Archdiocese of Fortaleza

On June 6, 1854, it was established by Pope Pius IX, as the Diocese of Ceará from the Diocese of Olinda. Formerly a part of the Diocese of Pernambuco, the district was erected into a separate diocese, suffragan to the Archdiocese of Bahia. João Guerino Gomes was named as first bishop but did not accept the office. Father Gomes, a philosopher and orator who was well-known in his day, died in 1859. The first bishop, Luis Antonio dos Santos, founded the diocesan seminaries at Fortaleza and Crato, and, for the education of girls, the College of the Immaculate Conception, besides building the church of the Sacred Heart at Fortaleza. On November 10, 1915, it was promoted as the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fortaleza. ==Special churches==

Basilica of Saint Francis of the Wounds, Canindé • After the creation of the Diocese of Baturité in 2026 by Pope Leo XIV, the sanctuary went under the jurisdiction of the new ecclesiastical territory. == Bishops ==

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops • Antônio Xisto Albano, appointed Bishop of São Luís do Maranhão in 1901 • Quintino Rodrigues de Oliveira e Silva, appointed Bishop of Piaui in 1913 (did not take effect); appointed Bishop of Crato, Ceara in 1915 ==Suffragan dioceses==

• Diocese of Crateús • Diocese of Crato • Diocese of Iguatu • Diocese of Itapipoca • Diocese of Limoeiro do Norte • Diocese of Quixadá • Diocese of Sobral • Diocese of Tianguá • Diocese of Baturité ==References==