Diocese of Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas

It was erected 10 March 1951, as the Diocese of Zacapa, on territory split off from the Archdiocese of Guatemala (still its Metropolitan]. On 16 September 1956, it lost territory to establish the Territorial Prelature of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas, and again on 30 April 1968 to establish the then Apostolic Administration of Izabal. It was (re)united aeque principaliter (in permanent personal union) with the Territorial Prelature of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas on 24 June 1986 and since assumed the name Diocese of Zacapa y Santo Cristo de Esquipulas. It enjoyed a papal visit from Pope John Paul II in February 1996. ==Bishops==

Episcopal ordinaries • Apostolic Administrator Miguel Ángel García y Aráuz (1951 – 1955.11.30), while first Bishop of Jalapa (Guatemala) (1951.04.11 – 1987.01.29); previously Titular Bishop of Sophene (1944.05.16 – 1951.04.11) & Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Guatemala (1944.05.16 – 1951.04.11) • Costantino Cristiano Luna Pianegonda, Friars Minor (O.F.M.) (1955.11.30 – 1980.02.16) • Rodolfo Quezada Toruño (1980.02.16 – 2001.06.19), succeeding as former Coadjutor Bishop of Zacapa (1975.09.11 – 1980.02.16); also Bishop-Prelate of the Territorial Prelature of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas (1986.06.24 – 2001.06.19), President of Episcopal Conference of Guatemala (1988–1992); previously Titular Bishop of Gadiaufala (1972.04.05 – 1975.09.11) & Auxiliary Bishop of Zacapa (1972.04.05 – 1975.09.11); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Guatemala (2001.06.19 – 2010.10.02), President of Episcopal Conference of Guatemala (2002–2006), Cardinal-Priest of S. Saturnino (2003.10.21 [2004.03.13] – 2012.06.04) • José Aníbal Casasola Sosa (2004.05.13 – 2007.04.27), also Bishop-Prelate of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas (Guatemala) (2004.05.13 – 2007.04.27) • Rosolino Bianchetti Boffelli (2008.11.20 – 2012.09.14), also Bishop-Prelate of Santo Cristo de Esquipulas (Guatemala) (2008.11.20 – 2012.09.14); later Bishop of Quiché (Guatemala) (2012.09.14 – ...) • Vacant see (sede vacante): 2012–2016 • Ángel Antonio Recinos Lemus (2016.02.22 – present); until then Subcoordinator of COPADENA for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalapa and Pastor of the "Nuestra Señora de Lourdes" (Our Lady of Lourdes) Parish, in El Progreso Achuapa, Jutiapa Coadjutor bishop • Rodolfo Quezada Toruño (1975-1980); future Cardinal Auxiliary bishop • Rodolfo Quezada Toruño (1972-1975), appointed Coadjutor here; future Cardinal Other priest of this diocese who became bishop • Domingo Buezo Leiva, appointed Vicar Apostolic of Izabal in 2013 == External links and references ==

• ==Sources and external links==

• GigaCatholic, with incumbent biography links ==References==