Archdiocese of São José do Rio Preto

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São José do Rio Preto () is an archdiocese located in the city of São José do Rio Preto in Brazil.

History

• 25 January 1929: Established as Diocese of Rio Preto from the Diocese of São Carlos do Pinhal
• 12 December 1959: Lost territory to the erection of the Diocese of Jales
• 14 April 1973: Lost territory to the erection of the Diocese of Barretos
• 9 February 2000: Lost territory to the erection of the Diocese of Catanduva
• 11 December 2002: Renamed as Diocese of São José do Rio Preto
• 20 July 2016: Lost territory to the erection of the Diocese of Votuporanga
• 22 May 2025: Elevated to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese; the ecclesiastical province of São José do Rio Preto was erected by Pope Leo XIV.

Special churches

• Minor Basilicas:
• Basílica Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Rio Preto

Suffragan dioceses

• Diocese of Barretos
• Diocese of Catanduva
• Diocese of Jales
• Diocese of Votuporanga

Bishops

Ordinaries, in reverse chronological order

• Bishops of São José do Rio Preto (Roman rite), below
• Bishop Antônio Emídio Vilar, S.D.B. (19 January 2022 – present)
• Bishop Tomé Ferreira da Silva (16 November 2012 – 18 August 2021)
• Bishop Paulo Mendes Peixoto (25 February 2006 – 7 March 2012); elevated to Archbishop of Uberaba
• Bishop Orani João Tempesta, O. Cist. (25 April 1997 – 8 December 2004); elevated to Archbishop of Belem do Para, then Archbishop of Sao Sebastio Rio de Janeiro; future Cardinal
• Bishops of Rio Preto (Roman Rite), below
• Bishop José de Aquino Pereira (4 August 1968 – 26 February 1997)
• Bishop Lafayette Libânio (27 December 1930 – 3 November 1966)

Auxiliary bishop

• José Joaquim Gonçalves (1957-1973), appointed Bishop of Cornélio Procópio, Parana

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

• David Dias Pimentel, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais in 1996

References

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