Roman Catholic Diocese of Franca

Diocese of Franca Dioecesis Francopolitana
Location
Country	Brazil
Ecclesiastical province	Ribeirão Preto
Statistics
Area	6,721 km^2 (2,595 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2004) 760,000 600,000 (78.9%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	20 February 1971 (53 years ago)
Cathedral	Catedral Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Paulo Roberto Beloto
Metropolitan Archbishop	Moacir Silva
Map

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Franca (Latin: Dioecesis Francopolitana) is a diocese located in the city of Franca in the ecclesiastical province of Ribeirão Preto in Brazil.

History

• 20 February 1971: Established as Diocese of Franca from the Diocese of Rio Preto

Bishops

• Bishops of Franca (Roman rite)
  • Diógenes da Silva Matthes (1971.03.11 – 2006.11.29)
  • Caetano Ferrari, O.F.M. (2006.11.29 – 2009-04-15), appointed Bishop of Bauru, São Paulo
  • Pedro Luiz Stringhini (2009-12-30 - 2012-09-19), appointed Bishop of Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo
  • Paulo Roberto Beloto (2013.10.23 - ...)

Coadjutor bishop

• Caetano Ferrari, O.F.M. (2002-2006)

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

• Emílio Pignoli, appointed Bishop of Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo in 1976
• Ângelo Pignoli, appointed Bishop of Quixadá, Ceara in 2007
• Pedro Carlos Cipolini (priest here, 1978-1987), appointed Bishop of Amparo, São Paulo in 2010
• Devair Araújo da Fonseca, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of São Paulo in 2014

References

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

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