The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Natal (Latin: Archidioecesis Metropolitae 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

Bishops

Ordinaries, in reverse chronological order

  • Archbishops of Natal (Roman rite), below Archbishop João Santos Cardoso (since 2023.07.05) Archbishop Jaime Vieira Rocha (2011.12.21 - 2023.07.) 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), below 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 (1917.09.01 – 1921.11.21), appointed Bishop of Belo Horizonte; future Archbishop Bishop Joaquim Antônio d’Almeida (1910.10.23 – 1915.06.14)

Auxiliary bishops

  • Eugênio de Araújo Sales (1954–1964), appointed Apostolic Administrator of São Salvador da Bahia; future Cardinal
  • Antônio Soares Costa, appointed Bishop of Caruaru, Pernambuco in 1993

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

  • José Tomas Gomes da Silva, appointed Bishop of Aracajú in 1911
  • Francisco Canindé Palhano, appointed Bishop of Bonfim, Bahia in 2006
  • Edilson Soares Nobre, appointed Bishop of Oeiras, Piaui in 2017

Suffragan dioceses

Sources

5°47′17″S 35°12′14″W/5.7881°S 35.2038°W/ -5.7881; -35.2038