite)

Bishop Gilberto Valbuena Sánchez
(1976.03.01 – 1988.03.21)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of La Paz (Roman Rite)

Fr. Júan Giordani, F.S.C.J.
(1958.04.15 – 1976)

Born:	1906.03.25 (Lanzada Sondrio, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1931.03.22
Died:	2001.01.08 (La Paz, Mexico † 94)

Prefect Apostolic of La Paz (Mexico) (1958.04.15 – 1976)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Miguel Ángel Espinoza Garza (59) (2022.11.03 – 2026.01.31)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Paz, La Paz, Baja California Sur

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 73,909 km²

Population: 659,000 Catholics (81.3% of 811,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 64 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 111 priests (96 diocesan, 15 religious), 1 deacon, 69 religious (17 brothers, 52 sisters), 30 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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