Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sorocaba, Brazil 🇧🇷

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Sorocaba / Sorocaban(us) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Itapetininga, Itapeva, Jundiaí, Registro

Neighbouring Dioceses: Itapetininga (←), Piracicaba (↑), Jundiaí (↗), Osasco (→), Registro (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora da Ponte (August 15)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1924.07.04: Established as Diocese of Sorocaba / Sorocaban(us) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of São Paulo, Diocese of Botucatu and Diocese of Taubaté and became suffragan of São Paulo)
1968.03.02: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Itapeva
1992.04.29: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sorocaba / Sorocaban(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Itapeva, Jundiaí and Registro)
1998.04.15: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Itapetininga and gained suffragan see Itapetininga

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2026.01.08 – ...):

Archbishop José Roberto Fortes Palau (61)

Monsignors (3)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Sorocaba (Roman Rite)

Archbishop José Roberto Fortes Palau (61)
(2026.01.08 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sorocaba (Brazil)

A verdade vos libertará

Born:	1965.04.09 (Jacareí, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1993.02.06
Consecrated Bishop:	2014.06.21

Priest of São José dos Campos (Brazil) (1993.02.06 – 2014.04.30)

Titular Bishop of Acufida (2014.04.30 – 2019.11.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Paulo (Brazil) (2014.04.30 – 2019.11.20)

Bishop of Limeira (Brazil) (2019.11.20 – 2026.01.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (2026.01.08 – ...)

Archbishop Júlio Endi Akamine, S.A.C. (63)
(2016.12.28 – 2025.03.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Belém do Pará (Brazil)

Bonum facientes infatigabiles

Born:	1962.11.20 (Garça, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1988.01.24
Consecrated Bishop:	2011.07.09

Titular Bishop of Thagamuta (2011.05.04 – 2016.12.28)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Paulo (Brazil) (2011.05.04 – 2016.12.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (2016.12.28 – 2025.03.07)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Belém do Pará (Brazil) (2025.03.07 – 2025.08.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Belém do Pará (Brazil) (2025.08.06 – ...)

Archbishop Eduardo Benes de Sales Rodrigues (85)
(2005.05.04 – 2016.12.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Sorocaba (Brazil)

Mitis et Humilis Corde

Born:	1941.06.25 (Bias Fortes, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1964.12.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.06.21

Priest of Juiz de Fora (Brazil) (1964.12.13 – 1998.03.11)

Titular Bishop of Casæ medianæ (1998.03.11 – 2001.01.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) (1998.03.11 – 2001.01.10)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (2001.01.10 – 2005.05.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (2005.05.04 – 2016.12.28)

Apostolic Administrator of Catanduva (Brazil) (2018.10.10 – 2019.07.10)

Archbishop José Lambert Filho, C.S.S.
(1992.04.29 – 2005.05.04)

Sentir com a Igreja

Born:	1929.03.15 (Igarapava, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1954.01.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.03.19
Died:	2007.02.26 (Sorocaba, SP, Brazil † 77)

Bishop of Itapeva (Brazil) (1975.01.04 – 1979.11.30)

Coadjutor Bishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (1979.11.30 – 1981.03.20)

Bishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (1981.03.20 – 1992.04.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (1992.04.29 – 2005.05.04)

Bishops of Sorocaba (Roman Rite)

Bishop José Lambert Filho, C.S.S. (later Archbishop)
(1981.03.20 – 1992.04.29)

(see above)

Bishop José Melhado Campos
(1973.01.08 – 1981.03.20)

Cum matre Jesu

Born:	1909.11.29 (Limeira, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1934.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.07.17
Died:	1996.09.21 (Tatuí, SP, Brazil † 86)

Priest of Botucatu (Brazil) (1934.08.15 – 1960.05.29)

Bishop of Lorena (Brazil) (1960.05.29 – 1965.02.22)

Titular Bishop of Hospita (1965.02.22 – 1973.01.08)

Coadjutor Bishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (1965.02.22 – 1973.01.08)

Bishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (1973.01.08 – 1981.03.20)

Bishop José Carlos de Aguirre
(1924.07.04 – 1973.01.08)

Por ele, com ele, nele

Born:	1880.04.28 (Itaqueri da Serra, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1904.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1924.12.08
Died:	1973.01.08 (Sorocaba, SP, Brazil † 92)

Bishop of Sorocaba (Brazil) (1924.07.04 – 1973.01.08)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop José Lambert Filho, C.S.S. (later Archbishop) (1979.11.30 – 1981.03.20)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop José Melhado Campos (1965.02.22 – 1973.01.08)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop José Thurler (1962.03.22 – 1965.03.22)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Amaury Castanho (1976.07.19 – 1979.11.30)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Almir Marques Ferreira (1957.04.09 – 1961.08.19)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora da Ponte, Sorocaba, São Paulo
Minor Basilica: Basílica Nossa Senhora da Piedade, Piedade, São Paulo
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)

Churches by City (55)

Itapetininga (←), Piracicaba (↑), Jundiaí (↗), Osasco (→), Registro (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 4,053 km²

Population: 846,000 Catholics (70.0% of 1,208,050 total)

Pastoral Centres: 58 parishes

Personnel: 71 priests (diocesan), 45 deacons, 135 religious (23 brothers, 112 sisters), 27 seminarians