Metropolitan Archdiocese of León, Mexico 🇲🇽

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: León / Leonen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Celaya, Irapuato, Querétaro

Neighbouring Dioceses: San Juan de los Lagos (←), Aguascalientes (↖), Zacatecas (↑), San Luis Potosí (↗), Celaya (→), Irapuato (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1863.01.26: Established as Diocese of León / Leonen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Michoacán and became suffragan of Michoacán)
1973.10.13: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Celaya
1988.11.05: Became suffragan of San Luis Potosí
2004.01.03: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Irapuato
2006.11.25: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of León / Leonen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Celaya, Irapuato and Querétaro)

Contact Info

Address: Pedro Moreno #312, Col. Centro, 37000 - León, Gto., Mexico

Phone: (477) 7-13-27-47

Papal Visits

Pope Benedict XVI (2012.03)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2024.07.04 – ...):	Archbishop Jaime Calderón Calderón (60) Vice-President of Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano (C.E.M.)
Auxiliary Bishop (2026.05.04 – ...):	Bishop Rubén de la Cruz Martínez (60) Titular Bishop of Theudalis
Auxiliary Bishop (2026.05.04 – ...):	Bishop Ramón Orozco Muñoz (53) Titular Bishop of Tiguala

Monsignors (11)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of León (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Jaime Calderón Calderón (60)
(2024.07.04 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of León (Mexico)
Vice-President of Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano (C.E.M.)

Confiado en ti Señor

Born:	1966.05.01 (Churintzio, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1991.02.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2012.10.05

Priest of Zamora (Mexico) (1991.02.16 – 2012.07.05)

Titular Bishop of Iomnium (2012.07.05 – 2018.07.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Zamora (Mexico) (2012.07.05 – 2018.07.07)

Bishop of Tapachula (Mexico) (2018.07.07 – 2024.07.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of León (Mexico) (2024.07.04 – ...)

Vice-President of Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano (C.E.M.) (2024.11.12 – ...)

Archbishop Alfonso Cortés Contreras (79)
(2012.12.22 – 2024.07.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of León (Mexico)

Ecce agnus Dei

Born:	1947.07.16 (La Luz, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1972.10.26
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.08.24

Priest of Monterrey (Mexico) (1972.10.26 – 2005.06.24)

Chaplain of His Holiness (2001.06.01 – 2005.06.24)

Titular Bishop of Aquæ regiæ (2005.06.24 – 2009.07.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of Monterrey (Mexico) (2005.06.24 – 2009.07.10)

Bishop of Cuernavaca (Mexico) (2009.07.10 – 2012.12.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of León (Mexico) (2012.12.22 – 2024.07.04)

Archbishop José Guadalupe Martín Rábago (90)
(2006.11.25 – 2012.12.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of León (Mexico)

Born:	1935.10.12 (San Miguel El Alto, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1962.07.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1992.06.05

Priest of Guadalajara (Mexico) (1962.07.22 – 1992.04.15)

Titular Bishop of Tuscamia (1992.04.15 – 1995.08.23)

Auxiliary Bishop of Guadalajara (Mexico) (1992.04.15 – 1995.08.23)

Bishop of León (Mexico) (1995.08.23 – 2006.11.25)

Vice-President of Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano (C.E.M.) (1997 – 2003.11)

President of Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano (C.E.M.) (2003.11 – 2006)

Metropolitan Archbishop of León (Mexico) (2006.11.25 – 2012.12.22)

Apostolic Administrator of Aguascalientes (Mexico) (2007.05 – 2008.01.31)

Bishops of León (Roman Rite)

Bishop José Guadalupe Martín Rábago (90) (later Archbishop)
(1995.08.23 – 2006.11.25)

(see above)

Bishop Rafael Garcia González
(1992.01.04 – 1994.11.08)

Born:	1926.05.10 (Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1949.04.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1972.08.15
Died:	1994.11.08 († 68)

Priest of Guadalajara (Mexico) (1949.04.02 – 1972.07.10)

Titular Bishop of Urbisaglia (1972.07.10 – 1974.05.30)

Auxiliary Bishop of Guadalajara (Mexico) (1972.07.10 – 1974.05.30)

Bishop of Tabasco (Mexico) (1974.05.30 – 1992.01.04)

Bishop of León (Mexico) (1992.01.04 – 1994.11.08)

Bishop Anselmo Zarza Bernal
(1966.01.13 – 1992.01.04)

Born:	1916.06.04 (Atlixco, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1939.04.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.08.22
Died:	2014.04.15 (León, Mexico † 97)

Bishop of Linares (Mexico) (1962.05.24 – 1966.01.13)

Bishop of León (Mexico) (1966.01.13 – 1992.01.04)

Bishop Manuel Martín del Campo Padilla (later Archbishop)
(1948.12.28 – 1965.06.10)

Born:	1904.01.28 (Morelia, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1927.10.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1946.10.27
Died:	1972.04.06 († 68)

Titular Bishop of Aulon (1946.08.03 – 1948.12.28)

Coadjutor Bishop of León (Mexico) (1946.08.03 – 1948.12.28)

Bishop of León (Mexico) (1948.12.28 – 1965.06.10)

Titular Archbishop of Vadesi (1965.06.10 – 1970.02.07)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Morelia (Mexico) (1965.06.10 – 1970.02.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Morelia (Mexico) (1970.02.07 – 1972.04.06)

Bishop Emeterio Valverde y Télles
(1909.08.07 – 1948.12.28)

Born:	1864.03.01 (Villa del Carbón, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1887.03.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1909.10.17
Died:	1948.12.28 († 84)

Bishop of León (Mexico) (1909.08.07 – 1948.12.28)

Bishop José Mora y del Rio (later Archbishop)
(1907.09.15 – 1908.11.27)

Born:	1854.02.24 (Pajacuarán, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1877.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1893.03.19
Died:	1928.04.22 (San Antonio, TX, USA † 74)

Priest of México (Mexico) (1877.12.22 – 1893.01.19)

Bishop of Tehuantepec (Mexico) (1893.01.19 – 1901.09.12)

Bishop of Tulancingo (Mexico) (1901.09.12 – 1907.09.15)

Bishop of León (Mexico) (1907.09.15 – 1908.11.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of México (Mexico) (1908.11.27 – 1928.04.22)

Bishop Leopoldo Ruiz y Flóres (later Archbishop)
(1900.11.12 – 1907.09.14)

Born:	1865.11.13 (Santa Maria de Amealco, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1888.03.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1900.12.27
Died:	1941.12.12 (Morelia, Mexico † 76)

Bishop of León (Mexico) (1900.11.12 – 1907.09.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Linares (Mexico) (1907.09.14 – 1911.11.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Michoacán (Mexico) (1911.11.27 – 1924.11.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Morelia (Mexico) (1924.11.22 – 1941.12.12)

Apostolic Delegate to Mexico (1929 – 1937)

Bishop Santiago de los Santos Garza Zambrano (later Archbishop)
(1898.02.03 – 1900.02.25)

Born:	1837.10.31 (Monterrey, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1860.11.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1893.04.09
Died:	1907.02.26 († 69)

Bishop of Saltillo (Mexico) (1893.01.19 – 1898.02.03)

Bishop of León (Mexico) (1898.02.03 – 1900.02.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Linares (Mexico) (1900.02.25 – 1907.02.26)

Bishop Tomás Barón y Morales
(1882.09.25 – 1898.01.13)

Born:	1828.12.21 (Tlalizapán, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1853
Consecrated Bishop:	1876.06.25
Died:	1898.01.13 († 69)

Bishop of Chilapa (Mexico) (1876.04.07 – 1882.09.25)

Bishop of León (Mexico) (1882.09.25 – 1898.01.13)

Bishop José María de Jesús Diez de Sollano y Dávaols
(1863.03.19 – 1881.06.07)

Born:	1820.11.25 (San Miguel Allende, Mexico)
Ordained Priest:	1844.06.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1863.07.12
Died:	1881.06.07 († 60)

Priest of México (Mexico) (1844.06.01 – 1862.04.07)

Titular Bishop of Troas (1862.04.07 – 1863.03.19)

Bishop of León (Mexico) (1863.03.19 – 1881.06.07)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Manuel Martín del Campo Padilla (later Archbishop) (1946.08.03 – 1948.12.28)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Juan Frausto Pallares (2005.12.10 – 2016.10.28)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica: Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Luz, León, Guanajuato
Minor Basilica, World Heritage Site: Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Guanajuato
World Heritage Site: Iglesia San Cayetano Confesor de Valenciana, Guanajuato, Guanajuato
World Heritage Site: Oratorio de San Felipe Neri, Guanajuato, Guanajuato
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia de Belén, Guanajuato, Guanajuato
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia San Diego, Guanajuato, Guanajuato
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia San José, Guanajuato, Guanajuato
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia San Roque, Guanajuato, Guanajuato

San Juan de los Lagos (←), Aguascalientes (↖), Zacatecas (↑), San Luis Potosí (↗), Celaya (→), Irapuato (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 8,110 km²

Population: 2,374,593 Catholics (91.1% of 2,606,979 total)

Pastoral Centres: 132 parishes

Personnel: 381 priests (240 diocesan, 141 religious), 10 deacons, 350 religious (190 brothers, 160 sisters), 65 seminarians