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Metropolitan see Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela

Compostellan(us)

Latin Church

Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese in Galicia, Spain, home of the shrine of the Apostle St James and terminus of the Camino de Santiago. Erected as a diocese on 5 December 1095 (translated from Iria Flavia) and elevated to metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Callixtus II on 27 February 1120; its suffragans are Lugo, Mondonedo-Ferrol, Ourense and Tui-Vigo. Its seat is the Cathedral Basilica of St James the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela.

On the map

Esri
The address the register holds for Cathedral Basilica of St James the Apostle, Santiago de Compostela, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

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Established
1095
Catholics
1,192,508
Priests
488
Territory
8,545 km²

Parishes and churches

1,070 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
Francisco Jose Prieto Fernandez
Born
18 August 1968
Birthplace
Orense

Explore the ministry of the bishop.

The cathedral

Cathedral Basilica of St James the Apostle, Santiago de Compostela stands in Santiago de Compostela, 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

Galicia is divided by the church into five districts, and the most senior of them is the Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela (Latin: Archidioecesis Compostellana), a Latin Church archdiocese in Spain. Its seat, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, carries a dedication to the Apostle James.

This see in the wire

Stories that name this see

The wire's resolver matched this see in the text of each story.

  • Pope Leo XIV inspires Penitentiary Way of St. James

    Santiago de Compostela will host the Penitentiary Way of St. James on October 3, bringing together inmates, volunteers, and professionals from 23 prisons across Spain. Organized by the Department of Penitentiary Pastoral of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, the event commemorates the feast of Our Lady of Mercy, the patron saint of prisons. The theme for this year, "God dreams a better version of you," comes from words Pope Leo XIV spoke to inmates during his visit to the Brians 1 prison in Barcelona. Participants, including more than 150 inmates, educators, and officials, will walk the final stretch to the Obradoiro Square after completing their individual itineraries. The day includes testimonies, a visit to the tomb of St. James, and a seasonal Mass at the cathedral. Archbishop Florencio Roselló of Pamplona, who directs the Department of Penitentiary Pastoral, will preside over the Mass. He will be joined by the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Francisco José Prieto, and the Bishop of Mondoñedo-Ferrol, Fernando García Cadiñanos.

    Sep 25, 2026 · Catholic Life

  • Archbishop Francisco José Prieto inaugurates 2026/27 academic year at ITC and ISCCR

    Sep 9, 2026 · Education

Filed by our own wire from published sources. Read the wire.