Diocese of Cametá

The Diocese of Cametá, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, was a historic diocese in Brazil. Established in the early eighteenth century to serve the growing Catholic population along the Tocantins River, it existed for only a few decades before its territory was reassigned. The see is now a titular diocese of the Latin Church.

Stored in Cargo: Diocese of Cametá

Diocese: Diocese of Cametá
Status:	Historic
Rite:	Latin
Type:	Suffragan diocese
Country:	Brazil
Region:	Pará
Existence:	1720–1752
Successor Dioceses:	Diocese of Belém do Pará
Chancery Address:	Cametá, Brazil

Establishment

The Diocese of Cametá was erected in 1720 by papal authority to provide pastoral care for the Catholic faithful in the region of what is now the state of Pará. Its creation reflected the expansion of Portuguese colonial presence and missionary activity in the Amazon basin.

History

The diocese operated for approximately three decades amid the challenges of frontier evangelization and limited clergy. In 1752 its territory was incorporated into the neighboring Diocese of Belém do Pará, resulting in the suppression of the see. Hagiographic tradition holds that early bishops faced significant hardships in ministering to indigenous populations and scattered colonial settlements.

Geography

The historic diocese covered areas along the lower Tocantins River in what is today the Brazilian state of Pará. Its territory corresponded roughly to the modern municipalities surrounding the city of Cametá.

Mother Church

The former cathedral was located in Cametá; no standing structure from the diocesan period survives.

Leadership

Past Bishops

Name	Tenure	Notes
Manuel de Almeida e Aguilar	1724–1738	First bishop; focused on missionary expansion.
João de São José de Queirós e Carvalho	1740–1752	Last residential bishop; see suppressed at end of tenure.

Information on additional bishops cannot be confirmed from available historical records.

Titular Status

Cametá is a titular see. It has been assigned to auxiliary bishops and other prelates without residential jurisdiction since its suppression.

Fun facts

Below are some fun facts about the Diocese of Cametá:

Did you know? The Diocese of Cametá existed for only thirty-two years before its territory was united with the Diocese of Belém do Pará in 1752.

Surprise! Its brief life still left a lasting mark on Catholic life along the Tocantins River in northern Brazil.

Here's something cool: The city of Cametá, once the seat of the diocese, remains an important river port and center of regional Catholic devotion today.

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Diocesan photos

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External links

• Catholic-Hierarchy.org entry for Cametá