Roman Catholic Diocese of Villarrica in Chile

The Diocese of Villarrica (Latin: Villaricen(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Villarrica in the ecclesiastical province of Concepción in Chile.

Diocese of Villarrica Dioecesis Villaricensis Diócesis de Villarrica
Location
Country	Chile
Ecclesiastical province	Concepción
Metropolitan	Concepción
Statistics
Area	18,630 km2 (7,190 sq mi)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2010) 401,000 281,000 (70.1%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	16 July 1901 (124 years ago)
Cathedral	Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Villarrica
Patron saint	Sacred Heart
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Bishop	Francisco Javier Stegmeier Schmidlin
Metropolitan Archbishop	Fernando Natalio Chomalí Garib
Website
diocesisdevillarrica.cl

History

• 16 July 1901: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Araucanía from the Diocese of Concepción and Diocese of San Carlos de Ancud
• 28 March 1928: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Araucanía
• 19 November 2001: Promoted as Diocese of Villarrica

Bishops

Ordinaries, in reverse chronological order

• Bishops of Villarrica (Roman rite), below
  • Bishop Francisco Javier Stegmeier Schmidlin (2009.02.07 – )
  • Bishop Sixto José Parzinger Foidl, OFMCap (2001.11.19 – 2009.02.07)
• Vicars Apostolic of Araucanía (Roman rite), below
  • Bishop Sixto José Parzinger Foidl, OFMCap (1977.12.17 – 2001.11.19)
  • Bishop Carlos Guillermo Hartl de Laufen, OFMCap (1958.03.05 – 1977.02.06)
  • Bishop Guido Benedetto Beck de Ramberga, OFMCap (1928.03.28 – 1958.03.05)
• Prefect Apostolic of Araucanía (Roman rite), below
  • Bishop Guido Benedetto Beck de Ramberga, OFMCap (1925.01.20 – 1928.03.28)

Coadjutor vicar apostolic

• Carlos Guillermo Hartl de Laufen, OFMCap (1956-1958)

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

• René Osvaldo Rebolledo Salinas, appointed Bishop of Osorno in 2004

Sources

• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Diocese website