Roman Catholic Diocese of Florida

The Diocese of Florida (Latin: Dioecesis Floridensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in southern Uruguay. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province (covering all Uruguay) of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Montevideo.

Its cathedra is a minor basilica, the Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Luján, dedicated to Our Lady of Luján.

The current bishop, Alfonso Bauer, was appointed in March 2026.

History

• Established on 1931.08.11 as Diocese of Florida–Melo / Floriden(sis)–Melen(sis) (Latin), on territory split off from the suppressed Diocese of Melo (which was erected in 1897 on territory split off from the then Diocese of Montevideo)
• Renamed on 1955.11.15 as Diocese of Florida / Floriden(sis) (Latin), having lost territory to (re)establish a Diocese of Melo.
• Lost territory on 1960.10.22 to establish the Diocese of Tacuarembó.
• Enjoyed a Papal visit by Pope John Paul II in May 1988.^[1][2]

Statistics

As per 2014, it pastorally served 91,500 Catholics (74.7% of 122,500 total) on 22,600 km2 in 17 parishes and 72 missions with 29 priests (9 diocesan, 20 religious), 5 deacons, 70 lay religious (22 brothers, 48 sisters), and 1 seminarian.

Episcopal ordinaries

(all Roman Rite)

• Miguel Paternain, Redemptorists (C.Ss.R.) (20 April 1929 – 15 November 1955 see below), previously Bishop of mother see Melo (Uruguay) (1929.04.20 – 1931.08.11)

• Miguel Paternain, Redemptorists (C.Ss.R.) (see above 15 November 1955 – retired 27 February 1960), emeritate first as Titular Bishop of Mades (1960.02.27 – 1960.09.21), then 'promoted' Titular Archbishop of Acrida (1960.09.21 – death 1970.10.19)
• Humberto Tonna Zanotta (5 July 1960 – retired 16 June 1987), also President of Episcopal Conference of Uruguay (1975 – 1979); died 1994
• Raúl Horacio Scarrone Carrero (15 June 1987 – retired 15 March 2008), also President of Episcopal Conference of Uruguay (1991 – 1994 & 1997 – 2000); previously Titular Bishop of Ulpiana (1982.10.13 – 1987.06.15) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Montevideo (Uruguay) (1982.10.13 – 1987.06.15)
• Martín Pablo Pérez Scremini (15 March 2008 – retired 19 March 2026), previously Titular Bishop of Vazari (2004.03.06 – 2008.03.15) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Montevideo (Uruguay) (2004.03.06 – 2008.03.15)
• Alfonso Bauer (19 March 2026 – Present)