Roman Catholic Diocese of Viedma

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Viedma (Dioecesis Viedmensis) is encompassed in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bahía Blanca. As of 2006 the Bishop is His Very Reverend Excellency Monsignor Esteban María Laxague, Salesian of Don Bosco appointed by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on October 31, 2002. The Diocese was erected on April 20, 1934. It is suffragant to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bahía Blanca. His predecessor was HVRE Marcelo Angiolo Melani, Bishop from June 28, 1995 until 2002, when the present Bishop took over. The Bishop Emeritus is HVRE Miguel Esteban Hesayne, appointed Bishop by HH Pope Paul VI on April 5, 1975 to June 28, 1995 when he turned to be 80 years of age and resigned to his duty as it has been ruled by The Pope. Located in the Rio Negro Province,Argentina, has its see in the City of Viedma, by the shores of Río Negro River and close to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It encompasses a surface of about 89,000 square kilometers (34,376 square miles).