# Roman Catholic Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (Latin: Dioecesis Villaricensis Spiritus Sancti) is a Latin Rite suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Asunción, which cover all and only Paraguay.
Its cathedral episcopal see is Catedral Santa Clara, dedicated to Saint Clara, in the city of Villarrica, Guairá Department.

## Statistics

As per 2014, it pastorally served 342,000 Catholics (99.7% of 343,000 total) on 13,342 km² in 35 parishes, 43 priests (39 diocesan, 4 religious), 65 deacons, 89 lay religious (13 brothers, 76 sisters), 27 seminarians.

## History

* On May 1, 1929, the Diocese of Villarrica was established on territory split off from the then Diocese of Paraguay
* It lost territories thrice, on:
** 1957.01.19 to establish Diocese of San Juan Bautista,
** 1957.01.21 to establish Territorial Prelature of Encarnación y Alto Paraná (now a diocese), and
** 1978.06.05 to establish Diocese of Carapeguá.
* It enjoyed a Papal visit from Pope John Paul II in May 1988.
* On January 13, 1990, the diocese was renamed, or more precisely given an alternative name, as Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (avoiding confusing with its Chilean namesake)

## Bishops

(all Roman Rite and natives)

### Episcopal Ordinaries
#### Suffragan Bishops of Villarrica

* Augustin Rodríguez (October 19, 1931 – December 7, 1965), next Titular Bishop of Castellum Tingitii (1965.12.07 – 1968.12.25) as Military Vicariate of Paraguay (1965.12.07 – death 1968.12.25)
* Felipe Santiago Benítez Avalos (December 4, 1965 – May 20, 1989), also President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (1973 – 1985), First Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1983 – 1987); previously Titular Bishop of Chersonesus in Europa (1961.08.10 – 1965.12.04) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Asunción (Paraguay) (1961.08.10 – 1965.12.04); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción (Paraguay) (1989.05.20 – retired 2002.06.15), President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (1989 – 1990), died 2009
** Auxiliary Bishop : Angel Nicolás Acha Duarte (1975.12.22 – 1978.06.05), Titular Bishop of Lamdia (1975.12.22 – 1978.06.05); later Bishop of Carapeguá (Paraguay) (1978.06.05 – death 1982.06.24)

#### Suffragan Bishops of Villarrica (del Espíritu Santo)

* Sebelio Peralta Álvarez (April 19, 1990 – December 27, 2008), previously Titular Bishop of Iunca in Mauretania (1979.03.05 – 1990.04.19) as Auxiliary Bishop of Villarrica (1979.03.05 – succession 1990.04.19); later Bishop of San Lorenzo (Paraguay) (2008.12.27 – death 2014.11.19)
* Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios (25 June 2010 – 29 June 2017), also Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Ciudad del Este (Paraguay) (2014.09.25 – 2014.11.15), Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (2015.11.03 – ...); previously Titular Bishop of Casæ Calanæ (1993.11.27 – 2003.05.24) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Asunción (Paraguay) (1993.11.27 – 2003.05.24), Military Ordinary of Paraguay (2003.05.24 – 2010.06.25); later Bishop of Caacupé (Paraguay) (2017.06.29 – ...)
* Adalberto Martínez Flores (23 June 2018 – 17 February 2022, appointed Archbishop of Asunción), previously Titular Bishop of Tatilti (1997.08.14 – 2000.05.18) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Asunción (Paraguay) (1997.08.14 – 2000.05.18), Bishop of San Lorenzo (Paraguay) (2000.05.18 – 2007.02.19), Bishop of San Pedro (Paraguay) (2007.02.19 - 2012.03.14), Military Ordinary of Paraguay (2012.03.14 – 2018.06.23).
* Miguel Ángel Cabello Almada (5 Dec 2024 – present)

### Auxiliary bishops

* Angel Nicolás Acha Duarte (1975-1978), appointed Bishop of Carapeguá
* Sebelio Peralta Alvarez (1979-1990), appointed Bishop here

### Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

* Amancio Francisco Benítez Candia, appointed Bishop of Benjamín Aceval in 2018