Diocese of

São Luís de Montes Belos

Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: São Luís de Montes Belos / Sancti Aloisii de Montes Belos (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Goiânia

Neighbouring Dioceses: Jataí (↙), Barra do Garças (←), Goiás (↑), Goiânia (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (June 21)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1961.11.25: Established as Territorial Prelature of São Luís de Montes Belos / Sancti Aloisii de Montes Belos (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Goiânia, Diocese of Goiás and Diocese of Jataí and became suffragan of Goiânia)
1981.08.04: Promoted as Diocese of São Luís de Montes Belos / Sancti Aloisii de Montes Belos (Latin)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.01.22 – ...):

Bishop Lindomar Rocha Mota (54)

Monsignors (3)

Ordinaries

Bishops of São Luís de Montes Belos (Roman Rite)

Bishop Lindomar Rocha Mota (54)
(2020.01.22 – ...)

Bishop of São Luís de Montes Belos (Brazil)

Gratia et pax multiplicetur

Born:	1971.11.20 (Arataca, BA, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1998.07.26
Consecrated Bishop:	2020.03.14

Priest of Diamantina (Brazil) (1998.07.26 – 2020.01.22)

Bishop of São Luís de Montes Belos (Brazil) (2020.01.22 – ...)

Bishop Carmelo Scampa (82)
(2002.10.30 – 2020.01.22)

Bishop emeritus of São Luís de Montes Belos (Brazil)

Lumen Semitis Meis

Born:	1944.01.27 (Scandolara Ripa d’Olio, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1971.06.27
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.01.05

Priest of Cremona (Italy) (1971.06.27 – 2002.10.30)

Bishop of São Luís de Montes Belos (Brazil) (2002.10.30 – 2020.01.22)

Bishop Washington Cruz, C.P. (80) (later Archbishop)
(1987.02.10 – 2002.05.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Goiânia (Brazil)

Prædicamus Crucifixum

Born:	1946.05.25 (Itabuna, BA, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1971.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.05.09

Bishop of São Luís de Montes Belos (Brazil) (1987.02.10 – 2002.05.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Goiânia (Brazil) (2002.05.08 – 2021.12.09)

Bishop Estanislau Arnoldo van Melis, C.P.
(1981.08.04 – 1987.02.10)

Born:	1911.03.19 (Zeeland, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1936.05.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1963.02.02
Died:	1998.11.23 (Nijmegen, Netherlands † 87)

Titular Bishop of Polemonium (1962.11.26 – 1978.05.26)

Bishop-Prelate of São Luís de Montes Belos (Brazil) (1962.11.26 – 1981.08.04)

Bishop of São Luís de Montes Belos (Brazil) (1981.08.04 – 1987.02.10)

Prelates of São Luís de Montes Belos (Roman Rite)

Bishop Estanislau Arnoldo van Melis, C.P.
(1962.11.26 – 1981.08.04)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Rubens Augusto de Souza Espínola (1980.12.20 – 1985.10.12)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral São Luís Gonzaga, São Luís de Montes Belos, Goiás

Churches by City (42)

Jataí (↙), Barra do Garças (←), Goiás (↑), Goiânia (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 42,671 km²

Population: 297,000 Catholics (85.6% of 347,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 41 parishes

Personnel: 42 priests (34 diocesan, 8 religious), 14 deacons, 36 religious (16 brothers, 20 sisters), 9 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.07.14

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