Roman Catholic Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo

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History

• On May 1, 1929, the Diocese of Villarrica was established on territory split off from the then Roman Catholic Diocese of Paraguay
• It lost territories thrice : on 1957.01.19 to establish Diocese of San Juan Bautista, on 1957.01.21 to establish Territorial Prelature of Encarnación y Alto Paraná and on 1978.06.05 to establish Diocese of Carapeguá.
• It enjoyed a Papal visit from Pope John Paul II in May 1988.
• On January 13, 1990, the diocese was renamed, or more precisely given an alternative name, as Diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo

  Bishops

Episcopal Ordinaries

• Augustin Rodríguez, next Titular Bishop of Castellum Tingitii as Military Vicariate of Paraguay
• Felipe Santiago Benítez Avalos, also President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay, First Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council ; previously Titular Bishop of Chersonesus in Europa as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Asunción ; later Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción , President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay, died 2009
• * Auxiliary Bishop : Angel Nicolás Acha Duarte, Titular Bishop of Lamdia ; later Bishop of Carapeguá

• Sebelio Peralta Álvarez, previously Titular Bishop of Iunca in Mauretania as Auxiliary Bishop of Villarrica ; later Bishop of San Lorenzo
• Ricardo Jorge Valenzuela Rios, also Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Ciudad del Este , Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Paraguay ; previously Titular Bishop of Casæ Calanæ as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Asunción , Military Ordinary of Paraguay ; later Bishop of Caacupé
• Adalberto Martínez Flores, previously Titular Bishop of Tatilti as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Asunción , Bishop of San Lorenzo , Bishop of San Pedro , Military Ordinary of Paraguay.

  Auxiliary bishops

• Angel Nicolás Acha Duarte, appointed Bishop of Carapeguá
• Sebelio Peralta Alvarez, appointed Bishop here

  Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

• Amancio Francisco Benítez Candia, appointed Bishop of Benjamín Aceval in 2018