Metropolitan Archdiocese of Diamantina, Brazil 🇧🇷

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Diamantina / Adamantin(us) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Almenara, Araçuaí, Guanhães, Teófilo Otoni

Neighbouring Dioceses: Patos de Minas (←), Montes Claros (↑), Araçuaí (↗), Teófilo Otoni (→), Guanhães (↘), Sete Lagoas (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Santo António de Lisboa (June 13)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1854.06.06: Established as Diocese of Diamantina / Adamantin(us) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia, Diocese of Mariana and Diocese of Olinda and became suffragan of São Salvador da Bahia)
1892.04.27: Became suffragan of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
1907.09.29: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Uberaba
1910.12.10: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Montes Claros
1913.08.25: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Araçuaí
1917.06.28: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Diamantina / Adamantin(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Araçuaí and Montes Claros)
1929.03.01: Gained suffragan see Paracatu
1955.07.16: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Sete Lagoas
1956.02.01: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Governador Valadares
1957.06.15: Gained suffragan see Januária
1960.11.27: Gained suffragan see Teófilo Otoni
1965.06.14: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Itabira
1966.10.11: Lost suffragan see Paracatu
1981.03.28: Gained suffragan see Almenara
1985.05.24: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Guanhães and gained suffragan see Guanhães
2000.07.05: Gained suffragan see Janaúba
2001.04.25: Lost suffragan sees Janaúba, Januária and Montes Claros

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2016.03.09 – ...):

Archbishop Darci José Nicioli, C.SS.R. (66)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Diamantina (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Darci José Nicioli, C.SS.R. (66)
(2016.03.09 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil)

Signum tuum luceat

Born:	1959.05.01 (Jacutinga, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1986.03.08
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.02.03

Titular Bishop of Ficus (2012.11.14 – 2016.03.09)

Auxiliary Bishop of Aparecida (Brazil) (2012.11.14 – 2016.03.09)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (2016.03.09 – ...)

Archbishop João Bosco Óliver de Faria (86)
(2007.05.30 – 2016.03.09)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Diamantina (Brazil)

Só o Amor Constrói

Born:	1939.10.30 (São João del Rei, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1968.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.10.12

Priest of Pouso Alegre (Brazil) (1968.07.03 – 1987.08.05)

Titular Bishop of Feradi maius (1987.08.05 – 1992.01.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of Pouso Alegre (Brazil) (1987.08.05 – 1992.01.08)

Bishop of Patos de Minas (Brazil) (1992.01.08 – 2007.05.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (2007.05.30 – 2016.03.09)

Archbishop Paulo Lopes de Faria
(1997.05.14 – 2007.05.30)

Paulo apóstolo de Jesus Cristo

Born:	1931.02.24 (Igaratinga, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1957.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1980.12.27
Died:	2009.07.16 (Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil † 78)

Titular Bishop of Thelepte (1980.11.07 – 1983.12.16)

Auxiliary Bishop of Niterói (Brazil) (1980.11.07 – 1983.12.16)

Bishop of Itabuna (Brazil) (1983.12.16 – 1995.08.02)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1995.08.02 – 1997.05.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1997.05.14 – 2007.05.30)

Archbishop Geraldo Majela Reis
(1981.02.03 – 1997.05.14)

Trabalhar para a tua messe

Born:	1924.08.28 (Lamim, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1949.11.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.03.30
Died:	2004.05.27 (Conselheiro Lafaiete, MG, Brazil † 79)

Bishop of Três Lagoas (Brazil) (1978.01.03 – 1981.02.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1981.02.03 – 1997.05.14)

Archbishop Geraldo de Proença Sigaud, S.V.D.
(1960.12.20 – 1980.09.10)

Da per matrem

Born:	1909.09.26 (Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1932.03.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.05.01
Died:	1999.09.05 (Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil † 89)

Bishop of Jacarezinho (Brazil) (1946.10.29 – 1960.12.20)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1960.12.20 – 1980.09.10)

Archbishop José Newton de Almeida Baptista
(1954.01.05 – 1960.03.12)

Adveniat regnum tuum

Born:	1904.10.16 (Niteroi, RJ, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1928.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1944.09.03
Died:	2001.11.11 (Brasília, DF, Brazil † 97)

Bishop of Uruguaiana (Brazil) (1944.06.10 – 1954.01.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1954.01.05 – 1960.03.12)

Archbishop-Bishop of Brasília (Brazil) (1960.03.12 – 1966.10.11)

Archbishop Military Vicar of Brazil (Brazil) (1963.11.09 – 1986.07.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brasília (Brazil) (1966.10.11 – 1984.02.15)

Archbishop Military Ordinary of Brazil (Brazil) (1986.07.21 – 1990.10.31)

Archbishop Serafim Gomes Jardim da Silva
(1934.05.26 – 1953.10.28)

Domine miserere mihi

Born:	1875.09.07 (Pimenta, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1901.06.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1914.09.20
Died:	1969.11.02 (Diamantina, MG, Brazil † 94)

Bishop of Araçuaí (Brazil) (1914.03.12 – 1934.05.26)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1934.05.26 – 1953.10.28)

Titular Archbishop of Anasartha (1953.10.28 – 1969.11.02)

Archbishop Joaquim Silvério de Sousa
(1917.06.28 – 1933.08.30)

Born:	1859.07.20 (Rio Piracicaba, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1882.03.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1902.02.02
Died:	1933.08.30 (Diamantina, MG, Brazil † 74)

Titular Bishop of Bagis (1901.11.16 – 1905.05.05)

Coadjutor Bishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1901.11.16 – 1905.05.05)

Bishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1905.05.05 – 1909.01.29)

Titular Bishop of Auxume (1909.01.29 – 1910.01.25)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (1909.01.29 – 1910.01.25)

Bishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1910.01.25 – 1917.06.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1917.06.28 – 1933.08.30)

Bishops of Diamantina (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joaquim Silvério de Sousa (later Archbishop)
(1910.01.25 – 1917.06.28)

(see above)

Bishop Joaquim Silvério de Sousa (later Archbishop)
(1905.05.05 – 1909.01.29)

(see above)

Bishop João Antônio dos Santos
(1863.09.28 – 1905.05.05)

Born:	1818.11.12 (São Gonçalo do Rio Preto, MG, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1845.01.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1864.05.01
Died:	1905.05.17 (Diamantina, MG, Brazil † 86)

Bishop of Diamantina (Brazil) (1863.09.28 – 1905.05.05)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Paulo Lopes de Faria (1995.08.02 – 1997.05.14)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Joaquim Silvério de Sousa (later Archbishop) (1901.11.16 – 1905.05.05)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop João de Souza Lima (later Archbishop) (1949.05.14 – 1955.02.06)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Carlos Carmelo de Vasconcelos Motta (later Cardinal) (1932.07.29 – 1935.12.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Antônio José dos Santos, C.M. (1918.12.13 – 1929.11.22)

Special Churches

Cathedral, World Heritage Site (Minor): Catedral Metropolitana Santo Antônio da Sé, Diamantina, Minas Gerais
Minor Basilica, World Heritage Site (Minor): Basílica Sagrado Coração de Jesus, Diamantina, Minas Gerais
Minor Basilica: Basílica São Geraldo Majela, Curvelo, Minas Gerais
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (73)

Patos de Minas (←), Montes Claros (↑), Araçuaí (↗), Teófilo Otoni (→), Guanhães (↘), Sete Lagoas (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 45,280 km²

Population: 436,000 Catholics (81.3% of 536,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 55 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 74 priests (69 diocesan, 5 religious), 1 deacon, 83 religious (7 brothers, 76 sisters), 43 seminarians