The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rancagua (in Latin: Dioecesis Rancaguensis) is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile. The diocese was established on 18 October 1925 as Diócesis de Santa Cruz de Rancagua, by Pope Pius XII by means of the papal bull Apostolici muneris ratio.
The diocese is headed by Guillermo Patricio Vera Soto, who was named Bishop by Pope Francis on 8 June 2021.
Diocesan statistics The diocese comprises the three provinces of the O'Higgins Region of Chile: Cachapoal, Colchagua and Cardenal Caro, with the exception of the comuna of Navidad, of the latter province, which belongs to the diocese of Melipilla. It covers a territory of and has 63 parishes. It is estimated that 80 percent of the population of the diocese is Catholic. This figure represents about 625,000 Catholics out of a total population of 781,000 persons.
The diocesan cathedral is located in the city of Rancagua.
Bishops Bishops of Rancagua Name Reign began Reign ended Notes Rafael Lira Infante † 14 December 1925 18 March 1938 Appointed bishop of Valparaíso Eduardo Larraín Cordovez † 9 July 1938 2 February 1970 Retired Alejandro Durán Moreira † 2 February 1970 30 May 1986 Retired Jorge Medina Estévez 25 November 1987 16 April 1993 Appointed bishop of Valparaíso; future Cardinal (Protodeacon, 2005-2007) Francisco Javier Prado Aránguiz, SS.CC. † 16 April 1993 23 April 2004 Retired Alejandro Goić Karmelić 23 April 2004 28 June 2018 Translated from Osorno Guillermo Patricio Vera Soto 8 June 2021 present Translated from Iquique
Coadjutor bishop Alejandro Goić Karmelić (2003–2004)
Auxiliary bishops Raul Silva Silva (1963–1994) Jorge Arturo Augustin Medina Estévez (1984–1987), appointed Bishop here; future Cardinal Luis Gleisner Wobbe (1991–2001), appointed Auxiliary Bishop of La Serena
Other priests of this diocese who became bishops Francisco de Borja Valenzuela Ríos, appointed Apostolic Administrator of Copiapó in 1955; appointed Prelate of Copiapó in 1956 Orozimbo Fuenzalida y Fuenzalida, appointed Prelate of Calama in 1968 Miguel Caviedes Medina, appointed Bishop of Osorno in 1982
External links Website of the diocese Diocese of Rancagua at Catholic-Hierarchy.org