Diocese of Potosí, Bolivia 🇧🇴

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Name: Potosí / Potosien(sis) in Bolivia (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Sucre

Neighbouring Dioceses: San Juan Bautista de Calama (↙), Iquique (←), Oruro (↖), Cochabamba (↑), Aiquile (↗), Sucre (→), Tarija (↘), Humahuaca (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: San Juan María Vianney (August 4)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: April 16

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1924.11.11: Established as Diocese of Potosí / Potosien(sis) in Bolivia (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of La Plata and became suffragan of Sucre)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.10.28 – ...):

Bishop Nicolás Renán Aguilera Arroyo (54)

Apostolic Administrator of Sucre (Bolivia)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Potosí (Roman Rite)

Bishop Nicolás Renán Aguilera Arroyo (54)
(2020.10.28 – ...)

Bishop of Potosí (Bolivia)
Apostolic Administrator of Sucre (Bolivia)

Ecce ego mitte me

Born:	1972.05.09 (San Lorenzo, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:	1999.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	2021.01.20

Priest of Tarija (Bolivia) (1999.12.08 – 2020.10.28)

Bishop of Potosí (Bolivia) (2020.10.28 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Sucre (Bolivia) (2026.09.28 – ...)

Bishop Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán (later Archbishop)
(2009.11.25 – 2020.02.11)

Deus spes mea

Born:	1962.11.07 (Suquistaca, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:	1988.08.11
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.09.15
Died:	2026.09.24 (Oruro, Bolivia † 63)

Priest of Sucre (Bolivia) (1988.08.11 – 2005.06.30)

Titular Bishop of Turres Ammeniæ (2005.06.30 – 2009.11.25)

Auxiliary Bishop of Potosí (Bolivia) (2005.06.30 – 2009.11.25)

Bishop of Potosí (Bolivia) (2009.11.25 – 2020.02.11)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (2012.12 – 2015.11.06)

President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (2015.11.06 – 2021.11.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sucre (Bolivia) (2020.02.11 – 2026.09.24)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (2021.11.12 – 2024.11.08)

Bishop Walter Pérez Villamonte
(1998.03.07 – 2009.11.25)

Born:	1936.11.03 (Vilacaya, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:	1959.01.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.02.02
Died:	2018.03.29 (Sucre, Bolivia † 81)

Priest of Sucre (Bolivia) (1959.01.11 – 1995.12.16)

Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (1994.06.21 – 1995.12.16)

Titular Bishop of Curubis (1995.12.16 – 1998.03.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Sucre (Bolivia) (1995.12.16 – 1998.03.07)

Bishop of Potosí (Bolivia) (1998.03.07 – 2009.11.25)

Bishop Edmundo Luis Flavio Abastoflor Montero (82) (later Archbishop)
(1984.10.06 – 1996.07.31)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of La Paz (Bolivia)

Born:	1943.12.15 (Sucre, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:	1967.06.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1985.04.13

Priest of Sucre (Bolivia) (1967.06.10 – 1984.10.06)

Bishop of Potosí (Bolivia) (1984.10.06 – 1996.07.31)

President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (1991 – 1997)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Paz (Bolivia) (1996.07.31 – 2020.05.23)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (2003 – 2009)

Bishop Bernardo Leonardo Fey Schneider, C.SS.R.
(1968.12.30 – 1983.05.21)

Born:	1910.02.25 (Petite Rosselle, France)
Ordained Priest:	1935.08.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.09.07
Died:	1989.10.20 (Cochabamba, Bolivia † 79)

Auxiliary Bishop of Potosí (Bolivia) (1952.07.09 – 1956.07.28)

Titular Bishop of Philadelphia minor (1952.07.09 – 1968.12.30)

Coadjutor Bishop of Potosí (Bolivia) (1956.07.28 – 1968.12.30)

Bishop of Potosí (Bolivia) (1968.12.30 – 1983.05.21)

Bishop Cleto Loayza Gumiel
(1924.11.15 – 1968.12.30)

Born:	1888.04.26 (Sucre, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:	1911.03.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1925.03.15
Died:	1968.12.30 († 80)

Bishop of Potosí (Bolivia) (1924.11.15 – 1968.12.30)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Bernardo Leonardo Fey Schneider, C.SS.R. (1956.07.28 – 1968.12.30)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán (later Archbishop) (2005.06.30 – 2009.11.25)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Toribio Ticona Porco (89) (later Cardinal) (1986.04.05 – 1992.06.04)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Bernardino Rivera Alvarez, O.F.M. (1976.11.22 – 2000.04.25)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Bernardo Leonardo Fey Schneider, C.SS.R. (1952.07.09 – 1956.07.28)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica, World Heritage Site: Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de La Paz, Potosí, Potosí
World Heritage Site: Iglesia San Lorenzo de Carangas, Potosí, Potosí
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Llallagua, Potosí
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepción, Potosí, Potosí
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia San Agustín, Potosí, Potosí
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia San Antonio, San Pablo de Lípez, Potosí
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia San Cristóbal, San Cristóbal, Potosí
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia San Juan Bautista, Potosí, Potosí
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia San Juan Bautista, Pocoata, Potosí
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia San Martín, Potosí, Potosí
World Heritage Site (Minor): Iglesia Santo Domingo, Potosí, Potosí

San Juan Bautista de Calama (↙), Iquique (←), Oruro (↖), Cochabamba (↑), Aiquile (↗), Sucre (→), Tarija (↘), Humahuaca (↓)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 118,218 km²

Population: 772,000 Catholics (88.7% of 870,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 50 parishes

Personnel: 58 priests (49 diocesan, 9 religious), 4 deacons, 50 religious (9 brothers, 41 sisters), 8 seminarians