Metropolitan Archdiocese of La Plata, Argentina

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2023.07.28 – ...):	Archbishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre (54)
Auxiliary Bishop (2012.12.04 – ...):	Bishop Alberto Germán Bochatey, O.S.A. (68) Titular Bishop of Mons in Mauretania General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Argentina
Auxiliary Bishop (2020.06.05 – ...):	Bishop Jorge Esteban González (57) Titular Bishop of Alesa
Auxiliary Bishop (2023.02.25 – ...):	Bishop Federico Guillermo Wechsung (48) Titular Bishop of Pederodiana

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of La Plata (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre (54)
(2023.07.28 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina)

Cristo es nuestra paz

Born:	1968.09.15 (Mar del Plata, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1997.05.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.08.26

Priest of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (1997.05.16 – 2017.07.18)

Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (2017.07.18 – 2023.07.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (2023.07.28 – ...)

Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernández (61)
(2018.06.02 – 2023.07.01)

Prefect of Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
President of Pontifical Biblical Commission
President of International Theological Commission
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of La Plata (Argentina)

En medio de tu pueblo

Born:	1962.07.18 (Alcira Gigena, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1986.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.06.15
Created Cardinal:	2023.09.30

Priest of Río Cuarto (Argentina) (1986.08.15 – 2013.05.13)

Rector of Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (2011.05 – 2018.04.23)

Titular Archbishop of Tiburnia (2013.05.13 – 2018.06.02)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (2018.06.02 – 2023.07.01)

Prefect of Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (2023.07.01 – ...)

President of Pontifical Biblical Commission (2023.07.01 – ...)

President of International Theological Commission (2023.07.01 – ...)

Archbishop Héctor Rubén Aguer (80)
(2000.06.12 – 2018.06.02)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of La Plata (Argentina)

Silenti opere

Born:	1943.05.24 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1972.11.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1992.04.04

Titular Bishop of Lamdia (1992.02.26 – 1998.06.26)

Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1992.02.26 – 1998.06.26)

Coadjutor Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1998.06.26 – 2000.06.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (2000.06.12 – 2018.06.02)

Archbishop Carlos Walter Galán Barry
(1991.05.08 – 2000.06.12)

Born:	1925.05.31 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1953.09.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.03.25
Died:	2003.01.25 († 77)

Titular Bishop of Cediæ (1981.02.11 – 1991.05.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of Morón (Argentina) (1981.02.11 – 1991.05.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1991.05.08 – 2000.06.12)

Archbishop Antonio Quarracino (later Cardinal)
(1985.12.18 – 1990.07.10)

Ipsi gloria

Born:	1923.08.08 (Pollica, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1945.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.04.08
Created Cardinal:	1991.06.28
Died:	1998.02.28 (Buenos Aires, Argentina † 74)

Priest of Mercedes (Argentina) (1945.12.22 – 1962.02.03)

Bishop of Nueve de Julio (Argentina) (1962.02.03 – 1968.08.03)

Bishop of Avellaneda (Argentina) (1968.08.03 – 1985.12.18)

General Secretary of Latin American Episcopal Council (1979 – 1983)

President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1983 – 1987)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1985.12.18 – 1990.07.10)

President of Episcopal Conference of Argentina (1990 – 1996)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1990.07.10 – 1998.02.28)

Ordinary of Argentina of the Eastern Rite (Argentina) (1990.11.20 – 1998.02.28)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria della Salute a Primavalle (1991.06.28 – 1998.02.28)

Archbishop Antonio José Plaza
(1955.11.14 – 1985.12.18)

Born:	1909.12.21 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1934.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1950.07.25
Died:	1987.08.11 († 77)

Titular Bishop of Doberus (1950.05.16 – 1953.08.28)

Auxiliary Bishop of Azul (Argentina) (1950.05.16 – 1953.08.28)

Bishop of Azul (Argentina) (1953.08.28 – 1955.11.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1955.11.14 – 1985.12.18)

Archbishop Tomás Juan Carlos Solari
(1948.09.20 – 1954.05.13)

Born:	1899.03.25 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1924.04.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1943.11.11
Died:	1954.05.13 († 55)

Titular Bishop of Aulon (1943.08.23 – 1948.09.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1943.08.23 – 1948.09.20)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1948.09.20 – 1954.05.13)

Archbishop Juan Pascual Chimento
(1938.10.16 – 1946.12.25)

Born:	1887.06.26 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1911.04.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1928.12.21
Died:	1946.12.25 († 59)

Titular Bishop of Sela (1928.09.29 – 1934.09.13)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1928.09.29 – 1934.09.13)

Bishop of Mercedes (Argentina) (1934.09.13 – 1938.10.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1938.10.16 – 1946.12.25)

Archbishop Francisco Alberti
(1934.04.20 – 1938.06.27)

Born:	1865.03.28 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1895.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1899.04.09
Died:	1938.06.27 († 73)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1899.02.21 – 1917)

Titular Bishop of Siunia (1899.02.21 – 1921.07.13)

Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1917 – 1921.07.13)

Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1921.07.13 – 1934.04.20)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1934.04.20 – 1938.06.27)

Bishops of La Plata (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francisco Alberti (later Archbishop)
(1921.07.13 – 1934.04.20)

(see above)

Bishop Juan Nepomuceno Terrero y Escalada
(1900.12.07 – 1921.01.10)

Born:	1850.08.13 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1880.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1898.06.19
Died:	1921.01.10 († 70)

Titular Bishop of Delcus (1898.04.21 – 1900.12.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1898.04.21 – 1900.12.07)

Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1900.12.07 – 1921.01.10)

Bishop Mariano Antonio Espinosa (later Archbishop)
(1898.02.08 – 1900.08.24)

Born:	1844.07.02 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1868.04.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1893.10.22
Died:	1923.04.08 († 78)

Titular Bishop of Tiberiopolis (1893.06.15 – 1898.02.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1893.06.15 – 1898.02.08)

Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1898.02.08 – 1900.08.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1900.08.24 – 1923.04.08)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Héctor Rubén Aguer (80) (1998.06.26 – 2000.06.12)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Nicolás Baisi (59) (2010.04.08 – 2020.05.08)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Antonio Marino (81) (2003.04.11 – 2011.04.06)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Guillermo José Garlatti (83) (later Archbishop) (1994.08.27 – 1997.02.20)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José María Montes (1978.06.15 – 1983.01.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Mario Picchi, S.D.B. (1975 – 1978.03.31)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Octavio Nicolás Derisi (later Archbishop) (1970.11.16 – 1984.05.24)
Auxiliary Bishop: Venerable Bishop Eduardo Francisco Pironio (later Cardinal) (1964.03.24 – 1972.04.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Raúl Francisco Primatesta (later Cardinal) (1957.06.14 – 1961.06.12)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Enrique Rau (1951.03.20 – 1954.10.23)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Germiniano Esorto (later Archbishop) (1943.08.23 – 1946.11.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Anunciado Serafini (1935.05.11 – 1939.06.20)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Juan Pascual Chimento (later Archbishop) (1928.09.29 – 1934.09.13)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Santiago Luis Copello (later Cardinal) (1918.11.08 – 1928.05.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Francisco Alberti (later Archbishop) (1899.02.21 – 1917)

Tweets

Contact Info

Address: Calle 14, N° 1009, Bl900DVQ, La Plata, Argentina

Phone: (0221) 4251656

Websites:

Statistics

Area: 4,652 km²

Population: 907,000 Catholics (86.4% of 1,050,000 total) (2021)

Statistics: 75 parishes, 137 priests (124 diocesan, 13 religious), 7 deacons, 393 religious (43 brothers, 350 sisters), 84 seminarians (2021)

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Inmaculada Concepción (December 8), Saint Pontian (November 19)

History

1897.02.15: Established as Diocese of La Plata / Platen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Buenos Aires and became suffragan of Buenos Aires)
1911.05.09: Gained territory from the suppressed Apostolic Vicariate of Patagonia Septentrional
1934.04.20: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of La Plata / Platen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Azul, Bahía Blanca and Viedma and lost territory to establish Diocese of Azul, Diocese of Bahía Blanca and Diocese of Mercedes)
1947.03.03: Lost territory to establish Diocese of San Nicolás de los Arroyos
1957.02.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Lomas de Zamora, Diocese of Mar del Plata, Diocese of Morón and Diocese of San Isidro, lost suffragan sees Bahía Blanca and Viedma and gained suffragan sees Lomas de Zamora, Mar del Plata and Posadas
1961.04.10: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Avellaneda, lost suffragan see Posadas and gained suffragan see Avellaneda
1964.03.02: Lost territory to Diocese of Avellaneda and Diocese of Lomas de Zamora
1967.05.05: Lost suffragan sees Avellaneda and Lomas de Zamora and gained suffragan sees Mercedes and Nueve de Julio
1976.03.27: Gained suffragan see Zárate–Campana
1976.06.19: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Quilmes and gained suffragan see Quilmes
1980.03.27: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Chascomús and gained suffragan see Chascomús
1997.11.21: Lost suffragan see Mercedes–Luján
2007.09.26: Lost suffragan see Quilmes
2019.10.04: Lost suffragan sees Nueve de Julio and Zárate–Campana