Diocese of Coari

The Diocese of Coari, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, is an active diocese located in the state of Amazonas in Brazil. Established on 10 July 1963 by Pope Paul VI, it forms part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Manaus and serves a vast territory along the Solimões River. The diocese is currently led by Bishop José Albuquerque de Araújo, who was appointed in 2022. It plays a vital role in supporting Catholic communities in the Amazon region through evangelization and pastoral care amid challenging geographic conditions.

Stored in Cargo: Diocese of Coari

Diocese: Diocese of Coari
Status:	Active
Rite:	Latin
Type:	Suffragan diocese
Ecclesiastical Province:	Province of Manaus
Metropolitan Archdiocese:	Archdiocese of Manaus
Country:	Brazil
Region:	Amazonas
Bishop:	José Albuquerque de Araújo
Existence:	1963–

Establishment

The Diocese of Coari was established on 10 July 1963 by Pope Paul VI to serve the growing Catholic population in the interior of Amazonas, carved from territory previously under the Archdiocese of Manaus.

History

The diocese developed amid the missionary efforts of the Latin Rite Church in the Amazon basin during the mid-twentieth century. Its boundaries have remained stable since erection, focusing on riverine communities.

Geography

The diocese covers a large portion of western Amazonas state in Brazil, including municipalities along the Solimões River such as Coari, Tefé, and surrounding areas. It belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Manaus.

Mother Church

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Conception in Coari serves as the mother church of the diocese.

Leadership

Current Bishop

Bishop José Albuquerque de Araújo has served as bishop since 2022.

Auxiliary Bishops

No auxiliary bishops are currently assigned.

Past Bishops

Name	Tenure	Notes
Joaquim de Almeida e Silva	1963–1972	First bishop; transferred to another see.
Mário Roberto Emmett Angeli	1972–1994	Long-serving bishop focused on Amazonian missions.
Gutemberg Freire Régis	1994–2010	Oversaw pastoral expansion.
José Albuquerque de Araújo	2022–present	Current bishop.

Statistics

The diocese encompasses extensive riverine territory in Amazonas and serves numerous parishes and missions.

Religious Communities

Religious orders active in the diocese include various missionary congregations supporting evangelization in the Amazon.

Parishes

The diocese maintains parishes across its territory, with a full list available on separate pages.

Mission and Services

Catholic Education

The diocese supports Catholic schools in key municipalities.

Community Outreach

Programs focus on social assistance and catechesis in remote communities.

Notable Events or Figures

• Early bishops emphasized missionary work among indigenous and riverine populations.

Fun facts

Below are some fun facts about the Diocese of Coari:

Did you know? The Diocese of Coari was erected in 1963 by Pope Paul VI to reach remote Amazon communities along the Solimões River.

Surprise! Its vast territory includes river towns where the faithful often travel by boat to attend Mass.

Here's something cool: The first bishop, Joaquim de Almeida e Silva, helped establish the diocese's presence in frontier areas.

Wow moment: The cathedral in Coari honors Our Lady of the Conception as patroness of the local faithful.

Little-known gem: Successive bishops have promoted vocations despite the challenges of the rainforest environment.

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Associated saints

No saints yet.

Religious orders

No religious orderes categorized yet.

Diocesan photos

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External Links

• [Official diocesan resources via the Archdiocese of Manaus]