Diocese of

Villarrica

Paraguay Paraguay

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Villarrica (español) / Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (español) / Villaricen(sis) Spiritus Sancti (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Asunción

Neighbouring Dioceses: Carapeguá (←), Coronel Oviedo (↑), Caazapá (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Bishop (2024.12.05 – ...):Bishop Miguel Ángel Cabello Almada (60)Bishop Miguel Ángel Cabello Almada (60)

Monsignors (5)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Villarrica (Roman Rite)

Bishop Miguel Ángel Cabello Almada (60)Bishop Miguel Ángel Cabello Almada (60)
(2024.12.05 – ...)

Bishop of Villarrica (Paraguay)

Amor en la verdad

Born:1965.09.04 (Piribebuy, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:1991.09.15
Consecrated Bishop:2013.09.15

Priest of Caacupé (Paraguay) (1991.09.15 – 2013.07.11)

Bishop of Concepción (Paraguay) (2013.07.11 – 2024.12.05)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (2024.11.06 – 2024.12.05)

Bishop of Villarrica (Paraguay) (2024.12.05 – ...)

Cardinal Adalberto Martínez Flores (75)Bishop Adalberto Martínez Flores (75) (later Cardinal)
(2018.06.23 – 2022.02.17)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Giovanni a Porta Latina
Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción (Paraguay)
Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate of Paraguay (Paraguay)

Que todos sean uno

Born:1951.07.08 (Asunción, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:1985.08.24
Consecrated Bishop:1997.11.08
Created Cardinal:2022.08.27

Priest of Saint Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands) (1985.08.24 – 1994)

Priest of Asunción (Paraguay) (1994 – 1997.08.14)

Titular Bishop of Tatilti (1997.08.14 – 2000.05.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Asunción (Paraguay) (1997.08.14 – 2000.05.18)

Bishop of San Lorenzo (Paraguay) (2000.05.18 – 2007.02.19)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (2005 – 2011)

Bishop of San Pedro (Paraguay) (2007.02.19 – 2012.03.14)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (2011.11 – 2015.11.03)

Military Ordinary of Paraguay (Paraguay) (2012.03.14 – 2018.06.23)

Bishop of Villarrica (Paraguay) (2018.06.23 – 2022.02.17)

Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate of Paraguay (Paraguay) (2018.06.23 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (2018.11.09 – 2024.11.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción (Paraguay) (2022.02.17 – ...)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Giovanni a Porta Latina (2022.08.27 [2022.12.07] – ...)

Bishop Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Ríos (71)Bishop Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Ríos (71)
(2010.06.25 – 2017.06.29)

Bishop of Caacupé (Paraguay)

Mi vivir es Cristo

Born:1954.12.13 (Asunción, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:1982.12.12
Consecrated Bishop:1994.01.06

Priest of Asunción (Paraguay) (1982.12.12 – 1993.11.27)

Titular Bishop of Casæ Calanæ (1993.11.27 – 2003.05.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Asunción (Paraguay) (1993.11.27 – 2003.05.24)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (2002 – 2005)

Military Ordinary of Paraguay (Paraguay) (2003.05.24 – 2010.06.25)

Bishop of Villarrica (Paraguay) (2010.06.25 – 2017.06.29)

Apostolic Administrator of Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) (2014.09.25 – 2014.11.15)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (2015.11.03 – 2018.11.09)

Bishop of Caacupé (Paraguay) (2017.06.29 – ...)

Bishop Sebelio Peralta Álvarez
(1990.04.19 – 2008.12.27)

Che jokua’i nandejara

Born:1939.09.19 (Borja, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:1964.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:1979.05.01
Died:2014.11.19 († 75)

Priest of Villarrica (Paraguay) (1964.12.19 – 1979.03.05)

Titular Bishop of Iunca in Mauretania (1979.03.05 – 1990.04.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of Villarrica (Paraguay) (1979.03.05 – 1990.04.19)

Bishop of Villarrica (Paraguay) (1990.04.19 – 2008.12.27)

Bishop of San Lorenzo (Paraguay) (2008.12.27 – 2014.11.19)

Bishop Felipe Santiago Benítez Ávalos (later Archbishop)
(1965.12.04 – 1989.05.20)

Anunciare tu nombre a mis hermanos

Born:1926.05.01 (Piribebuy, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:1952.06.07
Consecrated Bishop:1961.09.24
Died:2009.03.19 († 82)

Priest of Asunción (Paraguay) (1952.06.07 – 1961.08.10)

Titular Bishop of Chersonesus in Europa (1961.08.10 – 1965.12.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Asunción (Paraguay) (1961.08.10 – 1965.12.04)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (1965 – 1969)

Bishop of Villarrica (Paraguay) (1965.12.04 – 1989.05.20)

President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (1973 – 1985)

First Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1983 – 1987)

President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (1989 – 1990)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción (Paraguay) (1989.05.20 – 2002.06.15)

Bishop Agustín Rodríguez
(1931.10.19 – 1965.12.04)

Born:1900.05.05 (Borja, Paraguay)
Ordained Priest:1925.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:1932.05.15
Died:1968.12.25 († 68)

Bishop of Villarrica (Paraguay) (1931.10.19 – 1965.12.04)

Titular Bishop of Castellum Tingitii (1965.12.07 – 1968.12.25)

Military Vicar of Paraguay (Paraguay) (1965.12.07 – 1968.12.25)

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Churches by City (23)

Carapeguá (←), Coronel Oviedo (↑), Caazapá (↓)

Statistics (2025)

Area: 3,946 km²

Population: 198,360 Catholics (88.0% of 225,410 total)

Pastoral Centres: 25 parishes

Personnel: 42 priests (35 diocesan, 7 religious), 43 deacons, 53 religious (53 sisters), 12 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.07.14

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