| Jurisdiction: | Diocese |
| Rancagua | |
| Latin: | Dioecesis Rancaguensis |
| Local: | Diócesis de Rancagua |
| Country: | Chile |
| Metropolitan: | Santiago de Chile |
| Province: | Santiago de Chile |
| Area Km2: | 16,042 |
| Population: | 869,000 |
| Population As Of: | 2010 |
| Catholics: | 699,000 |
| Catholics Percent: | 80.4 |
| Parishes: | 64 |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Rite: | Latin Rite |
| Established: | 18 October 1925 (years ago) |
| Cathedral: | Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Rancagua |
| Patron: | Holy Cross |
| Bishop: | Guillermo Patricio Vera Soto |
| Metro Archbishop: | Celestino Aós Braco, OFM Cap |
| Emeritus Bishops: | Alejandro Goić Karmelić |
| Website: | Website of the Diocese |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rancagua (in Latin: Dioecesis Rancaguensis) is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile. The diocese was established on 18 October 1925 as Diócesis de Santa Cruz de Rancagua, by Pope Pius XII by means of the papal bull Apostolici muneris ratio.
The diocese is headed by Guillermo Patricio Vera Soto, who was named Bishop by Pope Francis on 8 June 2021.
The diocese comprises the three provinces of the O'Higgins Region of Chile: Cachapoal, Colchagua and Cardenal Caro, with the exception of the comuna of Navidad, of the latter province, which belongs to the diocese of Melipilla. It covers a territory of 16042km2 and has 63 parishes. It is estimated that 80 percent of the population of the diocese is Catholic. This figure represents about 625,000 Catholics out of a total population of 781,000 persons.
The diocesan cathedral is located in the city of Rancagua.
| Name | Reign began | Reign ended | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Lira Infante † | 14 December 1925 | 18 March 1938 | Appointed bishop of Valparaíso | |
| Eduardo Larraín Cordovez † | 9 July 1938 | 2 February 1970 | Retired | |
| Alejandro Durán Moreira † | 2 February 1970 | 30 May 1986 | Retired | |
| 25 November 1987 | 16 April 1993 | Appointed bishop of Valparaíso; future Cardinal (Protodeacon, 2005-2007) | ||
| Francisco Javier Prado Aránguiz, SS.CC. † | 16 April 1993 | 23 April 2004 | Retired | |
| 23 April 2004 | 28 June 2018 | Translated from Osorno | ||
| 8 June 2021 | present | Translated from Iquique |