Diocese of São Tomé e Príncipe, São Tomé and Príncipe

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: São Tomé e Príncipe (Português) / São Tomé and Príncipe (English) / Sancti Thomæ in Insula (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Thomas (December 21)

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1534.11.03: Established as Diocese of Tomé (Português) / Tommaso (Italiano) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Funchal and became suffragan of Funchal)
1551.07.03: Became suffragan of Lisboa
1596.05.20: Lost territory to establish Diocese of São Salvador da Congo
1676.11.16: Became suffragan of São Salvador da Bahia
1741: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Ava and Pegu
1818.06.08: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Cape of Good Hope and adjacent territories
1842.01.22: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Deux Guinées et Sénégambie
1844.01.13: Became suffragan of Lisboa
1924: Renamed as Diocese of São Tomé (Português) / San Tommaso (Italiano)
1940.09.04: Became suffragan of Luanda
1957: Renamed as Diocese of São Tomé e Príncipe (Português) / São Tomé and Príncipe (English) / Sancti Thomæ in Insula (Latin)
1984: Without ecclesiastical province

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1992.06)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2024.01.09 – ...):

Bishop João de Ceita Nazaré (51)

Ordinaries

Bishops of São Tomé e Príncipe (Roman Rite)

Bishop João de Ceita Nazaré (51)
(2024.01.09 – ...)

Bishop of São Tomé e Príncipe (São Tomé and Príncipe)

Born:	1973.08.22 (Trindade, São Tomé and Príncipe)
Ordained Priest:	2006.08.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.03.17

Priest of São Tomé e Príncipe (São Tomé and Príncipe) (2006.08.04 – 2024.01.09)

Bishop of São Tomé e Príncipe (São Tomé and Príncipe) (2024.01.09 – ...)

Bishop António Lungieki Pedro Bengui (50)
(Apostolic Administrator 2022.07.13 – 2024.01.09)

Bishop Manuel António Mendes dos Santos, C.M.F. (64)
(2006.12.01 – 2022.07.13)

Bishop emeritus of São Tomé e Príncipe (São Tomé and Príncipe)

Ecce ego mitte me

Born:	1960.03.20 (Lamego, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1985.06.13
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.02.17

Bishop of São Tomé e Príncipe (São Tomé and Príncipe) (2006.12.01 – 2022.07.13)

Bishop Abílio Rodas de Sousa Ribas, C.S.Sp. (93)
(1984.12.03 – 2006.12.01)

Bishop emeritus of São Tomé e Príncipe (São Tomé and Príncipe)

Eis-me aqui Senhor

Born:	1931.01.02 (Várzea do Soajo, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1957.09.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1985.02.24

Bishop of São Tomé e Príncipe (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1984.12.03 – 2006.12.01)

Apostolic Administrator of Luena (Angola) (2006.12.11 – 2007.11.26)

Fr. João de Freitas Alves, C.M.F.
(Apostolic Administrator 1980 – 1983)

Archbishop Manuel Nuñes Gabriel
(Apostolic Administrator 1966 – 1980)

Archbishop Moisés Alves de Pinho, C.S.Sp.
(1941.01.18 – 1966.11.17)

Born:	1883.07.17 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1908.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1932.07.17
Died:	1980.06.27 († 96)

Bishop of São Paulo de Loanda (Angola) (1932.04.07 – 1940.09.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Luanda (Angola) (1940.09.04 – 1966.11.17)

Bishop of São Tomé e Príncipe (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1941.01.18 – 1966.11.17)

Titular Archbishop of Perdices (1966.11.17 – 1971.01.27)

Bishops of Tomé (Roman Rite)

Bishop António José de Souza Barroso
(1897.09.15 – 1899.05.20)

Born:	1854.11.04
Ordained Priest:	1879.09.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1891.07.05
Died:	1918.08.31 († 63)

Titular Bishop of Himeria (1891.06.01 – 1897.09.15)

Bishop-Prelate of Mozambique (Mozambique) (1891.06.01 – 1897.09.15)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1897.09.15 – 1899.05.20)

Bishop of Porto (Portugal) (1899.05.20 – 1918.08.31)

Bishop Bartholomeu de Martyribus Maya, O.C.D.
(1816.03.08 – 1819.11.10)

Born:	1764.08.08 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1788.02.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1816.10.28
Died:	1828 († 64)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1816.03.08 – 1819.11.10)

Bishop-Prelate of Mozambique (Mozambique) (1819.11.10 – 1828)

Bishop Custodio d’Almeida, O.A.D.
(1805.06.26 – 1812.03.23)

Born:	1748.04.17 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1777.06.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1805.11.10
Died:	1812.03.23 († 63)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1805.06.26 – 1812.03.23)

Bishop Cayetano Velozo, O.F.M.
(1802.05.24 – 1803.09)

Born:	1728.11.19 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1755.03.16
Died:	1803.09 († 74)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1802.05.24 – 1803.09)

Bishop Rafael de Castello de Vide, O.F.M.
(1794.09.12 – 1800.01.17)

Born:	1746.03.14 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1770.03.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1795
Died:	1800.01.17 († 53)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1794.09.12 – 1800.01.17)

Bishop Domingo a Rosario, O.P.
(1782.12.16 – 1788)

Born:	1737.07.27 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1760.07.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1783.12.14
Died:	1788 († 51)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1782.12.16 – 1788)

Bishop Vicente do Espirito Santo, O.A.D.
(1779.03.01 – 1782.12.17)

Born:	1730.10.15 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1754.09.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1779.11.30
Died:	1788.11.29 († 58)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1779.03.01 – 1782.12.17)

Bishop-Prelate of Goiás (Brazil) (1782.12.17 – 1788.11.29)

Bishop Antonio Nogueira
(1753.01.29 – 1758)

Born:	1703.10.01 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1728.02.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1753.07.25
Died:	1758 († 55)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1753.01.29 – 1758)

Bishop Ludovico Das Chagas, O.E.S.A.
(1745.12.15 – 1747)

Born:	1709.12.19 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1734.09.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1746.03.13
Died:	1747 († 38)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1745.12.15 – 1747)

Bishop Tomas Luiz da Conceição, O.A.D.
(1742.11.26 – 1744)

Born:	1703.08.25 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1726.08.04
Died:	1744 († 41)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1742.11.26 – 1744)

Bishop Leandro a Pietate, O.A.D.
(1739.09.03 – 1740)

Born:	1688.11.14 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1712.12.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1739.01.25
Died:	1740 († 52)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1739.09.03 – 1740)

Bishop João de Sahagún, O.A.D.
(1709.07.22 – 1730.10.12)

Born:	1668.04.09 (Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:	1710
Died:	1730.10.12 († 62)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1709.07.22 – 1730.10.12)

Bishop Antonio da Penha de Franca, O.A.D.
(1699.11.05 – 1702)

Born:	1649.11.06 (Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:	1700.06.29
Died:	1702 († 53)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1699.11.05 – 1702)

Bishop Timóteo do Sacramento, O.S.B.
(1693.01.02 – 1696.12.17)

Born:	1653.02.05 (Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:	1693.04.12
Died:	1714.04 († 61)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1693.01.02 – 1696.12.17)

Bishop of São Luís do Maranhão (Brazil) (1696.12.17 – 1700)

Bishop Sebastião de São Paulo, O.F.M.
(1687.06.09 – 1690)

Born:	(Portugal)
Died:	1690

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1687.06.09 – 1690)

Bishop Bernardo de Santa Maria Zuzarte de Andrade, C.R.S.A.
(1677.08.30 – 1680)

Born:	1617 (Portugal)
Died:	1680 († 63)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1677.08.30 – 1680)

Bishop Manoel a Nativitate do Nascimento, O.S.H.
(1674.04.16 – 1677)

Born:	1624 (Portugal)
Died:	1677 († 53)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1674.04.16 – 1677)

Bishop Domingos de Assumpção, O.P.
(1627.03.01 – 1632.10)

Born:	1571 (Portugal)
Died:	1632.10 († 60)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1627.03.01 – 1632.10)

Bishop Francisco do Soveral, O.E.S.A.
(1623.10.05 – 1627.02.08)

Consecrated Bishop:	1624.04
Died:	1642.01.05

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1623.10.05 – 1627.02.08)

Bishop of São Salvador da Congo (Angola) (1627.02.08 – 1628)

Bishop of São Paulo de Loanda (Angola) (1628 – 1642.01.05)

Bishop Pedro de São Agostinho Figueira de Cunha Lobo, O.E.S.A.
(1615.10.26 – 1620.05.16)

Born:	(Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:	1616
Died:	1620.05.16

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1615.10.26 – 1620.05.16)

Bishop Jeronimo Quintanilla, O. Cist.
(1611.02.21 – 1614)

Born:	1561
Died:	1614 († 53)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1611.02.21 – 1614)

Bishop Antonio Valente, O.P.
(1604.08.30 – 1608)

Born:	1560 (Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:	1604.11.14
Died:	1608 († 48)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1604.08.30 – 1608)

Bishop Francisco de Villanova, O.F.M.
(1592.02.17 – 1602.12.25)

Died:

1602.12.25

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1592.02.17 – 1602.12.25)

Bishop Martinho de Ulhoa, O. Cist.
(1578.01.25 – 1592)

Died:

1606.08.08

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1578.01.25 – 1592)

Bishop Gaspar Cao, O.E.S.A.
(1554.07.06 – 1572.02.17)

Consecrated Bishop:	1554.09.14
Died:	1572.02.17

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1554.07.06 – 1572.02.17)

Bishop Bernardo da Cruz, O.P.
(1540.09.24 – 1553.04.28)

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1540.09.24 – 1553.04.28)

Bishop Diego de Ortiz de Vilhegas
(1533.01.31 – 1540.09.24)

Died:

1544.07.04

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1533.01.31 – 1540.09.24)

Bishop of Ceuta (Spain) (1540.09.24 – 1544.07.04)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Graça, São Tomé, Água Grande

Churches by City (14)

Libreville (→), Port-Gentil (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 1,001 km²

Population: 117,140 Catholics (52.5% of 223,160 total)

Pastoral Centres: 14 parishes, 42 missions

Personnel: 15 priests (7 diocesan, 8 religious), 42 religious (12 brothers, 30 sisters), 6 seminarians