Diocese of

Lorena

Brazil Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Lorena / Lorenen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Aparecida

Neighbouring Dioceses: Aparecida (←), Pouso Alegre (↖), Campanha (↑), Barra do Piraí–Volta Redonda (→), Itaguaí (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: January 1 (1890)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

Present Prelates

Bishop (2021.01.13 – ...):Bishop Joaquim Wladimir Lopes Dias (68)Bishop Joaquim Wladimir Lopes Dias (68)

Monsignors (9)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Lorena (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joaquim Wladimir Lopes Dias (68)Bishop Joaquim Wladimir Lopes Dias (68)
(2021.01.13 – ...)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil)

Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum

Born:1957.10.23 (Cafelândia, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1997.12.12
Consecrated Bishop:2012.03.04

Priest of Jundiaí (Brazil) (1997.12.12 – 2011.12.21)

Titular Bishop of Sita (2011.12.21 – 2015.03.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Vitória (Brazil) (2011.12.21 – 2015.03.04)

Apostolic Administrator of Colatina (Brazil) (2014.05.14 – 2015.03.04)

Bishop of Colatina (Brazil) (2015.03.04 – 2021.01.13)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (2021.01.13 – ...)

Archbishop João Inácio Müller, O.F.M. (66)Bishop João Inácio Müller, O.F.M. (66) (later Archbishop)
(2013.09.25 – 2019.05.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Campinas (Brazil)

Amor Dei glória

Born:1960.06.15 (Santa Clara do Sol, RS, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1988.12.03
Consecrated Bishop:2013.12.15

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (2013.09.25 – 2019.05.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Campinas (Brazil) (2019.05.15 – ...)

Bishop Benedito Beni dos Santos (89)Bishop Benedito Beni dos Santos (89)
(2006.04.26 – 2013.09.25)

Bishop emeritus of Lorena (Brazil)

Sub tuum præsidium

Born:1937.01.15 (Lagoinha, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1962.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:2002.02.09

Priest of Taubaté (Brazil) (1962.12.22 – 2001.11.28)

Titular Bishop of Nasai (2001.11.28 – 2006.04.26)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Paulo (Brazil) (2001.11.28 – 2006.04.26)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (2006.04.26 – 2013.09.25)

Archbishop Eduardo Benes de Sales Rodrigues (85)Bishop Eduardo Benes de Sales Rodrigues (85) (later Archbishop)
(2001.01.10 – 2005.05.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Sorocaba (Brazil)

Mitis et Humilis Corde

Born:1941.06.25 (Bias Fortes, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1964.12.13
Consecrated Bishop:1998.06.21

Priest of Juiz de Fora (Brazil) (1964.12.13 – 1998.03.11)

Titular Bishop of Casæ medianæ (1998.03.11 – 2001.01.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1998.03.11 – 2001.01.10)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (2001.01.10 – 2005.05.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (2005.05.04 – 2016.12.28)

Apostolic Administrator of Catanduva (Brazil) (2018.10.10 – 2019.07.10)

Bishop João Hipólito de Morais
(1977.07.11 – 2001.01.10)

In manus tuas

Born:1924.08.13 (Queluz, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1951.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:1977.09.25
Died:2004.11.07 (Loreno, SP, Brazil † 80)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (1977.07.11 – 2001.01.10)

Bishop Antônio Afonso de Miranda, S.D.N.
(1971.11.03 – 1977.07.11)

De uno pane

Born:1920.04.14 (Cipotânea, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1945.11.01
Consecrated Bishop:1971.12.27
Died:2021.10.11 (Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil † 101)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (1971.11.03 – 1977.07.11)

Coadjutor Bishop of Campanha (Brazil) (1977.07.11 – 1981.08.06)

Bishop of Taubaté (Brazil) (1981.08.06 – 1996.05.22)

Cardinal Carlos Carmelo de Vasconcelos Motta
(Apostolic Administrator 1970 – 1971.11.03)

Bishop Cândido Rubens Padín, O.S.B.
(1966.01.03 – 1970.04.27)

Veritas in caritate

Born:1915.09.05 (São Carlos, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1946.09.15
Consecrated Bishop:1962.08.05
Died:2008.01.25 (São Paulo, SP, Brazil † 92)

Titular Bishop of Tremithus (1962.06.25 – 1966.01.03)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (1962.06.25 – 1966.01.03)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (1966.01.03 – 1970.04.27)

Bishop of Bauru (Brazil) (1970.04.27 – 1990.09.04)

Bishop José Melhado Campos
(1960.05.29 – 1965.02.22)

Cum matre Jesu

Born:1909.11.29 (Limeira, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1934.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:1960.07.17
Died:1996.09.21 (Tatuí, SP, Brazil † 86)

Priest of Botucatu (Brazil) (1934.08.15 – 1960.05.29)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (1960.05.29 – 1965.02.22)

Titular Bishop of Hospita (1965.02.22 – 1973.01.08)

Coadjutor Bishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (1965.02.22 – 1973.01.08)

Bishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (1973.01.08 – 1981.03.20)

Bishop Luís Gonzaga Peluso
(1946.06.13 – 1959.07.25)

Ipse firmitas mea

Born:1907.07.08 (Bragança Paulista, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1931.10.25
Consecrated Bishop:1946.08.18
Died:1993.11.07 (Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, ES, Brazil † 86)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (1946.06.13 – 1959.07.25)

Bishop of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (Brazil) (1959.07.25 – 1985.12.03)

Bishop Francisco do Borja Pereira do Amaral
(1940.12.21 – 1944.10.03)

Gloria Dei pax hominibus

Born:1898.10.10 (Campinas, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:1922.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:1941.02.16
Died:1989.05.01 (Taubaté, SP, Brazil † 90)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (1940.12.21 – 1944.10.03)

Bishop of Taubaté (Brazil) (1944.10.03 – 1976.05.05)

Special Churches

Churches by City (35)

Aparecida (←), Pouso Alegre (↖), Campanha (↑), Barra do Piraí–Volta Redonda (→), Itaguaí (→)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 3,124 km²

Population: 207,000 Catholics (67.6% of 306,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 30 parishes, 4 missions

Personnel: 83 priests (64 diocesan, 19 religious), 30 deacons, 123 religious (87 brothers, 36 sisters), 43 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.07.02

© 2026 GCatholic.org

Up