Roman Catholic Territorial Prelature of Illapel

The Territorial Prelature of Illapel (Latin: Praelatura Territorialis Ilapensis) is a territorial prelature located in the city of Illapel in the ecclesiastical province of La Serena in Chile.

Territorial Prelature of Illapel Praelatura Territorialis Ilapensis Prelatura Territorial de Illapel
Cathedral of St Raphael
Location
Country	Chile
Ecclesiastical province	La Serena
Metropolitan	La Serena
Statistics
Area	10,350 km2 (4,000 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2004) 82,000 78,000 (95.1%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	30 April 1960 (64 years ago)
Cathedral	Cathedral of St Raphael in Illapel
Patron saint	St Raphael the Archangel
Current leadership
Prelate	Jorge Patricio Vega Velasco
Metropolitan Archbishop	René Osvaldo Rebolledo Salinas
Bishops emeritus	Rafael de la Barra Tagle
Website
www.iglesia.cl/illapel

History

• 30 April 1960: Established as Territorial Prelature of Illapel from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of La Serena and Diocese of San Felipe

Leadership, in reverse chronological order

• Prelates of Illapel (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Jorge Patricio Vega Velasco, S.V.D. (2010.02.20 – present)
  • Bishop Rafael de la Barra Tagle, S.V.D. (1989.06.17 – 2010.02.20)
  • Bishop Pablo Lizama Riquelme (1985.12.19 – 1988.02.24), appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Talca; future Archbishop
  • Bishop Cirilo Polidoro Van Vlierberghe, O.F.M. (1966.06.27 – 1984.08.11)
  • Bishop Cirilo Polidoro Van Vlierberghe, O.F.M. (Apostolic Administrator 1960 – 1966.06.27)

Sources

• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Prelature website

31.6333°S 71.1692°W / -31.6333; -71.1692