Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa
The Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, is an active diocese in eastern Cuba. Established in 1995, it encompasses the civil province of Guantánamo and the municipality of Baracoa, serving a predominantly rural Catholic population. The diocese forms part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Santiago de Cuba and maintains its see in the city of Guantánamo. Its territory reflects the region's distinctive Afro-Cuban and Caribbean Catholic heritage.
Stored in Cargo: Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa
| Diocese: Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa | |
| Status: | Active |
| Rite: | Latin |
| Type: | Suffragan diocese |
| Ecclesiastical Province: | Province of Santiago de Cuba |
| Metropolitan Archdiocese: | Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba |
| Country: | Cuba |
| Region: | Guantánamo Province |
| Bishop: | Silvano Pedroso Montalvo |
| Existence: | 1995– |
Establishment
The Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa was erected on 24 January 1995 by Pope John Paul II through the apostolic constitution *Cum in Urbe*, separating territory from the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba to better serve the growing Catholic communities in the easternmost part of the island.
History
The diocese was created amid the post-Soviet economic challenges in Cuba, allowing for more localized pastoral care in a region with limited prior ecclesiastical infrastructure. Its early years focused on establishing parishes and responding to the needs of rural populations, including those near the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay.
Geography
The diocese covers the entire civil province of Guantánamo together with the municipality of Baracoa. It lies within the Ecclesiastical Province of Santiago de Cuba.
Mother Church
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Guantánamo serves as the mother church of the diocese.
Leadership
Current Bishop
Silvano Pedroso Montalvo has served as bishop since 2022.
Auxiliary Bishops
None currently appointed.
Past Bishops
| Name | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carlos Jesús Patricio Baladrón Valdés | 1995–2006 | First bishop; transferred to Holguín. |
| Wilfredo Pino Estévez | 2006–2016 | Transferred to Camagüey. |
| Álvaro Julio Beyra Luarca | 2016–2022 | Retired. |
| Silvano Pedroso Montalvo | 2022–present | Current bishop. |
Theological and Cultural Orientation
Information on specific liturgical or social emphases remains limited in public records.
Statistics
The diocese serves a modest Catholic population across its territory in eastern Cuba.
Religious Communities
Limited documented presence of major religious orders in the diocese at present.
Parishes
The diocese comprises a number of parishes distributed throughout Guantánamo Province and Baracoa.
Mission and Services
Catholic Education
The diocese supports basic catechetical programs in its parishes.
Community Outreach
Pastoral outreach focuses on family life and sacramental preparation amid local economic conditions.
Notable Events or Figures
- The erection of the diocese in 1995 marked the first new Latin-rite see created in Cuba since the mid-twentieth century.
Fun facts
Below are some fun facts about the Diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa:
Dynamic content
Associated saints
No saints yet.
Religious orders
No religious orderes categorized yet.
Diocesan photos
No results