Metropolitan Archdiocese of Caracas, Venezuela 🇻🇪

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2024.06.28 – ...):	Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo, S.D.B. (63)
Auxiliary Bishop (2021.12.23 – ...):	Bishop Carlos Eduardo Márquez Delima (64) Titular Bishop of Cefala
Auxiliary Bishop (2026.03.18 – ...):	Bishop-elect José Dionisio Gómez Gouveia (59) Titular Bishop of Fuerteventura
Auxiliary Bishop (2026.03.18 – ...):	Bishop-elect José Manuel León, C.P. (59) Titular Bishop of Gigthi

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Caracas (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo, S.D.B. (63)
(2024.06.28 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela)

Born:	1962.10.23 (Caracas, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1989.07.15
Consecrated Bishop:	2014.02.08

Bishop of La Guaira (Venezuela) (2013.11.30 – 2024.06.28)

Second Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (2018.01.09 – 2022.01.07)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (2022.01.07 – 2023.07.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (2024.06.28 – ...)

Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo (81)
(2023.01.17 – 2024.06.28)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Giovanni Evangelista e Petronio
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Caracas (Venezuela)

In nomine tuo

Born:	1944.10.10 (Caracas, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1967.07.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1983.09.17
Created Cardinal:	2016.11.19

Priest of Calabozo (Venezuela) (1967.07.30 – 1983.07.23)

Titular Bishop of Lamdia (1983.07.23 – 1991.10.30)

Auxiliary Bishop of Mérida (Venezuela) (1983.07.23 – 1991.10.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mérida (Venezuela) (1991.10.30 – 2023.01.31)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (1993 – 1999)

Apostolic Administrator of San Cristóbal de Venezuela (Venezuela) (1998.03.02 – 1999.04.14)

President of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (1999 – 2006)

First Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (2007.07.12 – 2011.05.19)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (2009 – 2012)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Giovanni Evangelista e Petronio (2016.11.19 [2017.06.11] – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Caracas (Venezuela) (2018.07.09 – 2023.01.17)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (2023.01.17 – 2024.06.28)

Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo (81)
(Apostolic Administrator 2018.07.09 – 2023.01.17)

Cardinal Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino
(2005.09.19 – 2018.07.09)

Pro mundi vita

Born:	1942.08.28 (Caracas, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1967.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.09.22
Created Cardinal:	2006.03.24
Died:	2021.09.23 (Caracus, Venezuela † 79)

Priest of Caracas (Venezuela) (1967.08.15 – 1982.07.03)

Chaplain of His Holiness (1976.07.10 – 1982.07.03)

Titular Bishop of Vegesela in Byzacena (1982.07.03 – 1990.03.16)

Auxiliary Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1982.07.03 – 1990.03.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Valencia (Venezuela) (1990.03.16 – 2005.09.19)

Apostolic Administrator of Caracas (Venezuela) (2003.07.07 – 2005.09.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (2005.09.19 – 2018.07.09)

Second Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (2006 – 2009)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria ai Monti (2006.03.24 [2006.07.02] – 2021.09.23)

Member of Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of the Apostolic See (2009.05.09 – 2014.02.24)

Died of COVID-19.

Archbishop Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino (later Cardinal)
(Apostolic Administrator 2003.07.07 – 2005.09.19)

Cardinal Ignacio Antonio Velasco García, S.D.B.
(1995.05.27 – 2003.07.06)

Servus Christi pro fratribus

Born:	1929.01.17 (Acarigua, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1955.12.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.01.06
Created Cardinal:	2001.02.21
Died:	2003.07.06 (Caracas, Venezuela † 74)

Titular Bishop of Utimmira (1989.10.23 – 1995.05.27)

Vicar Apostolic of Puerto Ayacucho (Venezuela) (1989.10.23 – 1995.05.27)

Apostolic Administrator of San Fernando de Apure (Venezuela) (1992.05.27 – 1994.07.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1995.05.27 – 2003.07.06)

Second Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (1996 – 1999)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (1999 – 2003)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello (2001.02.21 [2001.05.24] – 2003.07.06)

Cardinal José Alí Lebrún Moratinos
(1980.05.24 – 1995.05.27)

Veritatem facientes in caritate

Born:	1919.03.19 (Puerto Cabello, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1943.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1956.09.02
Created Cardinal:	1983.02.02
Died:	2001.02.21 (Caracas, Venezuela † 81)

Priest of Valencia (Venezuela) (1943.12.19 – 1956.08.02)

Titular Bishop of Aradus (1956.08.02 – 1958.06.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Maracaibo (Venezuela) (1956.08.02 – 1958.06.21)

Bishop of Maracay (Venezuela) (1958.06.21 – 1962.03.19)

Bishop of Valencia (Venezuela) (1962.03.19 – 1972.09.21)

Titular Archbishop of Voncaria (1972.09.21 – 1980.05.24)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1972.09.21 – 1980.05.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1980.05.24 – 1995.05.27)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Pancrazio (1983.02.02 – 2001.02.21)

President of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (1984 – 1990)

Cardinal José Humberto Quintero Parra
(1960.08.31 – 1980.05.24)

Non ministrari sed ministrare

Born:	1902.09.22 (Mucuchíes, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1926.08.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1953.12.06
Created Cardinal:	1961.01.16
Died:	1984.07.08 (Caracas, Venezuela † 81)

Priest of Mérida (Venezuela) (1926.08.22 – 1953.09.07)

Titular Archbishop of Acrida (1953.09.07 – 1960.08.31)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Mérida (Venezuela) (1953.09.07 – 1960.08.31)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1960.08.31 – 1980.05.24)

President of Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (1961 – 1972)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio (1961.01.19 – 1984.07.08)

Archbishop Rafael Ignacio Arias Blanco
(1955.09.18 – 1959.09.30)

Born:	1906.02.18 (La Guaira, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1928.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1937.12.12
Died:	1959.09.30 (Caracas, Venezuela † 53)

Titular Bishop of Attalea in Pamphylia (1937.06.21 – 1939.11.12)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cumaná (Venezuela) (1937.06.21 – 1939.11.12)

Bishop of San Cristóbal de Venezuela (Venezuela) (1939.11.12 – 1952.04.23)

Titular Archbishop of Pompeiopolis in Cilicia (1952.04.23 – 1955.09.18)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1952.04.23 – 1955.09.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1955.09.18 – 1959.09.30)

Archbishop Lucas Guillermo Castillo Hernández
(1946.05.13 – 1955.09.09)

Born:	1879.02.10 (San Casimiro, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1905.01.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1923.10.21
Died:	1955.09.09 (Caracas, Venezuela † 76)

Bishop of Coro (Venezuela) (1923.01.19 – 1939.11.10)

Titular Archbishop of Rhizæum (1939.11.10 – 1946.05.13)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1939.11.10 – 1946.05.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1946.05.13 – 1955.09.09)

Archbishop Felipe Rincón González
(1916.08.10 – 1946.05.13)

Born:	1861.02.20 (Chiquinquirá, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1896.09.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1916.10.28
Died:	1946.05.13 († 85)

Priest of Zulia (Venezuela) (1896.09.19 – 1916.08.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1916.08.10 – 1946.05.13)

Archbishop Juan Bautista Castro
(1904.05.31 – 1915.08.07)

Born:	1846.10.19 (Caracas, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1870.12.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1904.01.06
Died:	1915.08.07 (Caracas, Venezuela † 68)

Priest of Caracas (Venezuela) (1870.12.25 – 1903.12.30)

Titular Archbishop of Serræ (1903.12.30 – 1904.05.31)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1903.12.30 – 1904.05.31)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1904.05.31 – 1915.08.07)

Archbishop Críspulo Uzcátegui
(1884.11.13 – 1904.05.31)

Born:	1845.05.30 (Carora, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1872
Consecrated Bishop:	1885.02.22
Died:	1904.05.31 († 59)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1884.11.13 – 1904.05.31)

Archbishop José Antonio Ponte
(1876.09.29 – 1883.11.06)

Born:	1832.06.15 (Cabudare, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1854.12.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1876.11.30
Died:	1883.11.06 († 51)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1876.09.29 – 1883.11.06)

Archbishop Silvestre Guevara y Lira
(1852.09.27 – 1876.06.06)

Born:	1814 (Chamariapa, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1835
Consecrated Bishop:	1853.02.06
Died:	1882.02.20 († 67)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1852.09.27 – 1876.06.06)

Titular Archbishop of Amasea (1877.01.09 – 1882.02.20)

Archbishop Ignacio Fernández Peña
(1841.07.15 – 1849.01.18)

Born:	1781.03.03 (Mérida, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1804.03.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1842.01.02
Died:	1849.01.18 (Caracas, Venezuela † 67)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1841.07.15 – 1849.01.18)

Archbishop Ramón Ignacio Méndez
(1827.05.21 – 1839.08.06)

Born:	1775 (Barinas, Venezuela)
Ordained Priest:	1797
Consecrated Bishop:	1828.02.18
Died:	1839.08.06 († 63)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1827.05.21 – 1839.08.06)

Bishop Domingo de Silos Santiago Apollinario Moreno, O.S.B.
(Apostolic Administrator 1818.03.16 – 1825.03.21)

Archbishop Narciso Coll y Prat
(1808.01.17 – 1822.02.25)

Born:	1754.11.20 (Cornellá de Torri, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1784.03.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1810.06.11
Died:	1822.12.30 (Madrid, Spain † 68)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1808.01.17 – 1822.02.25)

Archbishop-Bishop of Palencia (Spain) ([1822.02.25] 1822.04.19 – 1822.12.30)

Archbishop Francisco de Ibarra y Herrera
(1803.11.27 – 1806.09.19)

Born:	1726.09.19 (Guayana, Venezuela)
Consecrated Bishop:	1792.05.27
Died:	1806.09.19 (Caracas, Venezuela † 80)

Bishop of Santo Tomás de Guayana (Venezuela) (1791.12.19 – 1798.12.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1798.12.14 – 1803.11.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1803.11.27 – 1806.09.19)

Archbishop Francisco de Ibarra y Herrera
(1798.12.14 – 1803.11.27)

(see above)

Bishops of Caracas (Roman Rite)

Bishop Juan Antonio de la Virgen María y Viana
(1792.09.24 – 1798.08.14)

Born:	1745.11.30 (Lagrán, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1793.08.04
Died:	1800.01.28 (Murcia, Spain † 54)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1792.09.24 – 1798.08.14)

Bishop of Almería (Spain) (1798.08.14 – 1800.01.28)

Bishop Mariano Martí
(1770.01.29 – 1792.02.20)

Born:	1720.12.14 (Brafim, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1762.01.17
Died:	1792.02.20 (Caracas, Venezuela † 71)

Bishop of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) (1761.05.24 – 1770.01.29)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1770.01.29 – 1792.02.20)

Bishop Diego Antonio Díez Madroñero
(1756.05.24 – 1769.02.03)

Born:	1714.04.26 (Talarrubias, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1756.10.03
Died:	1769.02.03 († 54)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1756.05.24 – 1769.02.03)

Bishop Francisco Julián de Antolino
(1752.09.25 – 1755.08.06)

Born:	1690.04.29 (Cevico de la Torre, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1749
Died:	1755.08.06 († 65)

Bishop of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) (1748.05.06 – 1752.09.25)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1752.09.25 – 1755.08.06)

Bishop Manuel Machado y Luna
(1749.09.22 – 1752.01.29)

Born:	1701.05.17 (Cáceres, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1750.08.16
Died:	1752.01.29 († 50)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1749.09.22 – 1752.01.29)

Fr. Manuel Jiménez Bretón
(1748.09.16 – 1749.03.30)

Died:

1749.03.30

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1748.09.16 – 1749.03.30)

Bishop Juan García Abadiano
(1738.12.19 – 1747.05.06)

Born:	1678.05.24 (Segovia, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1700.10.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1739.06.28
Died:	1747.05.06 († 68)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1738.12.19 – 1747.05.06)

Bishop José Félix Valverde
(1728.11.15 – 1738.11.24)

Born:	1689.03.02 (Granada, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1730.03.19
Died:	1741.02.23 († 51)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1728.11.15 – 1738.11.24)

Bishop of Michoacán (Mexico) (1738.11.24 – 1741.02.23)

Bishop Juan José de Escalona y Calatayud
(1717.03.15 – 1728.11.15)

Born:	1677.07.09 (Quer de la Rioja, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1717.05.30
Died:	1737.05.23 († 59)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1717.03.15 – 1728.11.15)

Bishop of Michoacán (Mexico) (1728.11.15 – 1737.05.23)

Archbishop Francisco del Rincón, O.M.
(1714.02.26 – 1716.10.05)

Born:	1650.01.29 (Borox, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1707.06.29
Died:	1723.06.28 (Bogotá, Colombia † 73)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) (1705.12.14 – 1714.02.26)

Archbishop-Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1714.02.26 – 1716.10.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santafé en Nueva Granada (Colombia) (1716.10.05 – 1723.06.28)

Bishop Diego de Baños y Sotomayor
(1683.02.15 – 1706.05.15)

Born:	1637 (Lima, Peru)
Consecrated Bishop:	1677.11.21
Died:	1706.05.15 († 68)

Bishop of Santa Marta (Colombia) (1677.09.13 – 1683.02.15)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1683.02.15 – 1706.05.15)

Bishop Antonio González de Acuña, O.P.
(1670.11.17 – 1682.02.22)

Born:	1630? (Lima, Peru)
Consecrated Bishop:	1670.11.23?
Died:	1682.02.22 († 51)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1670.11.17 – 1682.02.22)

Bishop Alonso de Briceño, O.F.M.
(1653.08.18 – 1668.11.16)

Born:	1587 (Santiago, Chile)
Consecrated Bishop:	1645.11.12
Died:	1668.11.16 (Trujillo, Peru † 80)

Bishop of León (Nicaragua) (1644.11.14 – 1653.08.18)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1653.08.18 – 1668.11.16)

Bishop Mauro Diego de Tovar y Valle Maldonado, O.S.B.
(1639.10.03 – 1652.12.16)

Born:	1586 (Villacastín, Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1639.12.18
Died:	1666.10.22 (Ciudad Real de Chiapas, Mexico † 79)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1639.10.03 – 1652.12.16)

Bishop of Chiapas (Mexico) (1652.12.16 – 1666.10.22)

Bishop Juan López de Agurto de la Mata
(1637.06.20 – 1637.12.24)

Born:	1580 (La Laguna, Spain)
Died:	1637.12.24 († 56)

Bishop of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) ([1630.07.20] 1631.02.10 – 1634.11.20)

Bishop of Coro (Venezuela) ([1634.08.08] 1634.11.20 – 1637.06.20)

Bishop of Caracas (Venezuela) (1637.06.20 – 1637.12.24)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop José Alí Lebrún Moratinos (later Cardinal) (1972.09.21 – 1980.05.24)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Rafael Ignacio Arias Blanco (1952.04.23 – 1955.09.18)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Lucas Guillermo Castillo Hernández (1939.11.10 – 1946.05.13)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Juan Bautista Castro (1903.12.30 – 1904.05.31)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Lisandro Alirio Rivas Durán, I.M.C. (56) (2021.12.23 – 2024.10.31)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Ricardo Aldo Barreto Cairo (57) (2019.09.17 – 2024.01.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Enrique José Parravano Marino, S.D.B. (70) (2016.04.27 – 2019.07.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Trinidad Fernández Angulo (61) (2014.04.17 – 2021.07.15)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Tulio Luis Ramírez Padilla (66) (2012.04.04 – 2020.12.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Fernando José Castro Aguayo, Opus Dei (74) (2009.06.27 – 2015.08.04)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jesús Andoni González de Zárate Salas (65) (later Archbishop) (2007.10.15 – 2018.05.24)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Luis Armando Tineo Rivera (77) (2007.02.09 – 2013.07.23)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Saúl Figueroa Albornoz (78) (1997.11.10 – 2011.04.30)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Pedro Nicolás Bermúdez Villamizar, C.I.M. (1997.02.15 – 2009.01.17)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José de la Trinidad Valera Angulo (78) (1997.02.15 – 2001.10.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Rafael Ramón Conde Alfonzo (1995.12.02 – 1997.08.21)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Roberto Antonio Dávila Uzcátegui (1992.06.23 – 2005.12.12)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Mario del Valle Moronta Rodríguez (1990.04.04 – 1995.12.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Diego Rafael Padrón Sánchez (86) (later Cardinal) (1990.04.04 – 1994.05.07)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Ubaldo Ramón Santana Sequera, F.M.I. (84) (later Archbishop) (1990.04.04 – 1991.05.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Vicente Henriquez Andueza, S.D.B. (1985 – 1987.06.24)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino (later Cardinal) (1982.07.03 – 1990.03.16)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Miguel Delgado Avila, S.D.B. (1979.07.13 – 1991.11.16)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Alfredo José Rodríguez Figueroa (later Archbishop) (1974.07.24 – 1987.03.12)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Vicente Ramón Hernández Peña (1974.05.03 – 1976.01.28)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Marcial Augusto Ramírez Ponce (1972.12.05 – 1996.02.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Ramón Ovidio Pérez Morales (93) (later Archbishop) (1970.12.02 – 1980.05.20)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jesús Maria Pellin (1965.07.13 – 1969.11.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Luis Eduardo Henríquez Jiménez (later Archbishop) (1962.05.12 – 1972.11.09)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Ramón J. Lizardi (1956.05.25 – 1972.07.30)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Rincón Bonilla (1956 – 1984.05.14)
Auxiliary Bishop: Archbishop Nicolás Eugenio Navarro (1943.02.21 – 1960.11.06)