Metropolitan Archdiocese of Villavicencio, Colombia

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Villavicencio, Meta

Bogotá (↖), Zipaquirá (↑), Garagoa (↑), Yopal (↗), Trinidad (↗), Puerto Gaitán (→), Granada (↘), San José del Guaviare (↘)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2022.12.31 – ...):

Archbishop Misael Vacca Ramírez (67)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Villavicencio (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Misael Vacca Ramírez (67)
(2022.12.31 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Villavicencio (Colombia)

Born:	1955.11.05 (Somondoco, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1983.12.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.08.08

Bishop of Yopal (Colombia) (2001.06.22 – 2015.04.18)

Bishop of Duitama–Sogamoso (Colombia) (2015.04.18 – 2022.12.31)

Apostolic Administrator of Málaga–Soatá (Colombia) (2015.08.15 – 2016.06.29)

Apostolic Administrator of Málaga–Soatá (Colombia) (2021.11.20 – 2022.07.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Villavicencio (Colombia) (2022.12.31 – ...)

Bishop Nelson Jair Cardona Ramírez (54)
(Apostolic Administrator 2022.04.23 – 2022.12.31)

Archbishop Oscar Urbina Ortega (76)
(2007.11.30 – 2022.04.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Villavicencio (Colombia)

Born:	1947.04.13 (Arboledas, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1973.11.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.04.13

Titular Bishop of Forconio (1996.03.08 – 1999.11.09)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá (Colombia) (1996.03.08 – 1999.11.09)

Bishop of Cúcuta (Colombia) (1999.11.09 – 2007.11.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Villavicencio (Colombia) (2007.11.30 – 2022.04.23)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Colombia (2014.07.09 – 2017.07.05)

President of Episcopal Conference of Colombia (2017.07.05 – 2021.07.04)

Archbishop José Octavio Ruiz Arenas (78)
(2004.07.03 – 2007.05.31)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Villavicencio (Colombia)
Secretary emeritus of Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation

Born:	1944.12.21 (Bogotá, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1969.11.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.04.13

Titular Bishop of Troina (1996.03.08 – 2002.07.16)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá (Colombia) (1996.03.08 – 2002.07.16)

Bishop of Villavicencio (Colombia) (2002.07.16 – 2004.07.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Villavicencio (Colombia) (2004.07.03 – 2007.05.31)

Vice-President of Pontifical Commission for Latin America (2007.05.31 – 2011.05.13)

Secretary of Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation (2011.05.13 – 2020.09.02)

Bishops of Villavicencio (Roman Rite)

Bishop José Octavio Ruiz Arenas (78) (later Archbishop)
(2002.07.16 – 2004.07.03)

(see above)

Bishop Alfonso Cabezas Aristizábal, C.M. (79)
(1994.05.03 – 2001.06.16)

Bishop emeritus of Villavicencio (Colombia)

Born:	1943.12.11 (Neiva, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1969.05.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1988.06.04

Titular Bishop of Zama minor (1988.04.22 – 1992.05.13)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cali (Colombia) (1988.04.22 – 1992.05.13)

Coadjutor Bishop of Villavicencio (Colombia) (1992.05.13 – 1994.05.03)

Bishop of Villavicencio (Colombia) (1994.05.03 – 2001.06.16)

Bishop Gregorio Garavito Jiménez, S.M.M.
(1969.04.26 – 1994.05.03)

Born:	1919.03.09 (Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1942.07.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.02.11
Died:	2016.02.16 († 96)

Titular Bishop of Ciparissia (1961.12.04 – 1969.04.26)

Auxiliary Bishop of Villavicencio (Colombia) (1961.12.04 – 1969.04.26)

Bishop of Villavicencio (Colombia) (1969.04.26 – 1994.05.03)

Bishop Frans Joseph Bruls Canisius, S.M.M.
(1964.02.11 – 1969.04.26)

Born:	1897.10.29 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1924.06.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1939.05.01
Died:	1988.09.07 († 90)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Los Llanos de San Martín (Colombia) (1939.01.07 – 1939.06.27)

Titular Bishop of Parætonium (1939.01.07 – 1964.02.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Los Llanos de San Martín (Colombia) (1939.06.27 – 1949.06.09)

Vicar Apostolic of Villavicencio (Colombia) (1949.06.09 – 1964.02.11)

Bishop of Villavicencio (Colombia) (1964.02.11 – 1969.04.26)

Titular Bishop of Trogir (1969.04.26 – 1976.01.07)

Vicars Apostolic of Villavicencio (Roman Rite)

Bishop Frans Joseph Bruls Canisius, S.M.M.
(1949.06.09 – 1964.02.11)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Los Llanos de San Martín (Roman Rite)

Bishop Frans Joseph Bruls Canisius, S.M.M.
(1939.06.27 – 1949.06.09)

(see above)

Bishop Joseph-Marie-Désiré Guiot, S.M.M.
(1908.04.04 – 1939.06.24)

Born:	1860.08.06 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1884.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1908.05.28
Died:	1941.12.24 († 81)

Titular Bishop of Augustopolis in Phrygia (1908.03.24 – 1941.12.24)

Vicar Apostolic of Los Llanos de San Martín (Colombia) (1908.04.04 – 1939.06.24)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Alfonso Cabezas Aristizábal, C.M. (79) (1992.05.13 – 1994.05.03)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Frans Joseph Bruls Canisius, S.M.M. (1939.01.07 – 1939.06.27)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Gregorio Garavito Jiménez, S.M.M. (1961.12.04 – 1969.04.26)

Contact Info

Websites:

Statistics

Area: 53,560 km²

Population: 710,450 Catholics (97.4% of 729,300 total) (2020)

Statistics: 130 parishes, 176 priests (162 diocesan, 14 religious), 9 deacons, 61 lay religious (40 brothers, 21 sisters), 62 seminarians (2020)

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora del Carmen

History

1903.06.23: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Intendencias Orientales (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bogotá in Colombia)
1908.03.16: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Los Llanos de San Martín / Piani di San Martino / Sancti Martini (Latin)
1949.06.09: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Villavicencio / Villavicentien(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Mitú)
1956.04.07: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Vichada
1964.01.16: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Ariari
1964.02.11: Promoted as Diocese of Villavicencio / Villavicentien(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Bogotá)
2004.07.03: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Villavicencio / Villavicentien(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Granada and San José del Guaviare)