History

• 1884: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Patagonia Norte (español) / Northern Patagonia (English) / Patagonia Settentrionale (Italiano) / Patagoniæ Septentrionalis (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Buenos Aires)
• 1909: Suppressed (to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, Diocese of La Plata and Diocese of San Juan de Cuyo)
• 1934.04.20: Restored as Diocese of Viedma / Viedmen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Buenos Aires)
• 1957.02.11: Gained territory from Diocese of Mendoza, and lost territory to establish Diocese of Comodoro Rivadavia
• 1961.04.10: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Neuquén
• 1993.07.22: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Alto Valle del Río Negro and Diocese of San Carlos de Bariloche

Special Churches

• Cathedral: Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Merced, Viedma, Rio Negro
• Shrines in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy

Present Prelates Bishop (2002.10.31 – ...): Bishop Esteban María Laxague, S.D.B. (64) Ordinaries Bishops of Viedma (Roman Rite) Bishop Esteban María Laxague, S.D.B. (64) (2002.10.31 – ...) Bishop of Viedma (Argentina) He aquí que vengo a hacer, oh Dios, tu voluntad Born: 1957.03.04 (Argentina) Ordained Priest: 1982.05.10 Consecrated Bishop: 2002.12.21 Bishop of Viedma (Argentina) (2002.10.31 – ...) Bishop Marcelo Angiolo Melani, S.D.B. (Apostolic Administrator 2002.04.06 – 2002.04.30) Bishop Marcelo Angiolo Melani, S.D.B. (1995.06.28 – 2002.01.09) No para ser servido, sino para servir Born: 1938.09.15 (Firenze, Italy) Ordained Priest: 1970.03.21 Consecrated Bishop: 1993.09.18 Died: 2021.04.14 (Pucallpa, Peru † 82) Coadjutor Bishop of Viedma (Argentina) (1993.07.22 – 1995.06.28) Bishop of Viedma (Argentina) (1995.06.28 – 2002.01.09) Bishop of Neuquén (Argentina) (2002.01.09 – 2011.11.08) Apostolic Administrator of Viedma (Argentina) (2002.04.06 – 2002.04.30) Bishop Miguel Esteban Hesayne (1975.04.05 – 1995.06.28) Para servir y dar la vida Born: 1922.12.26 (Argentina) Ordained Priest: 1948.12.12 Consecrated Bishop: 1975.06.04 Died: 2019.12.01 († 96) Bishop of Viedma (Argentina) (1975.04.05 – 1995.06.28) Bishop Miguel Angel Alemán Eslava, S.D.B. (Apostolic Administrator 1968.04.08 – 1975.04.05) Bishop José Borgatti, S.D.B. (1953.08.28 – 1968) Born: 1891.09.17 (Argentina) Ordained Priest: 1916.06.17 Consecrated Bishop: 1953.10.25 Died: 1973.10.26 († 82) Bishop of Viedma (Argentina) (1953.08.28 – 1968) Bishop Nicolás Esandi, S.D.B. (1934.09.13 – 1948.08.29) Pasce agnos meos Born: 1876.12.06 (Argentina) Ordained Priest: 1900.01.28 Consecrated Bishop: 1935.02.17 Died: 1948.08.29 († 71) Bishop of Viedma (Argentina) (1934.09.13 – 1948.08.29) Vicars Apostolic of Patagonia Norte (Roman Rite) Bishop Giovanni Cagliero, S.D.B. (later Cardinal) (1884.09.30 – 1904.03.24) Recto fixus calliero Born: 1838.01.11 (Castelnuovo d’Asti, Italy) Ordained Priest: 1862.06.14 Consecrated Bishop: 1884.12.07 Created Cardinal: 1915.12.06 Died: 1926.02.28 (Roma, Italy † 88) Vicar Apostolic of Patagonia Norte (Argentina) (1884.09.30 – 1904.03.24) Titular Bishop of Magyddus (1884.10.30 – 1904.03.24) Titular Archbishop of Sebastia (1904.03.24 – 1915.12.06) Apostolic Delegate to Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduas (1908.08.07 – 1915.12.06) Cardinal-Priest of S. Bernardo alle Terme (1915.12.09 – 1920.12.16) Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati (1920.12.16 – 1926.02.28)

Former Prelates

• Coadjutor Bishop:  Bishop Marcelo Angiolo Melani, S.D.B. (1993.07.22 – 1995.06.28)
• Auxiliary Bishop:  Bishop Carmelo Juan Giaquinta (later Archbishop) (1980.03.11 – 1986.06.16)

as of 2021.06.22

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