Diocese of Viedma
| Diocese of Viedma Dioecesis Viedmensis Diócesis de Viedma | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Argentina |
| Ecclesiastical province | Bahía Blanca |
| Metropolitan | Bahía Blanca |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 89,000 km2 (34,000 sq mi) |
| Population Total Catholics |
(as of 2010) 157,000 115,000 (73.2%) |
| Parishes | 15 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 20 April 1934 (92 years ago) |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of Our lady of Mercy in Viedma, Río Negro |
| Patron saint | Mary Help of Christians |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Esteban María Laxague |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Carlos Alfonso Azpiroz Costa |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Viedma (Dioecesis Viedmensis) is encompassed in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bahía Blanca. The Diocese was erected on April 20, 1934. It is suffragant to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca.[1]
As of 2006 the Bishop was Monsignor Esteban María Laxague, Salesian of Don Bosco,[2] appointed by Pope John Paul II on October 31, 2002. His predecessor was HVRE Marcelo Angiolo Melani, Bishop from June 28, 1995 until 2002, when Laxague took over.
Located in the Rio Negro Province, Argentina, the diocese has its see in the City of Viedma, by the shores of Río Negro River and close to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It encompasses a surface of about 89,000 square kilometers (34,000 sq mi).
In 1953, the diocese was dedicated "to the Missionary Virgin, promoted by the Diocese’s second Bishop, Monsignor Miguel Hesayne (1975-1993)."[3]
The diocese was the site of a pilgrimage in honor of Brother Zatti.[2]
Bishops
The Bishops of Viedma have been:[4]
Ordinaries
- Nicolás Esandi, S.D.B. † (13 September 1934 – 29 August 1948) Died
- José Borgatti, S.D.B. † (28 August 1953 – 26 October 1973) Died
- Miguel Esteban Hesayne † (5 April 1975 – 28 June 1995) Resigned [3]
- Marcelo Angiolo Melani, S.D.B. (28 June 1995 – 9 January 2002) Appointed, Bishop of Neuquén
- Esteban María Laxague, S.D.B. (31 October 2002 – Present) [2]
Coadjutor bishop
- Marcelo Angiolo Melani, S.D.B. (1993-1995)
Auxiliary bishops
- Miguel Angel Alemán Eslava, S.D.B. (1968-1975), appointed Bishop of Río Gallegos
- Carmelo Juan Giaquinta (1980-1986), appointed Bishop of Posadas
See also
Canonical status and jurisdiction
Roman Catholic Diocese of Viedma is a diocese of the catholic church of the Catholic Church.[5]
- Religious territory: Ecclesiastical Province of Bahía Blanca
External links
References
- Back to citation "Diocese of Viedma, Argentina". GCatholic. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 "Bishop Laxague, SDB, Bishop of Viedma: "To go on pilgrimage with Br. Zatti is to live in the certainty that he walks with us"". Agenzia News Salesiana. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 Nicoletti, María Andrea; Barelli, Ana Inés (August 12, 2019). "Blessed among All Women: The Missionary Virgin, Identity and Territory in Patagonia". Studies in Religion. 48 (2). doi:10.1177/0008429819831942. hdl:11336/101586. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- Back to citation "Diocese of Viedma: Present Prelates... Ordinaries". GCatholic. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- Back to citation Roman Catholic Diocese of Viedma, official website