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Metropolitan see São Salvador da Bahia, Brazil

Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia

Sancti Salvatoris in Brasilia

Latin Church

Metropolitan archdiocese in Bahia, Brazil, erected in 1551 and elevated to an archdiocese in 1676. It is the oldest Catholic see in Brazil and its archbishop holds the title Primate of Brazil. The current archbishop is Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha, appointed in 2020.

On the map

Esri
São Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, drawn to the town rather than to the door: the register holds no verified address for its cathedral.

Every see on one map: browse the dioceses. Churches with recorded hours: find Mass times.

Established
1551
Catholics
2,495,439
Priests
251
Territory
6,241 km²

Parishes and churches

87 listed churches in our records. Open a parish for Mass times, confession, directions and sources where recorded.

This is our recorded coverage, not an official diocesan parish count. Confirm service times with the parish before travelling.

The bishop

Archbishop
Sérgio da Rocha
Born
21 October 1959
Birthplace
Dobrada

Explore the ministry of the bishop.

The cathedral

Catedral Basílica Primacial do Transfiguração do Senhor stands in São Salvador da Bahia, the church that holds the cathedra from which this see takes its name.

On what a cathedral is, see the cathedral; every see church on earth is gathered at the cathedrals.

History

Part of the Catholic Church in Brazil, the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia (Latin: Archidioecesis Sancti Salvatoris in Brasilia) has its seat in the city of Salvador, Bahia, and its archbishop also holds the title Primate of Brazil. Beyond what the parishes provide, the archdiocese offers a wide range of services, listed on the archdiocesan website. Among them is the Pastoral do Menor service, which works together with CEIFAR in Tancredo Neves to support young people and families with guidance on sexuality and family planning.

This see in the wire

Filed by the see itself

Published on the see's own news feed. A diocese reports on the whole Church, so these are often about somewhere else.

  • Paróquia Santa Teresinha do Menino Jesus e da Sagrada Face holds novenary and feast

    Paróquia Santa Teresinha do Menino Jesus e da Sagrada Face in Chame-Chame, Salvador, is holding a novena from September 22 to September 30 to prepare for the feast of its patron saint on October 1. The parish activities take place at 17h at the Matriz. The schedule included an athletic walk on September 26 that began at the Farol da Barra and moved toward the Matriz. On September 27, a procession carrying the image of St. Therese of the Child Jesus traveled from the Capela Jesus, Maria e José in Jardim Brasil to the Matriz. The feast day on October 1 includes an 8h Mass led by parish priest Father Rosélio de Oliveira, followed by a blessing of the Santíssimo Sacramento at 10h45. A second Mass will take place at 11h led by Father Leandro Oliveira from the Shalom Catholic Community. Auxiliary Bishop Gilvan Pereira Rodrigues of the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia will preside over the Solemn Mass.

    Sep 25, 2026 · Catholic Life

  • Cúria Metropolitana Bom Pastor plants tree on first day of Spring

    Staff at the Bom Pastor Metropolitan Curia planted a seedling on Monday, September 21, to mark the first day of spring and Tree Day. The Diocese of São Salvador da Bahia reported that the activity served as a symbolic gesture of gratitude to God for creation and a commitment to environmental care. During the event, staff members wrote personal reasons for their gratitude to God on small pieces of paper. They placed these notes into a watering can and used the water to nourish the new plant. This act represented a desire to cultivate daily gratitude to produce spiritual fruit. The gathering also drew inspiration from the Gospel of John, using the image of Jesus as the true vine to encourage staff to remain united in their daily mission.

    Sep 21, 2026 · Catholic Life

  • Cardinal Dom Sergio da Rocha presides over National Youth Day Mass in Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia

    Cardinal Dom Sergio da Rocha presided over the National Youth Day Mass for thousands of young people in the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia on September 20. The celebration took place at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) Ondina Campus, near the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord. The event included music and prayer led by the Ministério Entra no Barco before the Mass. Father Deivisson Batista, who organized the day, was among the priests who concelebrated the liturgy. During his homily, Cardinal da Rocha spoke about the importance of young people witnessing to their faith and committing to peace. He told the attendees that the youth present were providing a testimony of love for Jesus Christ within the Church. The archbishop also encouraged the participants to keep Christ at the center of their lives.

    Sep 21, 2026 · Dioceses

  • Diocese of São Salvador da Bahia airs prayer program

    Sep 20, 2026 · Catholic Life

  • Pope Leo XIV meets Salvador auxiliary bishops

    Pope Leo XIV met with auxiliary bishops Gabriel dos Santos Filho and Gilvan Pereira Rodrigues following a formation program for newly appointed bishops in Rome. The meeting took place at the conclusion of an event held from September 2 to September 10, organized by the Dicastery for Bishops. The bishops from the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia joined George Muniz, bishop of the Diocese of Propriá, and Jefferson Santos Pinheiro, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Aracaju. Bishop Gilvan also serves as the secretary for the regional group.

    Sep 18, 2026 · Bishops

145 stories in the wire either name this see or come from its own feed. Read the wire.