Metropolitan Archdiocese of Teresina, Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Teresina / Teresian(us) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Bom Jesus do Gurguéia, Campo Maior, Floriano, Oeiras, Parnaíba, Picos, São Raimundo Nonato

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora das Dores (September 15)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: February 20 (2003)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1902.02.20: Established as Diocese of Piaui / Piauhyen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of São Luís do Maranhão and became suffragan of São Salvador da Bahia)
1906.05.01: Became suffragan of Belém do Pará
1920.06.18: Lost territory to establish Territorial Prelature of Bom Jesus do Piauí
1922.02.10: Became suffragan of São Luís do Maranhão
1944.12.16: Renamed as Diocese of Teresina / Teresian(us) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Diocese of Oeiras and Diocese of Parnaíba)
1952.08.09: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Teresina / Teresian(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Oeiras, Parnaíba and Bom Jesus do Piauí)
1960.12.17: Gained suffragan see São Raimundo Nonato
1974.10.28: Gained suffragan see Picos
1975.06.12: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Campo Maior and gained suffragan see Campo Maior
2008.02.27: Lost territory to Diocese of Oeiras and gained suffragan see Floriano

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1980.07)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2023.01.04 – ...):

Archbishop Juarez Sousa da Silva (63)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Teresina (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Juarez Sousa da Silva (63)
(2023.01.04 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil)

Ut vitam habeant / Para que tenham vida

Born:	1961.06.30 (Barras, PI, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1994.03.19
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.05.17

Priest of Campo Maior (Brazil) (1994.03.19 – 2008.02.27)

Bishop of Oeiras (Brazil) (2008.02.27 – 2016.01.06)

Coadjutor Bishop of Parnaíba (Brazil) (2016.01.06 – 2016.08.24)

Bishop of Parnaíba (Brazil) (2016.08.24 – 2023.01.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (2023.01.04 – ...)

Archbishop Jacinto Furtado de Brito Sobrinho (77)
(2012.02.22 – 2023.01.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Teresina (Brazil)

In verbo tuo

Born:	1947.06.16 (Bacabal, MA, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1972.01.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.05.24

Priest of Bacabal (Brazil) (1972.01.15 – 1998.02.18)

Bishop of Crateús (Brazil) (1998.02.18 – 2012.02.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (2012.02.22 – 2023.01.04)

Archbishop Sérgio da Rocha (65) (later Cardinal)
(2008.09.03 – 2011.06.15)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Croce in Via Flaminia
Metropolitan Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil)
Member of Council of Cardinals

Omnia in Caritate

Born:	1959.10.21 (Dobrada, SP, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1984.12.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.08.11
Created Cardinal:	2016.11.19

Priest of São Carlos (Brazil) (1984.12.14 – 2001.06.13)

Titular Bishop of Alba (2001.06.13 – 2007.01.31)

Auxiliary Bishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (2001.06.13 – 2007.01.31)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (2007.01.31 – 2008.09.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (2008.09.03 – 2011.06.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brasília (Brazil) (2011.06.15 – 2020.03.11)

President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (2015.04.20 – 2019.05.06)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Croce in Via Flaminia (2016.11.19 [2017.04.23] – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil) (2020.03.11 – ...)

Member of Council of Cardinals (2023.03.07 – ...)

Archbishop Celso José Pinto da Silva
(2001.02.21 – 2008.09.03)

Para servir

Born:	1933.10.29 (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1959.03.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.05.01
Died:	2018.09.28 (Teresina, PI, Brazil † 84)

Titular Bishop of Urusi (1978.03.06 – 1981.07.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (1978.03.06 – 1981.07.04)

Bishop of Vitória da Conquista (Brazil) (1981.07.04 – 2001.02.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (2001.02.21 – 2008.09.03)

Archbishop Miguel Fenelon Câmara Filho
(1984.10.07 – 2001.02.21)

Scio cui credidi

Born:	1925.04.04 (Quixeramobim, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1948.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.03.19
Died:	2018.06.28 (Teresina, PI, Brazil † 93)

Titular Bishop of Ath Truim (1970.01.09 – 1974.02.05)

Auxiliary Bishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (1970.01.09 – 1974.02.05)

Titular Archbishop of Ath Truim (1974.02.05 – 1976.11.24)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Maceió (Brazil) (1974.02.05 – 1976.11.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maceió (Brazil) (1976.11.24 – 1984.10.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (1984.10.07 – 2001.02.21)

Archbishop José Freire Falcão (later Cardinal)
(1971.11.25 – 1984.02.15)

Servir em humildade

Born:	1925.10.23 (Ererê, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1949.06.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.06.17
Created Cardinal:	1988.06.28
Died:	2021.09.26 (Brasilia, DF, Brazil † 95)

Priest of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1949.06.19 – 1967.04.24)

Titular Bishop of Vardimissa (1967.04.24 – 1967.08.19)

Coadjutor Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1967.04.24 – 1967.08.19)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1967.08.19 – 1971.11.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (1971.11.25 – 1984.02.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brasília (Brazil) (1984.02.15 – 2004.01.28)

Second Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1987 – 1991)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Luca a Via Prenestina (1988.06.28 – 2021.09.26)

Died of COVID-19.

Archbishop Avelar Brandão Vilela (later Cardinal)
(1955.11.05 – 1971.03.25)

De plenitudine Christi

Born:	1912.06.13 (Viçosa, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1935.10.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1946.10.27
Created Cardinal:	1973.03.05
Died:	1986.12.19 (São Salvador da Bahia, BA, Brazil † 74)

Priest of Aracaju (Brazil) (1935.10.27 – 1946.06.13)

Bishop of Petrolina (Brazil) (1946.06.13 – 1955.11.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (1955.11.05 – 1971.03.25)

Vice-President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (1964 – 1968)

Second Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1965 – 1966)

President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1966 – 1972)

Vice-President of National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (1971 – 1974)

Metropolitan Archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia (Brazil) (1971.03.25 – 1986.12.19)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Bonifacio ed Alessio (1973.03.05 – 1986.12.19)

Archbishop Severino Vieira de Melo
(1952.08.09 – 1955.05.27)

Born:	1880.06.05 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1903.01.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1923.11.25
Died:	1955.05.27 († 74)

Bishop of Piaui (Brazil) (1923.06.08 – 1944.12.16)

Bishop of Teresina (Brazil) (1944.12.16 – 1952.08.09)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (1952.08.09 – 1955.05.27)

Bishops of Teresina (Roman Rite)

Bishop Severino Vieira de Melo (later Archbishop)
(1944.12.16 – 1952.08.09)

(see above)

Bishops of Piaui (Roman Rite)

Bishop Severino Vieira de Melo (later Archbishop)
(1923.06.08 – 1944.12.16)

(see above)

Bishop Octaviano Pereira de Albuquerque (later Archbishop)
(1914.04.02 – 1922.10.27)

Born:	1866.07.03 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1888.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1914.06.11
Died:	1949.01.03 († 82)

Bishop of Piaui (Brazil) (1914.04.02 – 1922.10.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of São Luís do Maranhão (Brazil) (1922.10.27 – 1935.12.16)

Archbishop-Bishop of Campos (Brazil) (1935.12.16 – 1949.01.03)

Bishop Joaquim Antônio d’Almeida
(1905.12.14 – 1910.10.23)

Born:	1868.08.17 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1894.12.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1906.02.04
Died:	1947.04.01 († 78)

Bishop of Piaui (Brazil) (1905.12.14 – 1910.10.23)

Bishop of Natal (Brazil) (1910.10.23 – 1915.06.14)

Titular Bishop of Lares (1915.06.14 – 1947.04.01)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Sérgio da Rocha (65) (later Cardinal) (2007.01.31 – 2008.09.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José González Alonso (84) (1994.12.07 – 2001.06.20)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Raimundo de Castro e Silva (1950.06.17 – 1954.11.17)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora das Dores, Teresina, Piauí
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)

Churches by City (77)

Caxias do Maranhão (←), Brejo (↑), Campo Maior (→), Crateús (↘), Picos (↘), Oeiras (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 26,273 km²

Population: 1,120,000 Catholics (90.8% of 1,233,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 110 parishes, 31 missions

Personnel: 142 priests (119 diocesan, 23 religious), 72 deacons, 240 religious (95 brothers, 145 sisters), 45 seminarians