Diocese of

Orihuela–Alicante

Spain Spain

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Orihuela–Alicante / Oriolen(sis)–Lucentin(us) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Valencia

Neighbouring Dioceses: Cartagena (↙), Albacete (↖), Valencia (↑)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Vincent Ferrer (Easter II Monday)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: July 14, July 2

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

Present Prelates

Bishop (2021.12.07 – ...):Bishop José Ignacio Munilla Aguirre (64)Bishop José Ignacio Munilla Aguirre (64)

Monsignors (16)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Orihuela–Alicante (Roman Rite)

Bishop José Ignacio Munilla Aguirre (64)Bishop José Ignacio Munilla Aguirre (64)
(2021.12.07 – ...)

Bishop of Orihuela–Alicante (Spain)

In te confido

Born:1961.11.13 (Zumárraga, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1986.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:2006.09.10

Priest of San Sebastián (Spain) (1986.06.29 – 2006.06.24)

Bishop of Palencia (Spain) (2006.06.24 – 2009.11.21)

Bishop of San Sebastián (Spain) (2009.11.21 – 2021.12.07)

Bishop of Orihuela–Alicante (Spain) (2021.12.07 – ...)

Bishop Jesús Murgui Soriano (80)Bishop Jesús Murgui Soriano (80)
(2012.07.27 – 2021.12.07)

Bishop emeritus of Orihuela–Alicante (Spain)

Instaurare omnia in christo

Born:1946.04.17 (Valencia, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1969.09.21
Consecrated Bishop:1996.05.11

Priest of Valencia (Spain) (1969.09.21 – 1996.03.25)

Titular Bishop of Lete (1996.03.25 – 2003.12.27)

Auxiliary Bishop of Valencia (Spain) (1996.03.25 – 2003.12.27)

Apostolic Administrator of Menorca (Spain) (1999 – 2001.03.01)

Bishop of Mallorca (Spain) (2003.12.27 – 2012.07.27)

Bishop of Orihuela–Alicante (Spain) (2012.07.27 – 2021.12.07)

Bishop Rafael Palmero Ramos
(2005.11.26 – 2012.07.27)

Cum ipso

Born:1936.07.27 (Morales del Rey, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1959.09.13
Consecrated Bishop:1988.01.24
Died:2021.03.08 (Alicante, Spain † 84)

Priest of Astorga (Spain) (1959.09.13 – 1972)

Priest of Toledo (Spain) (1972 – 1987.11.24)

Titular Bishop of Pićan (1987.11.24 – 1996.01.09)

Auxiliary Bishop of Toledo (Spain) (1987.11.24 – 1996.01.09)

Bishop of Palencia (Spain) (1996.01.09 – 2005.11.26)

Bishop of Orihuela–Alicante (Spain) (2005.11.26 – 2012.07.27)

Bishop Victorio Oliver Domingo (96)Bishop Victorio Oliver Domingo (96)
(1996.02.22 – 2005.11.26)

Bishop emeritus of Orihuela–Alicante (Spain)

En el nombre del Señor

Born:1929.12.23 (Mezquita de Jarque, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1954.06.27
Consecrated Bishop:1972.10.12

Priest of Teruel (Spain) (1954.06.27 – 1972.09.05)

Titular Bishop of Limisa (1972.09.05 – 1976.12.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid (Spain) (1972.09.05 – 1976.12.20)

Bishop of Tarazona (Spain) (1976.12.20 – 1981.05.27)

Bishop of Albacete (Spain) (1981.05.27 – 1996.02.22)

Bishop of Orihuela–Alicante (Spain) (1996.02.22 – 2005.11.26)

Bishop Francisco Álvarez Martínez (later Cardinal)
(1989.05.12 – 1995.06.23)

Obœdientia et pax

Born:1925.07.14 (Santa Eulalia de Ferroñes, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1950.06.11
Consecrated Bishop:1973.06.03
Created Cardinal:2001.02.21
Died:2022.01.05 (Madrid, Spain † 96)

Priest of Oviedo (Spain) (1950.06.11 – 1973.04.13)

Bishop of Tarazona (Spain) (1973.04.13 – 1976.12.20)

Bishop of Calahorra y La Calzada–Logroño (Spain) (1976.12.20 – 1989.05.12)

Bishop of Orihuela–Alicante (Spain) (1989.05.12 – 1995.06.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Toledo (Spain) (1995.06.23 – 2002.10.24)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria «Regina Pacis» a Monte Verde (2001.02.21 [2001.05.20] – 2022.01.05)

Bishop Pablo Barrachina Estevan
(1959.03.09 – 1989.05.12)

Born:1912.10.31 (Jérica, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1941.07.13
Consecrated Bishop:1954.06.29
Died:2008.10.13 († 95)

Priest of Segorbe (Spain) (1941.07.13 – 1954.03.31)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1954.03.31 – 1959.03.09)

Bishop of Orihuela–Alicante (Spain) (1959.03.09 – 1989.05.12)

Bishops of Orihuela (Roman Rite)

Bishop Pablo Barrachina Estevan
(1954.03.31 – 1959.03.09)

(see above)

Bishop José García y Goldaraz (later Archbishop)
(1944.08.10 – 1953.08.25)

Born:1893.10.27 (Hernani, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1918.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:1944.11.26
Died:1973.07.10 († 79)

Priest of Vitoria (Spain) (1918.12.21 – 1944.08.10)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1944.08.10 – 1953.08.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Valladolid (Spain) (1953.08.25 – 1970.07.02)

Titular Archbishop of Ferento (1970.07.02 – 1970.12.11)

Bishop Francisco Javier de Irastorza Loinaz
(1922.06.27 – 1943.12.29)

Born:1875.02.27 (San Sebastián, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1902.09.20
Consecrated Bishop:1914.11.22
Died:1943.12.29 (San Sebastián, Spain † 68)

Titular Bishop of Dora (1914.07.11 – 1922.06.27)

Prior nullius of Ciudad Real (Spain) (1914.07.11 – 1922.06.27)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1922.06.27 – 1943.12.29)

Bishop Ramón Plaza y Blanco
(1913.07.18 – 1921.11.08)

Born:1847.09.18 (Santa María del Campo Rus, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1913.11.09
Died:1921.11.08 († 74)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1913.07.18 – 1921.11.08)

Bishop Juan Maura y Gelabert
(1886.06.10 – 1910.01.24)

Born:1841.05.12 (Palma de Mallorca, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1865.06.10
Consecrated Bishop:1886.09.21
Died:1910.01.24 († 68)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1886.06.10 – 1910.01.24)

Bishop Victoriano Guisasola y Rodríguez (later Archbishop)
(1882.03.27 – 1886.06.10)

Born:1821.08.11 (Oviedo, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1875.01.24
Died:1888.01.20 († 66)

Bishop of Teruel (Spain) (1874.01.16 – 1876.09.29)

Apostolic Administrator of Albarracin (Spain) (1874.01.16 – 1876.09.29)

Titular Bishop of Dora (1876.09.29 – 1882.03.27)

Prior nullius of Ciudad Real (Spain) (1877.05.28 – 1882.03.27)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1882.03.27 – 1886.06.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) (1886.06.10 – 1888.01.20)

Bishop Pedro María Cubero López de Padilla
(1858.09.27 – 1881.11.10)

Born:1810.11.02 (Doña Mencía, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1859.02.27
Died:1881.11.10 († 71)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1858.09.27 – 1881.11.10)

Bishop Félix Herrero Valverde
(1824.09.27 – 1858.03.29)

Born:1771.11.20 (Fuenlabrada, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1824.12.08
Died:1858.03.29 († 86)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) ([1824.06.27] 1824.09.27 – 1858.03.29)

Archbishop Simón López y García, C.O.
(1815.12.18 – 1824.11.16)

Born:1744.04.11 (Nerpio, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1816.05.05
Died:1831.09.03 (Valencia, Spain † 87)

Bishop of Panamá (Panama) (1814 – 1815.12.18)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1815.12.18 – 1824.11.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Valencia (Spain) ([1824.09.27] 1824.11.16 – 1831.09.03)

Bishop Francisco Antonio Cebrián y Valda (later Cardinal)
(1797.07.23 – 1815.07.10)

Born:1734.02.19 (San Felipe, Spain)
Ordained Priest:
Consecrated Bishop:1797.10.08
Created Cardinal:1816.09.23
Died:1820.02.08 (Madrid, Spain † 85)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1797.07.23 – 1815.07.10)

Patriarch of Indias Occidentales (1815.07.10 – 1820.02.08)

Cardinal-Priest with no Title assigned (1816.09.23 – 1820.02.08)

Bishop Francisco Javier Cabrera Velasco
(1795.06.01 – 1797.07.24)

Born:1728.12.09 (Badajoz, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1795.08.02
Died:1799.01.22 († 70)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1795.06.01 – 1797.07.24)

Bishop of Ávila (Spain) (1797.07.24 – 1799.01.22)

Archbishop Antonio Despuig y Dameto (later Cardinal)
(1791.09.26 – 1795.06.01)

Born:1745.03.30 (Palma de Mallorca, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1774.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:1791.09.29
Created Cardinal:1803.07.11
Died:1813.05.02 (Lucca, Italy † 68)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1791.09.26 – 1795.06.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Valencia (Spain) ([1794.02.01] 1795.06.01 – 1795.12.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sevilla (Spain) (1795.12.18 – 1799.01.13)

Patriarch of Antioch (1799.01.13 – 1803.07.11)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Callisto (1803.09.26 – 1813.05.02)

Archpriest of Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major (1803.12.28 – 1813.05.02)

Auxiliary Bishop of the Vicariate of Rome of Roma (Italy) (1808.03.26 – 1809.11.11)

Camerlengo of Sacred College of Cardinals (1810 – 1813.05.02)

Bishop José Tormo Juliá
(1768.06.01 – 1790.11.26)

Born:1721.12.25 (Albaida, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1763.09.25
Died:1790.11.26 († 68)

Titular Bishop of Tricomia (1763.03.21 – 1768.06.01)

Auxiliary Bishop of Valencia (Spain) (1763.03.21 – 1768.06.01)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1768.06.01 – 1790.11.26)

Bishop Pedro Albornoz Tapia
(1760.12.15 – 1767.01.22)

Born:1702.02.16 (Valencia, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1728
Consecrated Bishop:1761.02.22
Died:1767.01.22 († 64)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1760.12.15 – 1767.01.22)

Bishop Juan Elías Gómez Terán
(1738.05.05 – 1758.10.09)

Born:1688.07.20 (Madrid, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1738.06.29
Died:1758.10.09 († 70)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1738.05.05 – 1758.10.09)

Bishop José Flores Osorio
(1727.12.22 – 1738.03.03)

Born:1654.03.21 (Ponferrada, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1728.04.04
Died:1759.11.26 († 105)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1727.12.22 – 1738.03.03)

Bishop of Cuenca (Spain) (1738.03.03 – 1759.11.26)

Bishop Salvador Rodríguez Castelblanco, T.O.R.
(1717.11.22 – 1727.06.20)

Born:1657 (Palermo, Italy)
Consecrated Bishop:1718.02.13
Died:1727.06.20 († 69)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1717.11.22 – 1727.06.20)

Bishop José Espejo Cisneros
(1714.05.28 – 1717.07.02)

Born:1657.03.31 (Alhama de Murcia, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1691.04.14
Consecrated Bishop:1714.07.25
Died:1748.12.20 († 91)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1714.05.28 – 1717.07.02)

Bishop of Calahorra y La Calzada (Spain) (1717.07.02 – 1747.04.01)

Bishop José de la Torre Orumbela
(1701.10.03 – 1712.01.06)

Born:1643 (Orihuela, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1701.12.21
Died:1712.01.06 († 68)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1701.10.03 – 1712.01.06)

Bishop Antonio Sánchez de Castellar
(1679 – 1700.08.24)

Born:1622.11.03 (Valencia, Spain)
Died:1700.08.24 († 77)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1679 – 1700.08.24)

Bishop Marcelo Marona, O.P.
(1678 – 1678.09.20)

Died:1678.09.20

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1678 – 1678.09.20)

Bishop José Berges
(1666.02.01 – 1678.06.21)

Born:1612.03.06? (Valencia, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1636.05.17
Died:1678.06.21 († 66)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1666.02.01 – 1678.06.21)

Bishop Acacio March de Velasco, O.P.
(1660.01.26 – 1665.06.26)

Born:1585? (Valencia, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1660.04?
Died:1665.06.26 († 79)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1660.01.26 – 1665.06.26)

Fr. Pedro Olginat de Medicis, O. Carm.
(1659.03.10 – 1659.04.26 not possessed)

Born:1598?
Died:1659.04.26 († 60)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1659.03.10 – 1659.04.26 not possessed)

Bishop Luis Crespi y Borja
(1651.10.28 – 1658.09.02)

Born:1607.05.02? (Valencia, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1631.09
Consecrated Bishop:1652
Died:1663.04.10 († 55)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1651.10.28 – 1658.09.02)

Bishop of Plasencia (Spain) (1658.09.02 – 1663.04.10)

Bishop Juan Orta Moreno
(1646.11.19 – 1650.11.05)

Born:1590 (Oliva, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1614
Consecrated Bishop:1647.03.24
Died:1650.11.05 († 59)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1646.11.19 – 1650.11.05)

Bishop Félix Guzmán, O.P.
(1644.11.14 – 1646.03.01)

Born: (Sevilla, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1645
Died:1646.03.01

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1644.11.14 – 1646.03.01)

Bishop Juan García Arlés
(1636.01.07 – 1644.03.23)

Born:1578 (Orihuela, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1600
Consecrated Bishop:1636.05.25
Died:1644.03.23 († 65)

Priest of Orihuela (Spain) (1600 – 1636.01.07)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1636.01.07 – 1644.03.23)

Bishop Bernardo Caballero Paredes
(1627.03.22 – 1635.08.13)

Born:1592.05.25 (Medina del Campo, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1627.05.30
Died:1661.04.13 (Oviedo, Spain † 68)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1627.03.22 – 1635.08.13)

Bishop of Lérida (Spain) (1635.08.13 – 1642.01.13)

Bishop of Oviedo (Spain) (1642.01.13 – 1661.04.13)

Bishop Andrés Balaguer Salvador, O.P.
(1604.11.10 – 1626.04.11)

Born:1551.09.26 (La Jana, Spain)
Died:1626.04.11 († 74)

Bishop of Albarracin (Spain) (1603.01.24 – 1604.11.10)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1604.11.10 – 1626.04.11)

Bishop José Esteve Juan
(1594.01.12 – 1603.11.02)

Born:1550 (Valencia, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1586.04
Died:1603.11.02 (Ayora, Spain † 52)

Bishop of Vieste (Italy) (1586.03.17 – 1594.01.12)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1594.01.12 – 1603.11.02)

Bishop Cristóbal Robuster Senmanat
(1587.08.17 – 1593.11.09)

Born:1524 (Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1587.11.25
Died:1597.10.19 († 72)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1587.08.17 – 1593.11.09)

Bishop Tomás Dacio
(1578.01.13 – 1585.05.19)

Born:1527.10.13 (Spain)
Died:1585.05.19 († 57)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1578.01.13 – 1585.05.19)

Bishop Gregorio Antonio Gallo de Andrade
(1565.08.22 – 1577.09.11)

Born:1509.03.09 (Spain)
Died:1579.09.25 († 70)

Bishop of Orihuela (Spain) (1565.08.22 – 1577.09.11)

Bishop of Segovia (Spain) (1577.09.11 – 1579.09.25)

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Cartagena (↙), Albacete (↖), Valencia (↑)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 4,384 km²

Population: 1,172,630 Catholics (71.3% of 1,643,503 total)

Pastoral Centres: 214 parishes, 82 missions

Personnel: 329 priests (254 diocesan, 75 religious), 13 deacons, 511 religious (99 brothers, 412 sisters), 19 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.07.02

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