Metropolitan see Mérida, Venezuela

Archdiocese of Mérida

Emeriten(sis) in Venetiola

Latin Church

Mérida is a metropolitan archdiocese in western Venezuela, founded as a diocese in 1778 and elevated to archdiocese in 1923, with suffragans Barinas, Guasdualito, San Cristóbal, and Trujillo. Its archbishop since 2023 is Helizandro Terán Bermúdez, O.S.A. Note: this see is an archdiocese, not a diocese.

On the map

The address the register holds for Catedral Basílica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción de Mérida, in Mérida, Venezuela.

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Established: 1778
Catholics: 543,118
Priests: 130
Territory: 8,109 km²

Parishes and churches

60 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: Helizandro Terán Bermúdez
Born: 7 June 1965
Birthplace: Maracaibo
Institute: ORDINE DI S. AGOSTINO (AGOSTINIANI)

Explore the ministry of the bishop.

The cathedral

Catedral Basílica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción de Mérida stands in Mérida, 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

In western Venezuela, the Latin Rite Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mérida carries the Latin title Archidioecesis Emeritensis in Venetiola. Its archbishops preside from the Catedral Basílica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción de Mérida, a minor basilica in the city of Mérida, and the archdiocese also counts a second minor basilica, that of Santa Lucía in the town of Timotes, Miranda, Mérida municipality.

This see in the wire

Stories that name this see

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

Francisco Romero named counselor of Dicastery for Evangelization
Sep 17, 2026 · Vatican · 3 sources

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

The see

Rank: Metropolitan see
Tradition: Latin Church
Erected: 16 February 1778
Latin: Emeriten(sis) in Venetiola
Patron: Immaculate Conception
Annuario code: 001002228

The see in figures

Catholics: 543,118
Population: 603,464
Catholic shareof the people living within its bounds: 90.0%
Priests: 130
Catholics per priest: 4,178
Extent: 8,109 km²
Catholics per km²: 67

Figures from the Annuario Pontificio and the see's own published statements. Shares and ratios are computed from the two figures shown beside them.

How to reach it

Diocesan offices: Palacio Arzobispal, Avenida 4 Bolivar con calle 23, Apdo. 26, Mérida 5101-A, Venezuela
Telephone: [0274]252.57.86; fax 252.12.38
Email: [email protected]

Contact the diocesan offices using the published details above.

The province of Mérida

This see is the metropolitan of its province.

On how the Church is ordered into provinces, see the diocese.

Sees near here

Diocese of TrujilloTrujillo107 km
Apostolic Vicariate of CaroníCaroní108 km
Diocese of BarinasBarinas150 km
Diocese of GuanareGuanare157 km
Diocese of GuasdualitoGuasdualito164 km
Diocese of CúcutaCúcuta, Colombia175 km
Diocese of TibúTibú, Colombia178 km
Diocese of AraucaArauca, Colombia180 km

Measured see to see, from the point each record holds. On how the Church is ordered, see the diocese.

Sources

Wikipedia

Compiled from the published statements of the see and the references of the Holy See, among them the Annuario Pontificio. Corrections: [email protected].