Diocese of

Limoeiro do Norte

Brazil Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Limoeiro do Norte / Limoëiren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Fortaleza

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: São Miguel (September 29)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

Present Prelates

Bishop (2017.05.10 – ...):Bishop André Vital Félix da Silva, S.C.I. (60)Bishop André Vital Félix da Silva, S.C.I. (60)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Limoeiro do Norte (Roman Rite)

Bishop André Vital Félix da Silva, S.C.I. (60)Bishop André Vital Félix da Silva, S.C.I. (60)
(2017.05.10 – ...)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil)

Com os olhos fixos em Jesus

Born:1965.05.31 (Recife, PE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1991.01.02
Consecrated Bishop:2017.07.08

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (2017.05.10 – ...)

Bishop José Haring, O.F.M.
(2000.01.19 – 2017.05.10)

Unidos na mesma Fé

Born:1940.12.20 (Gronau, Germany)
Ordained Priest:1967.07.22
Consecrated Bishop:2000.03.20
Died:2023.12.24 (Fortaleza, CE, Brazil † 83)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (2000.01.19 – 2017.05.10)

Bishop Manuel Edmilson da Cruz (101)Bishop Manuel Edmilson da Cruz (101)
(1994.05.18 – 1998.05.06)

Bishop emeritus of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil)

Verbum caro factum

Born:1924.10.03 (Acaraú, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1948.12.05
Consecrated Bishop:1966.11.06

Priest of Sobral (Brazil) (1948.12.05 – 1966.08.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Luís do Maranhão (Brazil) (1966.08.08 – 1974.07.03)

Titular Bishop of Vicus Cæsaris (1966.08.08 – 1994.05.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (1974.07.03 – 1994.05.18)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1992 – 1994.05.18)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1994.05.18 – 1998.05.06)

Bishop Manuel Edmilson da Cruz (101)Bishop Manuel Edmilson da Cruz (101)
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 1992 – 1994.05.18)

Bishop Pompeu Bezerra Bessa
(1973.01.25 – 1994.05.18)

Born:1923.11.18 (Alto Santo, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1949.12.11
Consecrated Bishop:1973.05.01
Died:2000.07.23 (Limoeiro do Norte, CE, Brazil † 76)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1973.01.25 – 1994.05.18)

Bishop José Freire Falcão (later Cardinal)
(1967.08.19 – 1971.11.25)

Servir em humildade

Born:1925.10.23 (Ererê, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1949.06.19
Consecrated Bishop:1967.06.17
Created Cardinal:1988.06.28
Died:2021.09.26 (Brasilia, DF, Brazil † 95)

Priest of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1949.06.19 – 1967.04.24)

Titular Bishop of Vardimissa (1967.04.24 – 1967.08.19)

Coadjutor Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1967.04.24 – 1967.08.19)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1967.08.19 – 1971.11.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (1971.11.25 – 1984.02.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brasília (Brazil) (1984.02.15 – 2004.01.28)

Second Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1987 – 1991)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Luca a Via Prenestina (1988.06.28 – 2021.09.26)

Died of COVID-19.

Bishop Aureliano de Matos
(1940.01.30 – 1967.08.19)

Born:1889.06.17 (Itapagé, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1914.11.30
Consecrated Bishop:1940.09.29
Died:1967.08.19 (imoeiro do Norte, CE, Brazil † 78)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1940.01.30 – 1967.08.19)

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Churches by City (27)

Iguatu (↙), Quixadá (←), Fortaleza (↖), Mossoró (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 18,451 km²

Population: 443,890 Catholics (81.9% of 542,315 total)

Pastoral Centres: 27 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 40 priests (30 diocesan, 10 religious), 35 religious (13 brothers, 22 sisters), 11 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.02.18

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