Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nueva Pamplona, Colombia

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Nueva Pamplona / Neo-Pampilonen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Arauca, Cúcuta, Ocaña, Tibú

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1835.09.25: Established as Diocese of Nueva Pamplona / Neo-Pampilonen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santafé en Nueva Granada and became suffragan of Santafé en Nueva Granada)
1895.03.20: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Socorro
1928.04.02: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Río Magdalena
1945.06.15: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Labateca
1951.08.01: Lost territory to establish Territorial Prelature of Bertrania en el Catatumbo
1952.12.17: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Bucaramanga
1956.05.29: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nueva Pamplona / Neo-Pampilonen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Bucaramanga, Cúcuta, Socorro y San Gil and Bertrania en el Catatumbo, gained territory from the suppressed Apostolic Prefecture of Labateca and lost territory to establish Diocese of Cúcuta)
1962.10.26: Gained suffragan see Ocaña
1962.10.27: Gained suffragan see Barrancabermeja
1974.12.14: Lost suffragan sees Barrancabermeja, Bucaramanga and Socorro y San Gil
1984.07.19: Gained suffragan see Arauca

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2019.10.15 – ...):

Archbishop Jorge Alberto Ossa Soto (68)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Nueva Pamplona (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Jorge Alberto Ossa Soto (68)
(2019.10.15 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia)

Scio cui credidi

Born:	1956.07.29 (El Carmen de Viboral, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1982.05.23
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.03.01

Priest of Istmina–Tadó (Colombia) (1982.05.23 – 2003.01.21)

Bishop of Florencia (Colombia) (2003.01.21 – 2011.07.15)

Bishop of Santa Rosa de Osos (Colombia) (2011.07.15 – 2019.10.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (2019.10.15 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Tibú (Colombia) (2020.12.12 – 2021.11.05)

Apostolic Administrator of Ocaña (Colombia) (2023.01.15 – 2024.07.11)

Archbishop Luis Madrid Merlano (77)
(2010.03.30 – 2018.06.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia)

Melior sapientia quam arma

Born:	1946.10.27 (Cartagena, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1971.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1988.07.03

Priest of Istmina (Colombia) (1971.06.29 – 1988.05.21)

Bishop-Prelate of Tibú (Colombia) (1988.05.21 – 1995.04.19)

Bishop of Cartago (Colombia) (1995.04.19 – 2010.03.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (2010.03.30 – 2018.06.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Cúcuta (Colombia) (2010.09.01 – 2011.07.16)

Bishop Jaime Prieto Amaya
(Apostolic Administrator 2009.09 – 2010.03.30)

Archbishop Gustavo Martínez Frías
(1999.03.18 – 2009.08.29)

Born:	1935.05.30 (Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1960.11.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.02.20
Died:	2009.08.29 († 74)

Bishop of Ipiales (Colombia) (1987.01.16 – 1999.03.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1999.03.18 – 2009.08.29)

Archbishop Víctor Manuel López Forero
(1994.06.21 – 1998.06.27)

Born:	1931.03.29 (Puente Nacional, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1957.10.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.06.29
Died:	2023.09.23 (Bucaramanga, Colombia † 92)

Priest of Bogotá (Colombia) (1957.10.27 – 1977.05.06)

Titular Bishop of Afufenia (1977.05.06 – 1980.12.06)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá (Colombia) (1977.05.06 – 1980.12.06)

Bishop of Socorro y San Gil (Colombia) (1980.12.06 – 1985.06.07)

Military Vicar of Colombia (Colombia) (1985.06.07 – 1986.07.21)

Titular Bishop of Cilibia (1985.06.07 – 1994.06.21)

Military Ordinary of Colombia (Colombia) (1986.07.21 – 1994.06.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1994.06.21 – 1998.06.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bucaramanga (Colombia) (1998.06.27 – 2009.02.13)

Apostolic Administrator of Socorro y San Gil (Colombia) (2009.05 – 2010.02.02)

Apostolic Administrator of Montelíbano (Colombia) (2010.09 – 2012.02.02)

Archbishop Rafael Sarmiento Peralta
(1985.01.12 – 1994.06.21)

Born:	1914.11.30 (Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1938.04.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1963.01.06
Died:	2000.04.25 († 85)

Bishop of Ocaña (Colombia) (1962.10.26 – 1972.07.24)

Bishop of Neiva (Colombia) (1972.07.24 – 1985.01.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1985.01.12 – 1994.06.21)

Archbishop Mario Revollo Bravo (later Cardinal)
(1978.02.28 – 1984.06.25)

Vis pacis

Born:	1919.06.15 (Genova, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1943.10.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.12.02
Created Cardinal:	1988.06.28
Died:	1995.11.03 (Bogotá, Colombia † 76)

Priest of Bogotá (Colombia) (1943.10.31 – 1973.11.13)

Titular Bishop of Thinisa in Numidia (1973.11.13 – 1978.02.28)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá (Colombia) (1973.11.13 – 1978.02.28)

President of Episcopal Conference of Colombia (1978 – 1984)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1978.02.28 – 1984.06.25)

Military Vicar of Colombia (Colombia) (1984.06.25 – 1985.06.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bogotá (Colombia) (1984.06.25 – 1994.12.27)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Bartolomeo all’Isola (1988.06.28 – 1995.11.03)

Archbishop Alfredo Rubio Diaz
(1968.03.27 – 1978.02.28)

Born:	1901.12.08 (Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1926.11.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1953.09.13
Died:	1992.08.19 († 90)

Titular Bishop of Vallis (1953.07.07 – 1956.05.29)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santa Marta (Colombia) (1953.07.07 – 1956.05.29)

Bishop of Girardot (Colombia) (1956.05.29 – 1961.02.12)

Bishop of Sonsón (Colombia) (1961.02.12 – 1968.03.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1968.03.27 – 1978.02.28)

Archbishop Aníbal Muñoz Duque (later Cardinal)
(1959.08.03 – 1968.03.27)

Jesus Christus et hodie ipse et in sæcula

Born:	1908.10.03 (Santa Rosa de Osos, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1933.11.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1951.05.27
Created Cardinal:	1973.03.05
Died:	1987.01.15 (Bogotá, Colombia † 78)

Priest of Santa Rosa de Osos (Colombia) (1933.11.19 – 1951.04.08)

Bishop of Socorro y San Gil (Colombia) (1951.04.08 – 1952.12.18)

Bishop of Bucaramanga (Colombia) (1952.12.18 – 1959.08.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1959.08.03 – 1968.03.27)

President of Episcopal Conference of Colombia (1966 – 1972)

Titular Archbishop of Cariana (1968.03.30 – 1972.07.29)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Bogotá (Colombia) (1969.02.02 – 1972.07.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bogotá (Colombia) (1972.07.29 – 1984.06.25)

Military Vicar of Colombia (Colombia) (1972.07.30 – 1984.06.25)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Bartolomeo all’Isola (1973.03.05 – 1987.01.15)

Archbishop Bernardo Botero Alvarez, C.M.
(1956.05.29 – 1959.06.28)

Born:	1891.07.10 (Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1918.06.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1944.08.24
Died:	1959.06.28 († 67)

Bishop of Santa Marta (Colombia) (1944.07.05 – 1956.05.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1956.05.29 – 1959.06.28)

Bishops of Nueva Pamplona (Roman Rite)

Bishop Rafael Afanador y Cadena (later Archbishop)
(1916.06.04 – 1956.05.29)

Born:	1871.04.04 (Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1898.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1916.09.03
Died:	1957.03.05 († 85)

Bishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1916.06.04 – 1956.05.29)

Titular Archbishop of Pompeiopolis in Cilicia (1956.05.29 – 1957.03.05)

Bishop Evaristo Blanco
(1909.03.27 – 1915.09.15)

Born:	1855.10.25
Ordained Priest:	1881.09.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1897.09.08
Died:	1915.09.15 († 59)

Bishop of Socorro (Colombia) (1897.04.09 – 1909.03.27)

Bishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1909.03.27 – 1915.09.15)

Bishop Ignacio Antonio Parra
(1875.09.17 – 1909.03.27)

Born:	1824.01.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1871.04.16
Died:	1909.08.15 († 85)

Bishop of Panamá (Panama) (1870.03.21 – 1875.09.17)

Bishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1875.09.17 – 1909.03.27)

Bishop Indalecio Barreto
(1874.01.16 – 1875.03.20)

Consecrated Bishop:	1873.10.19
Died:	1875.03.20

Titular Bishop of Dora (1873.03.21 – 1874.01.16)

Auxiliary Bishop of Santafé en Nueva Granada (Colombia) (1873.03.21 – 1874.01.16)

Bishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1874.01.16 – 1875.03.20)

Bishop Bonifacio Toscano
(1865.11.14 – 1873.11.18)

Born:	1810.06.04 (Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1848.06.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1865.08.15
Died:	1896.08.13 († 86)

Bishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1865.11.14 – 1873.11.18)

Titular Bishop of Centuria (1874.01.16 – 1896.08.13)

Bishop José Luis Niño
(1856.05.27 – 1864.02.12)

Consecrated Bishop:	1856.10.05
Died:	1864.02.12

Bishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1856.05.27 – 1864.02.12)

Bishop José Jorge Torres Estans
(1837.08.30 – 1853.04.17)

Born:	1772.04.22 (Colombia)
Consecrated Bishop:	1837.05.21
Died:	1853.04.17 († 80)

Bishop of Nueva Pamplona (Colombia) (1837.08.30 – 1853.04.17)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jaime Cristóbal Abril González (52) (2016.04.16 – 2019.11.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Norberto Forero y García (1951.07.07 – 1956.05.27)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José de Jesús Martinez Vargas (1949.07.13 – 1951)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de Santa Clara, Pamplona, Norte de Santander
Former Cathedral: Ex-Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, Pamplona, Norte de Santander

Bucaramanga (←), Ocaña (↖), Cúcuta (↑), San Cristóbal de Venezuela (↗), Guasdualito (→), Arauca (↘), Málaga–Soatá (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 6,571 km²

Population: 208,300 Catholics (92.5% of 225,300 total)

Pastoral Centres: 36 parishes, 24 missions

Personnel: 82 priests (diocesan), 63 religious (63 sisters), 34 seminarians