Diocese of Málaga–Soatá, Colombia 🇨🇴

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Málaga–Soatá / Malagen(sis)–Soaten(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Bucaramanga

Neighbouring Dioceses: Socorro y San Gil (←), Bucaramanga (↖), Nueva Pamplona (↑), Arauca (→), Duitama–Sogamoso (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1987.07.07: Established as Diocese of Málaga–Soatá / Malagen(sis)–Soaten(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bucaramanga and Diocese of Duitama and became suffragan of Bucaramanga)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2022.07.16 – ...):

Bishop Félix María Ramírez Barajas (63)

Monsignors (1)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Málaga–Soatá (Roman Rite)

Bishop Félix María Ramírez Barajas (63)
(2022.07.16 – ...)

Bishop of Málaga–Soatá (Colombia)

Fiat voluntas tua

Born:	1962.12.07 (Carcasí, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1988.11.26
Consecrated Bishop:	2022.10.01

Priest of Málaga–Soatá (Colombia) (1988.11.26 – 2022.07.16)

Bishop of Málaga–Soatá (Colombia) (2022.07.16 – ...)

Bishop Misael Vacca Ramírez (70) (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 2021.11.20 – 2022.07.16)

Bishop José Libardo Garcés Monsalve (58)
(2016.06.29 – 2021.10.04)

Bishop of Cúcuta (Colombia)

Padre, me pongo en tus manos

Born:	1967.09.26 (Aguadas, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1993.11.27
Consecrated Bishop:	2016.09.01

Priest of Manizales (Colombia) (1993.11.27 – 2016.06.29)

Bishop of Málaga–Soatá (Colombia) (2016.06.29 – 2021.10.04)

Apostolic Administrator of Cúcuta (Colombia) (2021.01.20 – 2021.10.04)

Bishop of Cúcuta (Colombia) (2021.10.04 – ...)

Bishop Misael Vacca Ramírez (70) (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 2015.08.15 – 2016.06.29)

Bishop Víctor Manuel Ochoa Cadavid
(2011.01.24 – 2015.07.24)

In nomine Jesu Christi

Born:	1962.10.18 (Bello, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1986.07.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2006.04.01
Died:	2025.06.01 (Bogotá, Colombia † 62)

Priest of Medellín (Colombia) (1986.07.05 – 2006.01.24)

Chaplain of His Holiness (1995.04.15 – 2006.01.24)

Titular Bishop of San Leone (2006.01.24 – 2011.01.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Medellín (Colombia) (2006.01.24 – 2011.01.24)

Bishop of Málaga–Soatá (Colombia) (2011.01.24 – 2015.07.24)

Bishop of Cúcuta (Colombia) (2015.07.24 – 2020.12.07)

Military Ordinary of Colombia (Colombia) (2020.12.07 – 2025.06.01)

Bishop Darío de Jesús Monsalve Mejía (78) (later Archbishop)
(2001.07.25 – 2010.06.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Cali (Colombia)

Dominus tecum

Born:	1948.03.15 (Valparaíso, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1976.10.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1993.11.15

Priest of Jericó (Colombia) (1976.10.17 – 1993.10.07)

Titular Bishop of Iunca in Mauretania (1993.10.07 – 2001.07.25)

Auxiliary Bishop of Medellín (Colombia) (1993.10.07 – 2001.07.25)

Bishop of Málaga–Soatá (Colombia) (2001.07.25 – 2010.06.03)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Cali (Colombia) (2010.06.03 – 2011.05.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cali (Colombia) (2011.05.18 – 2022.12.08)

Bishop Hernán Giraldo Jaramillo
(1987.07.07 – 2001.01.19)

Born:	1936.10.21 (Manizales, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1964.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1984.08.06
Died:	2026.01.03 (Cartago, Colombia † 89)

Priest of Cartago (Colombia) (1964.08.15 – 1984.06.27)

Titular Bishop of Alessano (1984.06.27 – 1987.07.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Pereira (Colombia) (1984.06.27 – 1987.07.07)

Bishop of Málaga–Soatá (Colombia) (1987.07.07 – 2001.01.19)

Bishop of Buga (Colombia) (2001.01.19 – 2012.05.10)

Apostolic Administrator of Magangué (Colombia) (2012.07.30 – 2014.11.21)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, Málaga, Santander
Co-Cathedral: Co-Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción, Soatá, Boyacá
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (31)

Socorro y San Gil (←), Bucaramanga (↖), Nueva Pamplona (↑), Arauca (→), Duitama–Sogamoso (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 7,466 km²

Population: 183,000 Catholics (94.3% of 194,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 31 parishes

Personnel: 78 priests (diocesan), 28 religious (28 sisters), 24 seminarians