Diocese of

Guanare

Venezuela

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Guanare / Guanaren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Barquisimeto

Neighbouring Dioceses: Barinas (↙), Trujillo (←), Carora (↖), Barquisimeto (↑), Acarigua–Araure (↗), San Carlos de Venezuela (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora de Coromoto (September 11)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: February 2

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1954.06.07: Established as Diocese of Guanare / Guanaren(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Barquisimeto and Diocese of Calabozo and became suffragan of Caracas)
1966.04.30: Became suffragan of Barquisimeto
2002.12.27: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Acarigua–Araure

Contact Info

Address: Plaza Bolívar, Guanare, Estado Portuguesa, Venezuela

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1996.02)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.04.12 – ...):

Bishop Oswaldo Enrique Araque Valero (61)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Guanare (Roman Rite)

Bishop Oswaldo Enrique Araque Valero (61)
(2023.04.12 – ...)

Bishop of Guanare (Venezuela)

Born:	1964.05.21 (Chiguará, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1995.07.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.07.01

Priest of Barquisimeto (Venezuela) (1995.07.05 – 2023.04.12)

Bishop of Guanare (Venezuela) (2023.04.12 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Barquisimeto (Venezuela) (2023.12.08 – 2024.06.28)

Bishop José de la Trinidad Valera Angulo (78)
(2011.10.12 – 2023.04.12)

Bishop emeritus of Guanare (Venezuela)

Born:	1947.09.03 (San Lázaro, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1975.08.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.04.19

Titular Bishop of Mozotcori (1997.02.15 – 2001.10.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1997.02.15 – 2001.10.18)

Bishop of La Guaira (Venezuela) (2001.10.18 – 2011.10.12)

Bishop of Guanare (Venezuela) (2011.10.12 – 2023.04.12)

Bishop José Sótero Valero Ruz
(2001.03.19 – 2011.10.12)

Born:	1936.04.22 (Timotes, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1964.05.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.06.27
Died:	2012.06.29 († 76)

Titular Bishop of Alba (1998.05.09 – 2001.03.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of Valencia (Venezuela) (1998.05.09 – 2001.03.19)

Bishop of Guanare (Venezuela) (2001.03.19 – 2011.10.12)

Bishop Alejandro Figueroa Medina
(1995.02.21 – 2000.09.29)

Born:	1925.03.16 (Colón, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1950.03.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1986.05.24
Died:	2000.09.29 († 75)

Titular Bishop of Forconio (1986.03.12 – 1995.02.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Barinas (Venezuela) (1986.03.12 – 1995.02.21)

Bishop of Guanare (Venezuela) (1995.02.21 – 2000.09.29)

Bishop Angel Adolfo Polachini Rodriguez
(1971.03.25 – 1994.04.16)

Born:	1919.01.27 (Altagracia de Orituco, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1943.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.04.30
Died:	2004.01.10 († 84)

Titular Bishop of Rusticiana (1966.11.30 – 1971.03.25)

Bishop-Prelate of San Fernando de Apure (Venezuela) (1966.11.30 – 1971.03.25)

Bishop of Guanare (Venezuela) (1971.03.25 – 1994.04.16)

Bishop Eduardo Herrera Riera
(1966.11.30 – 1970.10.31)

Born:	1927.09.07 (Carora, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1955.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1965.03.25
Died:	2012.10.27 († 85)

Titular Bishop of Sesta (1965.01.07 – 1966.11.30)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cumaná (Venezuela) (1965.01.07 – 1966.11.30)

Bishop of Guanare (Venezuela) (1966.11.30 – 1970.10.31)

Titular Bishop of Ubaza (1970.10.31 – 1994.07.05)

Auxiliary Bishop of Barquisimeto (Venezuela) (1970.10.31 – 1994.07.05)

Bishop of Carora (Venezuela) (1994.07.05 – 2003.12.05)

Bishop Pedro Pablo Tenreiro Francia
(1954.10.23 – 1965.11.11)

Born:	1900.06.26 (Caracas, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1923.03.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1939.12.10
Died:	1983.02.20 († 82)

Titular Bishop of Orthosia in Phœnicia (1939.08.30 – 1954.10.23)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cumaná (Venezuela) (1939.08.30 – 1954.10.23)

Bishop of Guanare (Venezuela) (1954.10.23 – 1965.11.11)

Titular Bishop of Auzegera (1965.11.11 – 1971.01.19)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica, National Shrine: Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de Coromoto, Guanare, Portuguesa
Minor Basilica, National Shrine: Basílica Menor Santuario Nacional Nuestra Señora de Coromoto, Quebrada de la Virgen, Portuguesa

Barinas (↙), Trujillo (←), Carora (↖), Barquisimeto (↑), Acarigua–Araure (↗), San Carlos de Venezuela (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 9,710 km²

Population: 453,940 Catholics (87.7% of 517,630 total)

Pastoral Centres: 19 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 30 priests (18 diocesan, 12 religious), 29 religious (13 brothers, 16 sisters), 18 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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