Archdiocese of Belém do Pará
The Archdiocese of Belém do Pará, a metropolitan archdiocese of the Latin Rite, is an active archdiocese in northern Brazil. Established in the 18th century under Portuguese colonial rule, it serves as the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Belém and oversees a vast territory along the Amazon River basin. The archdiocese plays a central role in the Catholic Church's presence in the Amazon region, supporting indigenous communities and urban parishes alike. Its current archbishop is Alberto Taveira Corrêa, appointed in 2009. Stored in Cargo: Archdiocese of Belém do Pará
| Diocese: Archdiocese of Belém do Pará | |
| Status: | Active |
| Rite: | Latin |
| Type: | Archdiocese |
| Ecclesiastical Province: | Province of Belém |
| Suffragan Dioceses: | Diocese of Bragança do Pará; Diocese of Cametá; Diocese of Castanhal; Diocese of Macapá; Diocese of Marabá; Diocese of Parintins; Diocese of Ponta de Pedras; Diocese of Santarém; Diocese of São Félix do Xingu; Territorial Prelature of Itaituba |
| Country: | Brazil |
| Region: | Pará |
| Bishop: | Alberto Taveira Corrêa |
| Website: | https://www.arquidiocesedebelem.org.br/ |
| Catholic %: | 70.0% |
| Existence: | 1752– |
| Rating: | 3.5 |
| Chancery Address: | Praça Dom Frei Caetano Brandão, s/n
Belém, PA 66010-040 Brazil |
Establishment
The Archdiocese of Belém do Pará traces its origins to the establishment of the Diocese of Belém do Pará in 1752 by Pope Benedict XIV, carved from the larger Diocese of São Luís do Maranhão to serve the growing Catholic population in the Amazon region of colonial Brazil.
History
The see was elevated to an archdiocese in 1906 by Pope Pius X. It has undergone several territorial adjustments over the centuries as new dioceses were created from its original vast jurisdiction to better serve the expanding population and missionary needs in the Amazon basin.
Geography
The archdiocese covers the metropolitan area of Belém and surrounding regions in the state of Pará, Brazil. It forms part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Belém.
Mother Church
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace in Belém serves as the mother church of the archdiocese.
Leadership
Current Bishop
Alberto Taveira Corrêa has served as archbishop since 2009.
Auxiliary Bishops
No auxiliary bishops are currently listed.
Past Bishops
| Name | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bartolomeu do Pilar | 1724–1733 | First bishop of the see. |
| Hilário da Cruz | 1734–1748 | |
| Vicente da Silva Coutinho | 1752–1759 | |
| João de São José de Queirós e Carvalho | 1760–1763 | |
| João Batista de Oliveira | 1764–1780 | |
| Caetano da Silva Coutinho | 1781–1795 | |
| Francisco de São Simão | 1796–1804 | |
| Manuel de Almeida e Vasconcelos | 1805–1813 | |
| Romualdo de Souza Coelho | 1814–1841 | |
| José Afonso de Morais Torres | 1844–1857 | |
| Antônio de Macedo Costa | 1861–1890 | Elevated see to archdiocese. |
| José de Almeida Neto | 1891–1915 | |
| João Irineu Joffily | 1916–1935 | |
| Antônio de Almeida Moraes Júnior | 1935–1961 | |
| Alberto Gaudêncio Ramos | 1961–1990 | |
| Vicente Joaquim Zico | 1990–2005 | |
| Orani João Tempesta | 2005–2009 | Transferred to Rio de Janeiro. |
| Alberto Taveira Corrêa | 2009–present | Current archbishop. |
Theological and Cultural Orientation
The archdiocese maintains a balanced approach (rating: 3.5), with standard liturgical practices alongside attention to both traditional devotions and social outreach programs addressing Amazonian environmental and indigenous concerns.
Statistics
The archdiocese serves a predominantly Catholic population across its territory in Pará.
Religious Communities
Various religious orders and congregations serve in the archdiocese, including those focused on education and missionary work in the Amazon.
Parishes
The archdiocese comprises numerous parishes organized to serve both urban and rural communities.
Mission and Services
Catholic Education
The archdiocese supports Catholic schools throughout its territory.
Community Outreach
Programs include social services and support for indigenous populations.
Notable Events or Figures
- The archdiocese has been instrumental in Amazonian evangelization since the colonial era.
Fun facts
Below are some fun facts about the Archdiocese of Belém do Pará:
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Associated saints
No saints yet.
Religious orders
No religious orderes categorized yet.
Diocesan photos
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