Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mariana, Brazil 🇧🇷

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Mariana / Marianen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Caratinga, Governador Valadares, Itabira–Fabriciano

Neighbouring Dioceses: São João del Rei (↙), Oliveira (←), Belo Horizonte (↖), Itabira–Fabriciano (↑), Caratinga (↗), Leopoldina (↘), Juiz de Fora (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora da Assunção (August 15), Saint Joseph (March 19)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1745.12.06: Established as Diocese of Mariana / Marianen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro and became suffragan of São Salvador da Bahia)
1854.06.06: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Diamantina
1892.04.27: Became suffragan of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
1897.07.06: Gained territory from Metropolitan Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
1900.08.04: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Pouso Alegre
1906.05.01: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mariana / Marianen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Goiás and Pouso Alegre)
1907.09.08: Gained suffragan see Campanha
1907.09.29: Gained suffragan see Uberaba
1910.12.10: Gained suffragan see Montes Claros
1913.08.25: Gained suffragan see Araçuaí
1915.12.15: Gained suffragan see Caratinga
1915.12.20: Gained suffragan see Porto Nacional
1916.02.03: Gained suffragan see Guaxupé
1917.06.28: Lost suffragan sees Araçuaí and Montes Claros
1918.07.18: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Aterrado and gained suffragan see Aterrado
1921.02.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Belo Horizonte and gained suffragan see Belo Horizonte
1924.02.01: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Juiz de Fora, lost suffragan sees Aterrado, Belo Horizonte and Uberaba and gained suffragan see Juiz de Fora
1924.07.04: Gained suffragan see Bananal
1924.07.25: Gained suffragan see São José de Alto Tocantins
1929.06.21: Gained suffragan see Jataí
1932.11.18: Lost suffragan sees Goiás, Porto Nacional, Bananal, Jataí and São José de Alto Tocantins
1942.03.08: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Leopoldina and gained suffragan see Leopoldina
1956.02.01: Gained suffragan see Governador Valadares
1960.05.21: Lost territory to establish Diocese of São João del Rei and gained suffragan see São João del Rei
1962.04.14: Lost suffragan sees Campanha, Guaxupé, Juiz de Fora, Leopoldina, Pouso Alegre and São João del Rei
1965.06.14: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Itabira and gained suffragan see Itabira

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2018.04.25 – ...):

Archbishop Airton José dos Santos (70)

Monsignors (2)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Mariana (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Airton José dos Santos (70)
(2018.04.25 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mariana (Brazil)

Ut faciam Deus voluntatem tuam

Born:	1956.06.25 (Bom Repouso, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1985.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	2002.03.02

Priest of Santo André (Brazil) (1985.12.08 – 2001.12.19)

Titular Bishop of Phelbes (2001.12.19 – 2004.08.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santo André (Brazil) (2001.12.19 – 2004.08.04)

Bishop of Mogi das Cruzes (Brazil) (2004.08.04 – 2012.02.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Campinas (Brazil) (2012.02.15 – 2018.04.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mariana (Brazil) (2018.04.25 – ...)

Archbishop Geraldo Lyrio Rocha
(2007.04.11 – 2018.04.25)

Opus Fac Evangelistæ

Born:	1942.03.14 (Fundão, ES, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1967.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1984.05.31
Died:	2023.07.26 (Altamira, PA, Brazil † 81)

Priest of Vitória (Brazil) (1967.08.15 – 1984.03.14)

Titular Bishop of Thelepte (1984.03.14 – 1990.04.23)

Auxiliary Bishop of Vitória (Brazil) (1984.03.14 – 1990.04.23)

Bishop of Colatina (Brazil) (1990.04.23 – 2002.01.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Vitória da Conquista (Brazil) (2002.01.16 – 2007.04.11)

Second Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (2003 – 2007.07.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mariana (Brazil) (2007.04.11 – 2018.04.25)

President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (2007.05 – 2011.05.10)

Archbishop Luciano Pedro Mendes de Almeida, S.J.
(1988.04.06 – 2006.08.27)

In nomine Jesu

Born:	1930.10.05 (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1958.07.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.05.02
Died:	2006.08.27 (São Paulo, SP, Brazil † 75)

Titular Bishop of Turris in Proconsulari (1976.02.25 – 1988.04.06)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Paulo (Brazil) (1976.02.25 – 1988.04.06)

General Secretary of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (1979 – 1987)

President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (1987 – 1995)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1988.04.06 – 2006.08.27)

First Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1995 – 1999)

Archbishop Oscar de Oliveira
(1960.04.25 – 1988.04.06)

Born:	1912.01.09 (Entre Rios de Minas, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1935.10.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1954.08.22
Died:	1997.02.24 (Entre Rios de Minas, MG, Brazil † 85)

Priest of Mariana (Brazil) (1935.10.27 – 1954.05.25)

Titular Bishop of Irenopolis in Cilicia (1954.05.25 – 1959.01.31)

Coadjutor Bishop of Pouso Alegre (Brazil) (1954.05.25 – 1959.01.31)

Apostolic Administrator of Pouso Alegre (Brazil) (1959 – 1960.03.12)

Titular Archbishop of Rhoina (1959.01.31 – 1960.04.25)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1959.01.31 – 1960.04.25)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Mariana (Brazil) (1959.01.31 – 1960.04.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1960.04.25 – 1988.04.06)

Archbishop Oscar de Oliveira
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 1959.01.31 – 1960.04.25)

Archbishop Helvécio Gomes de Oliveira, S.D.B.
(1922.09.01 – 1960.04.25)

Born:	1876.02.19 (Anchieta, ES, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1901.06.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1918.08.15
Died:	1960.04.25 (Mariana, MG, Brazil † 84)

Bishop of Corumbá (Brazil) (1918.02.15 – 1918.06.18)

Bishop of São Luís do Maranhão (Brazil) (1918.06.18 – 1921.12.02)

Archbishop of São Luís do Maranhão (Brazil) (1921.12.02 – 1922.02.10)

Titular Archbishop of Verissa (1922.02.10 – 1922.09.01)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1922.02.10 – 1922.09.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1922.09.01 – 1960.04.25)

Archbishop Silvério Gomes Pimenta
(1906.05.01 – 1922.09.01)

Born:	1840.01.12 (Congonhas do Campo, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1862.07.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1890.08.31
Died:	1922.09.01 (Mariana, MG, Brazil † 82)

Priest of Mariana (Brazil) (1862.07.20 – 1890.06.23)

Titular Bishop of Camachus (1890.06.23 – 1897.12.03)

Auxiliary Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1890.06.23 – 1897.12.03)

Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1897.12.03 – 1906.05.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1906.05.01 – 1922.09.01)

Bishops of Mariana (Roman Rite)

Bishop Silvério Gomes Pimenta (later Archbishop)
(1897.12.03 – 1906.05.01)

(see above)

Bishop Antônio Maria Corrêa de Sá e Benevides
(1877.06.25 – 1896.07.15)

Born:	1836.02.23 (Campos, RJ, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1864.11.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1877.09.09
Died:	1896.07.15 (Mariana, MG, Brazil † 60)

Bishop of Goiás (Brazil) (1876.11.18 – 1877.06.25)

Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1877.06.25 – 1896.07.15)

Bishop Antônio Ferreira Viçoso, C.M.
(1844.01.12 – 1875.08.05)

Born:	1787.05.13 (Peniche, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1818.03.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1844.05.05
Died:	1875.08.05 (Mariana, MG, Brazil † 88)

Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1844.01.12 – 1875.08.05)

Fr. Carlos Pereira Freire de Moura
(1840 – 1840)

Died:

1840

Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1840 – 1840)

Bishop José da Santíssima Trindade Leite, O.F.M.
(1819.09.27 – 1835.09.28)

Born:	1762.06.04 (Porto, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1785.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1820.04.09
Died:	1835.09.28 (Mariana, MG, Brazil † 73)

Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1819.09.27 – 1835.09.28)

Bishop Cipriano de São José, O.F.M.
(1797.07.24 – 1817.08.14)

Born:	1743.11.12 (Lisboa, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1768.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1797.12.31
Died:	1817.08.14 (Mariana, MG, Brazil † 73)

Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1797.07.24 – 1817.08.14)

Bishop Domingos da Encarnação Pontevel, O.P.
(1779.03.01 – 1795.06.16)

Born:	1722 (Santarém, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1745.10.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1779.04.18
Died:	1795.06.16 (Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil † 72)

Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1779.03.01 – 1795.06.16)

Bishop Bartolomeu Manuel Mendes dos Reis (孟)
(1773.03.08 – 1778.08.28)

Born:	1720.08.23 (Cercosa, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1743.09.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1753.07.25
Died:	1799.03.07 (Lisboa, Portugal † 78)

Priest of Coimbra (Portugal) (1743.09.21 – 1753.01.29)

Bishop of Macau 澳門 (Macau) (1753.01.29 – 1773.03.08)

Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1773.03.08 – 1778.08.28)

Bishop Joaquim Borges de Figueroa (later Archbishop)
(1771.06.17 – 1773.03.08)

Born:	1714.05.24? (Lisboa, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1770.09.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1771.10.28
Died:	1788.09.25 (Lisboa, Portugal † 74)

Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1771.06.17 – 1773.03.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil) (1773.03.08 – 1778.07.13)

Bishop Manuel da Cruz Nogueira, O. Cist.
(1745.12.15 – 1764.01.03)

Born:	1690.02.05 (Casa Real, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1712.02.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1738.12.14
Died:	1764.01.03 (Mariana, MG, Brazil † 73)

Bishop of São Luís do Maranhão (Brazil) (1738.09.03 – 1745.12.15)

Bishop of Mariana (Brazil) (1745.12.15 – 1764.01.03)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Oscar de Oliveira (1959.01.31 – 1960.04.25)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Helvécio Gomes de Oliveira, S.D.B. (1922.02.10 – 1922.09.01)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Daniel Tavares Baeta Neves (1947.03.29 – 1958.05.16)
Auxiliary Bishop: Archbishop Antônio Augusto de Assis (1918.08.02 – 1931.07.31)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Modesto Augusto Vieira (1914.01.12 – 1916.09.27)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Silvério Gomes Pimenta (later Archbishop) (1890.06.23 – 1897.12.03)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica: Catedral Metropolitana Basílica Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Mariana, Minas Gerais
Minor Basilica, World Heritage Site: Basílica do Senhor Bom Jesus, Congonhas, Minas Gerais
Minor Basilica, World Heritage Site (Minor): Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Pilar, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Minor Basilica: Basílica Sagrado Coração de Jesus, Conselheiro Lafaiete, Minas Gerais
Minor Basilica: Basílica São José Operário, Barbacena, Minas Gerais
World Heritage Site (Minor): Igreja de São Francisco de Assis, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

Churches by City (152)

São João del Rei (↙), Oliveira (←), Belo Horizonte (↖), Itabira–Fabriciano (↑), Caratinga (↗), Leopoldina (↘), Juiz de Fora (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 22,680 km²

Population: 1,021,608 Catholics (80.7% of 1,265,934 total)

Pastoral Centres: 136 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 216 priests (193 diocesan, 23 religious), 37 deacons, 179 religious (24 brothers, 155 sisters), 57 seminarians