Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Sucre

Bolivia Bolivia

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Sucre / Sucren(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Potosí, Tarija

Neighbouring Dioceses: Potosí (←), Aiquile (↑), Santa Cruz de la Sierra (↗), Camiri (→), Tarija (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Inmaculada Concepción (December 8), San Miguel (September 29)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: October 20

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2020.02.11 – ...):Archbishop Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán (63)Archbishop Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán (63)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Sucre (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán (63)Archbishop Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán (63)
(2020.02.11 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sucre (Bolivia)

Deus spes mea

Born:1962.11.07 (Suquistaca, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:1988.08.11
Consecrated Bishop:2005.09.15

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 – ...)

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

Archbishop Jesús Juárez Párraga, S.D.B. (82)Archbishop Jesús Juárez Párraga, S.D.B. (82)
(2013.02.02 – 2020.02.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Sucre (Bolivia)

Omnibus bene facere

Born:1943.07.22 (Alquerias, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1972.12.16
Consecrated Bishop:1988.06.18

Titular Bishop of Gummi in Proconsulari (1988.04.16 – 1994.06.25)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Paz (Bolivia) (1988.04.16 – 1994.06.25)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (1991 – 1994)

Bishop of El Alto (Bolivia) (1994.06.25 – 2013.02.02)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (1997 – 2000)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (2000 – 2003)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (2003 – 2009)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sucre (Bolivia) (2013.02.02 – 2020.02.11)

Archbishop Jesús Gervasio Pérez Rodríguez, O.F.M.
(1989.11.06 – 2013.02.02)

Born:1936.06.19 (Tamaraceite, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1962.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:1985.09.08
Died:2021.03.23 (Cochabamba, Bolivia † 84)

Titular Bishop of Lilibeo (1985.06.14 – 1989.11.06)

Auxiliary Bishop of Sucre (Bolivia) (1985.06.14 – 1989.11.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sucre (Bolivia) (1989.11.06 – 2013.02.02)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (2009 – 2012)

Archbishop René Fernández Apaza
(1983.11.30 – 1988.04.16)

Born:1924.01.09 (Padilla, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:1948.11.28
Consecrated Bishop:1968.04.21
Died:2013.08.14 (Cochabamba, Bolivia † 89)

Bishop of Oruro (Bolivia) (1968.03.02 – 1981.11.21)

Military Vicar of Bolivia (Bolivia) (1975.07.30 – 1986.05.17)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Sucre (Bolivia) (1981.11.21 – 1983.11.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sucre (Bolivia) (1983.11.30 – 1988.04.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cochabamba (Bolivia) (1988.04.16 – 1999.07.08)

Cardinal José Clemente Maurer, C.SS.R.
(1951.10.27 – 1983.11.30)

Dominus ædificatio mea

Born:1900.03.13 (Püttlingen, Germany)
Ordained Priest:1925.09.19
Consecrated Bishop:1950.04.16
Created Cardinal:1967.06.26
Died:1990.06.27 (Sucre, Bolivia † 90)

Titular Bishop of Cea (1950.03.01 – 1951.10.27)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Paz (Bolivia) (1950.03.01 – 1951.10.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sucre (Bolivia) (1951.10.27 – 1983.11.30)

Cardinal-Priest of SS. Redentore e S. Alfonso in Via Merulana (1967.06.29 – 1990.06.27)

President of Episcopal Conference of Bolivia (1968 – 1979)

Archbishop Daniel Rivero Rivero
(1940.02.03 – 1951)

Born:1876.01.03 (Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:1899.01.08
Consecrated Bishop:1922.07.09
Died:1960.05.23 († 84)

Titular Bishop of Tlous (1922.05.17 – 1931.03.30)

Coadjutor Bishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) (1922.05.17 – 1931.03.30)

Bishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) (1931.03.30 – 1940.02.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sucre (Bolivia) (1940.02.03 – 1951)

Titular Archbishop of Heliopolis in Phœnicia (1951 – 1960.05.23)

Archbishop Luigi Francesco Pierini, O.F.M.
(1924.11.11 – 1939.10.28)

Born:1871.10.22 (Bagnaia, Italy)
Ordained Priest:1894.02.23
Consecrated Bishop:1918.05.30
Died:1939.10.28 († 68)

Bishop of Cochabamba (Bolivia) (1918.02.20 – 1923.10.31)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1923.10.31 – 1924.11.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sucre (Bolivia) (1924.11.11 – 1939.10.28)

Metropolitan Archbishops of La Plata (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Luigi Francesco Pierini, O.F.M.
(1923.10.31 – 1924.11.11)

(see above)

Archbishop Victor Arrién
(1914.01.13 – 1922.12.14)

Born:1867.11.17 (Sucre, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:1891.03.30
Consecrated Bishop:1914.09.21
Died:1931.09.07 († 63)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1914.01.13 – 1922.12.14)

Titular Archbishop of Oxyrynchus (1922.12.14 – 1931.09.07)

Archbishop Sebastiano Francisco Pifferi, O.F.M.
(1906.04.30 – 1912.02.04)

Born:1848.11.04 (Castelmadama, Italy)
Ordained Priest:1871.05.14
Consecrated Bishop:1905.10.22
Died:1912.02.04 († 63)

Titular Archbishop of Hiericho (1905.10.02 – 1906.04.30)

Coadjutor Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1905.10.02 – 1906.04.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1906.04.30 – 1912.02.04)

Archbishop Miguel de los Santos Taborga
(1898.02.25 – 1906.04.30)

Born:1833.07.05 (Sucre, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:1857.01.11
Consecrated Bishop:1898.05.08
Died:1906.04.30 († 72)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1898.02.25 – 1906.04.30)

Archbishop Pedro José Cayetano de la Llosa
(1887 – 1897.08.02)

Born:1829.08.07 (Sucre, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:1852.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:1888.05.20
Died:1897.08.02 († 67)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1887 – 1897.08.02)

Archbishop Pedro Jose Puch y Solona
(1861.12.13 – 1885.11.25)

Born:1813.01.30 (Charcas, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:1836.03.20
Consecrated Bishop:1862.08.24
Died:1885.11.25 († 72)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1861.12.13 – 1885.11.25)

Archbishop Manuel Ángel del Prado Cárdenas
(1855.09.28 – 1858.09)

Born:1802.02.27 (Irupana, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:1826.08.27
Consecrated Bishop:1846.12.13
Died:1858.09 († 56)

Bishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) (1846.01.19 – 1855.09.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1855.09.28 – 1858.09)

Archbishop José María Mendizábal
(1835.07.24 – 1846.09.29)

Born:1778.08.15 (Jujuy, Argentina)
Consecrated Bishop:1829.11.30
Died:1846.09.29 (Sucre, Bolivia † 68)

Bishop of La Paz (Bolivia) (1828.12.15 – 1835.07.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1835.07.24 – 1846.09.29)

Archbishop Diego Antonio Navarro Martín de Villodras
(1818.03.16 – 1829)

Born:1759.02.09 (Moclín, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1785
Consecrated Bishop:1809.09.10
Died:1829 († 70)

Bishop of Concepción (Chile) (1806.08.26 – 1818.03.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1818.03.16 – 1829)

Archbishop Benito María de Moxó y Francolí, O.S.B.
(1805.06.26 – 1816.04.11)

Born:1763.04.10 (Cervera, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1804.05.01
Died:1816.04.11 († 53)

Titular Bishop of Assuras (1803.06.20 – 1805.06.26)

Auxiliary Bishop of Michoacán (Mexico) (1803.06.20 – 1805.06.26)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1805.06.26 – 1816.04.11)

Archbishop José Campos Julián, O.C.D.
(1784.09.20 – 1804.03.25)

Born:1727.02.17 (El Frasno, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1780.09.17
Died:1804.03.25 († 77)

Bishop of Córdoba (Argentina) ([1778.07.30] 1778.09.28 – 1784.09.20)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1784.09.20 – 1804.03.25)

Archbishop Francisco Ramón Herboso y Figueroa, O.P.
(1776.09.16 – 1782.04.29)

Born:1710? (Lima, Peru)
Consecrated Bishop:1762.08.29
Died:1782.04.29 († 71)

Bishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) (1761.04.06 – 1776.09.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1776.09.16 – 1782.04.29)

Archbishop Pedro Miguel Argandoña Pastene Salazar
(1762.01.25 – 1775.08.11)

Born:1693.06.03 (Córdoba, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:1717.02.11
Consecrated Bishop:1746.08.28
Died:1775.08.11 († 82)

Bishop of Córdoba (Argentina) (1745 – 1762.01.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1762.01.25 – 1775.08.11)

Archbishop Cayetano Marcellano y Agramont
(1758.03.13 – 1760.08.28)

Born:1697 (Cuzco, Peru)
Consecrated Bishop:1750.08.02
Died:1760.08.28 († 62)

Bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) ([1749.01.23] 1749.04.21 – 1757.05.23)

Bishop of Trujillo (Peru) (1757.05.23 – 1758.03.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1758.03.13 – 1760.08.28)

Archbishop Gregorio de Molleda Clerque
(1747.09.04 – 1756.04.01)

Born:1692.05.08 (Lima, Peru)
Ordained Priest:1716.04.11
Consecrated Bishop:1725.10.07
Died:1756.04.01 († 63)

Bishop of Cartagena (Colombia) (1729.08.03 – 1740.12.19)

Bishop of Trujillo (Peru) (1740.12.19 – 1747.09.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1747.09.04 – 1756.04.01)

Archbishop Salvador Bermúdez y Becerra
(1746.06.14 – 1747.12.29)

Born:1680 (Medellin, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:1704
Consecrated Bishop:1733.11.22
Died:1747.12.29 († 66)

Bishop of Concepción (Chile) (1731.06.18 – 1742.02.28)

Bishop of La Paz (Bolivia) (1742.02.28 – 1746.06.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1746.06.14 – 1747.12.29)

Archbishop Agustín Rodríguez Delgado
(1742.01.22 – 1746.06.14)

Born:1674.10.04 (Oropesa, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1726.09.08
Died:1746.12.18 (Sucre, Bolivia † 72)

Bishop of Panamá (Panama) (1725.12.19 – 1731.12.17)

Bishop of La Paz (Bolivia) (1731.12.17 – 1742.01.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1742.01.22 – 1746.06.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lima (Peru) (1746.06.14 – 1746.12.18)

Archbishop Alonso del Pozo y Silva
(1730.07.24 – 1742.01.22)

Born:1669 (Concepción, Chile)
Ordained Priest:1694?
Consecrated Bishop:1715.02.10
Died:1745.12.17 († 75)

Bishop of Córdoba (Argentina) ([1713.09.01] 1713.12.11 – 1723.11.22)

Bishop of Santiago (Chile) (1723.11.22 – 1730.07.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1730.07.24 – 1742.01.22)

Archbishop Luis Francisco Romero
(1725.11.19 – 1728.11.28)

Born:1665 (Alcobendas, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1707.08.27
Died:1728.11.28 († 62)

Bishop of Santiago (Chile) (1705.01.26 – 1717.07.12)

Bishop of Quito (Ecuador) (1717.07.12 – 1725.11.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1725.11.19 – 1728.11.28)

Bishop Juan de Necolalde
(1723.05.12 – 1724.05.14 not possessed)

Born:1664 (La Plata, Bolivia)
Ordained Priest:1688
Consecrated Bishop:1716
Died:1724.05.14 (Arica, Chile † 59)

Bishop of Concepción (Chile) (1715.04.01 – 1723.05.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1723.05.12 – 1724.05.14 not possessed)

Archbishop Diego Morcillo Rubio de Suñón de Robledo, O.SS.T.
(1714.03.21 – 1723.05.12)

Born:1642.01.03 (Villarrobledo, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1703
Died:1730.03.12 (Lima, Peru † 88)

Bishop of León (Nicaragua) ([1701.11.21] 1702.03.15 – 1708.05.14)

Bishop of La Paz (Bolivia) (1708.05.14 – 1714.03.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1714.03.21 – 1723.05.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lima (Peru) (1723.05.12 – 1730.03.12)

Bishop Pedro Vázquez de Velasco
(1711 – 1714.02.26 not possessed)

Born:1657? (Lima, Peru)
Died:1714.02.26 († 56)

Bishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) (1706.02.22 – 1714.02.26)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1711 – 1714.02.26 not possessed)

Archbishop Juan Queipo de Llano y Valdés
(1694.04.19 – 1709)

Born:1635 (Oviedo, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1681.12.21
Died:1709 († 74)

Bishop of La Paz (Bolivia) (1680.09.23 – 1694.04.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1694.04.19 – 1709)

Archbishop Bartolome Gonzalez y Poveda
(1685.04.09 – 1692.11.26)

Born:1635 (Almería, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1686.06.02?
Died:1692.11.26 († 56)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1685.04.09 – 1692.11.26)

Archbishop Cristóbal de Castilla y Zamora
(1679.08.30 – 1683.12.07)

Born:1618 (Lucena, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1669.09.29
Died:1683.12.07 († 64)

Bishop of Huamanga (Peru) (1678.06.11 – 1678.11.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1679.08.30 – 1683.12.07)

Archbishop Melchor de Liñán y Cisneros
(1672.02.08 – 1677.06.14)

Born:1629.12.19 (Madrid, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1665
Died:1708.06.28 (Lima, Peru † 78)

Bishop of Santa Marta (Colombia) (1664.10.06 – 1668.01.26)

Bishop of Popayán (Colombia) (1668.01.26 – 1672.02.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1672.02.08 – 1677.06.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lima (Peru) (1677.06.14 – 1708.06.28)

Bishop Bernardo de Isaguirre
(1669.07.15 – 1670.03.17 not possessed)

Born: (Toledo, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1659.01.12
Died:1670.03.17

Bishop of Panamá (Panama) (1654.05.18 – 1660)

Bishop of Cusco (Peru) (1662.07.31 – 1669.07.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1669.07.15 – 1670.03.17 not possessed)

Archbishop Gaspar de Villarroel, O.E.S.A.
(1659.01.27 – 1665.10.12)

Born:1587 (Quito, Ecuador)
Consecrated Bishop:1638.05.02
Died:1665.10.12 († 77)

Bishop of Santiago (Chile) (1637.04.20 – 1651.12.11)

Bishop of Arequipa (Peru) (1651.12.11 – 1659.01.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1659.01.27 – 1665.10.12)

Archbishop Juan Alonso y Ocón
(1651.07.17 – 1656.06.29)

Born:1597.03.21 (Villa de Ocón, Spain)
Died:1656.06.29 († 59)

Bishop of Yucatán (Mexico) (1638.06.14 – 1643.08.31)

Bishop of Cusco (Peru) (1643.08.31 – 1651.07.17)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1651.07.17 – 1656.06.29)

Archbishop Pedro de Oviedo Falconi, O. Cist.
(1645.08.21 – 1649.10.18)

Born: (18470 Alcalá de Henares, Spain)
Died:1649.10.18

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) (1621.01.22 – 1628.07.10)

Archbishop-Bishop of Quito (Ecuador) (1628.07.10 – 1645.08.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1645.08.21 – 1649.10.18)

Archbishop Francisco Vega Borja, O.S.B.
(1635.07.09 – 1644.06.23)

Born: (Spain)
Died:1644.06.23

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1635.07.09 – 1644.06.23)

Archbishop Francisco Sotomayor, O.F.M.
(1628.06.05 – 1630.02.05)

Born: (Santo Tomé, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1624.08.18
Died:1630.02.05 (Sucre, Peru)

Bishop of Cartagena (Colombia) (1623.05.22 – 1623.12.18)

Bishop of Quito (Ecuador) (1623.12.18 – 1628.06.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1628.06.05 – 1630.02.05)

Archbishop Hernando de Arias y Ugarte
(1625.07.30 – 1628)

Born:1561.09.09 (Bogotá, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:1608?
Consecrated Bishop:1614.09.28
Died:1638.01.27 (Lima, Peru † 76)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santafé en Nueva Granada (Colombia) (1618.01 – 1625.07.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1625.07.30 – 1628)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lima (Peru) (1628 – 1638.01.27)

Archbishop Jerónimo Tiedra Méndez, O.P.
(1616.11.14 – 1623)

Born: (Salamanca, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1617
Died:1623

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1616.11.14 – 1623)

Archbishop Alonso de Peralta
(1609.01.19 – 1614.12.03)

Born: (Arequipa, Peru)
Consecrated Bishop:1609.11.30
Died:1614.12.03

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1609.01.19 – 1614.12.03)

Bishops of La Plata (Roman Rite)

Bishop Luis López de Solís, O.E.S.A.
(1605.07.18 – 1606.07.05)

Born:1534 (Salamanca, Spain)
Ordained Priest:1558
Consecrated Bishop:1594.04.03
Died:1606.07.05 (Lima, Peru † 71)

Bishop of Quito (Ecuador) (1592.09.07 – 1605.07.18)

Bishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1605.07.18 – 1606.07.05)

Bishop Alonso Ramírez Vergara, O.S.
(1594.06.17 – 1602.11.19)

Born: (Segura de León, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1595
Died:1602.11.19

Bishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1594.06.17 – 1602.11.19)

Bishop Alfonso de la Cerda, O.P.
(1587.11.06 – 1592.06.25)

Born: (Spain)
Died:1592.06.25

Bishop of Comayagua (Honduras) (1578.01.13 – 1587.11.06)

Bishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1587.11.06 – 1592.06.25)

Bishop Alfonso Graniero Avalos
(1579.01.09 – 1585)

Born: (Spain)
Died:1585

Bishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1579.01.09 – 1585)

Bishop Domingo de Santo Tomás, O.P.
(1562.07.06 – 1570.12)

Born:1499 (Sevilla, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1562.12.26
Died:1570.12 († 71)

Bishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1562.07.06 – 1570.12)

Bishop Tomás de San Martín, O.P.
(1552.06.27 – 1559)

Born:1482.03.07 (Córdoba, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:1552.12?
Died:1559 († 77)

Bishop of La Plata (Bolivia) (1552.06.27 – 1559)

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Potosí (←), Aiquile (↑), Santa Cruz de la Sierra (↗), Camiri (→), Tarija (↓)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 51,124 km²

Population: 542,000 Catholics (88.9% of 610,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 50 parishes

Personnel: 84 priests (72 diocesan, 12 religious), 126 religious (14 brothers, 112 sisters), 12 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.03.30

© 2026 GCatholic.org

Up