The Roman Catholic Diocese of Babahoyo (Latin: Dioecesis Babahoiensis) is a diocese located in the city of Babahoyo in the ecclesiastical province of Guayaquil in Ecuador.[1]
History
In 1947, the area was set up as the Apostolic Vicariate of Los Ríos or Fluminum (in Latin), from the then-Diocese of Guayaquil.[1] An apostolic vicariate is normally a temporary situation, and exempt under canon law, directly subject to the missionary Dicastery for Evangelization of the Vatican in Rome; the territory comes directly under the pope as "universal bishop", and the pope exercises this authority through a "vicar".[2][3] The Apostolic vicariate in this period (1947-1951) was headed by an administrator, Fr. Adolfo Maria Astudillo Morales, who never was ordained a bishop.[4]
In 1951, it was promoted to a Territorial Prelature, subject to the Diocese of Quito, and still with an administrator who was a priest, Astudillo Morales.[1]
In 1956, the Territorial Prelature became suffragan to the Diocese of Guayaquil.[1]
Pope Pius XII (reigned 1939-1958) was instrumental in the development of the Diocese, as he created both the Apostolic Vicariate and the Territorial Prelature, and then transferred the latter to Guayaquil. In addition, he approved of the veneration of Our Lady of Quito, Queen of Ecuador as a patron of Catholic education in Ecuador.[5] Finally, Pius XII also promoted the local bishop (of Guayaquil and later Archbishop of Quito), Carlos María de la Torre, to be a Cardinal in 1953, becoming the first cardinal from Ecuador.[6][7]
On 22 August 1994, it was promoted to the Diocese of Babahoyo, by Pope John Paul II.[1]
Ordinaries
The ordinaries, or supervisors of the Diocese of Babahoyo have been as follows:[4]
- Adolfo Maria Astudillo Morales (13 Aug 1948 – 1957), never consecrated bishop
- Victor Garaygordóbil Berrizbeitia (1957 – 29 Nov 1963); see below
Prelate of Los Rios
- Victor Garaygordóbil Berrizbeitia (29 Nov 1963 – 12 May 1982); consecrated bishop at this time; see above
- Jesús Ramón Martínez de Ezquerecocha Suso (28 Jun 1984 – 22 Aug 1994); see below
Bishops of Babahoyo
- Jesús Ramón Martínez de Ezquerecocha Suso (22 Aug 1994 – 27 Mar 2008); see above
- Fausto Trávez Trávez, O.F.M. (27 Mar 2008 – 11 September 2010), appointed Archbishop of Quito
- Marco Pérez Caicedo (10 February 2012 - 20 June 2016), appointed Archbishop of Cuenca
- Skiper Bladimir Yáñez Calvachi (27 Mar 2018 - )
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4][1.5]"Diocese of Babahoyo, Ecuador". GCatholic. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- 2."Code of Canon Law, Book II, Canon 371, §1". The Vatican. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- 3.Fanning, William. ""Vicar Apostolic." The Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912". Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- 4.[4.2]"Diocese of Babahoyo, Ecuador ... Present Prelates ... Ordinaries". GCatholic. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- 5."Our Lady of Quito Queen of Ecuador: 1906 – 2006". Society of Pius X. Retrieved 28 May 2026. In 1956, the golden anniversary of the miracle, there was a Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Quito. Pope Pius XII in the Brief of the Coronation said: "Having consulted the Sacred Congregation of Rites, we grant by our apostolic authority and in virtue of this brief to our beloved son, Carl María de la Torre, Cardinal Priest of the Holy Church, Archbishop of Quito, that he impose in our name and with our authority, a Crown of gold upon the image of the Most Holy Virgin, the Sorrowful Mother of the College, AS QUEEN OF THE CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN ECUADOR."
- 6."Ecuador Cardinal Dies". The Voice, via the Catholic News Archives. 9 August 1968. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- 7."Cardinals Created by Pius XII (1953)". GCatholic. 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2026.