Apostolic Vicariate of Méndez

The Apostolic Vicariate (or Vicariate Apostolic) of Méndez (Latin: Apostolicus Vicariatus Mendezensis) is a missionary circonscription of the Roman Catholic Church.

Apostolic Vicariate of Méndez Apostolicus Vicariatus Mendezensis
Cathedral in Macas
Location
Country	Ecuador
Statistics
Area	25,690 km2 (9,920 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2010) 126,000 111,000 (88.1%)
Parishes	70
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	17 February 1893 (131 years ago)
Cathedral	Catedral Purísima de Macas
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Vicar Apostolic	Néstor Montesdeoca Becerra, S.D.B.
Bishops emeritus	Pietro Gabrielli, S.D.B.
Map

Its cathedral see, Catedral Purísima de Macas, is located in the city of Macas in Ecuador's Morona-Santiago province. It is exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province.

History

On 17 February 1893 Pope Leo XIII established the Vicariate Apostolic of Méndez y Gualaquiza from the Vicariate Apostolic of Napo.

Pope Pius XII shortened its name to the Vicariate Apostolic of Méndez on 12 April 1951.

Bishops

Incumbent ordinaries

So far, all its apostolic vicars were members of the missionary Salesians order (S.D.B.)

Apostolic vicars of Méndez y Gualaquiza

• Santiago (Giacomo) Costamagna, S.D.B. † 1921 (18 March 1895 – 1919)
• Domenico Comin, S.D.B. (1920.03.05 – 1951.04.12 cfr. infra

Apostolic vicars of Méndez

• Domenico Comin, S.D.B. (cfr. supra; 1951.04.12 – 1963.08.17)
• José Félix Pintado Blasco, S.D.B. † (17 Aug. 1963 – 24 Jan. 1981)
• Teodoro Luis Arroyo Robelly, S.D.B. † (24 Jan. 1981 – 1 July 1993)
• Pietro Gabrielli, S.D.B. (1 July 1993 – 15 April 2008)
• Néstor Montesdeoca Becerra, S.D.B. (15 Apr 2008 – present)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic

• José Félix Pintado Blasco, S.D.B. † (13 Nov 1958 - 17 Aug. 1963)

See also

• Roman Catholicism in Ecuador