Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Natal

Archdiocese of Natal Archidioecesis Natalensis
Cathedral
Location
Country	Brazil
Statistics
Area	25,153 km^2 (9,712 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2004) 1,923,667 1,627,542 (84.6%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	29 December 1909 (106 years ago)
Cathedral	Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora da Apresentação
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Jaime Vieira Rocha
Emeritus Bishops	Heitor de Araújo Sales Matias Patrício de Macêdo
Map
Website
www.arquidiocesedenatal.org.br

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Natal (Latin: Archidioecesis Natalensis) is an archdiocese located in the city of Natal in Brazil.

History

• December 29, 1909: Established as the Diocese of Natal from the Diocese of Paraíba
• February 16, 1952: Promoted as the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Natal

Leadership

• Archbishops of Natal (Roman rite)
  • Archbishop Jaime Vieira Rocha (since 2011.12.21)
  • Archbishop Matias Patrício de Macêdo (2003.11.26 – 2011.12.21)
  • Archbishop Heitor de Araújo Sales (1993.10.27 – 2003.11.26)
  • Archbishop Alair Vilar Fernandes de Melo (1988.04.06 – 1993.10.27)
  • Archbishop Nivaldo Monte (1967.09.06 – 1988.04.06)
  • Archbishop Marcolino Esmeraldo de Souza Dantas (1952.02.16 – 1967.04.08)
• Bishops of Natal (Roman Rite)
  • Bishop Marcolino Esmeraldo de Souza Dantas (later Archbishop) (1929.03.01 – 1952.02.16)
  • Bishop José Pereira Alves (1922.10.27 – 1928.01.27)
  • Bishop Antônio dos Santos Cabral (later Archbishop) (1917.09.01 – 1921.11.21)
  • Bishop Joaquim Antônio d’Almeida (1910.10.23 – 1915.06.14)

Suffragan dioceses

• Diocese of Caicó
• Diocese of Mossoró

Sources

• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Archdiocese website (Portuguese)

Coordinates: 5°47′17″S 35°12′14″W / 5.7881°S 35.2038°W