The world’s oldest Catholic bishop is 104 years old. He is the Mexican José de Jesús Sahagún de la Parra, bishop emeritus of Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas and one of the last living conciliar fathers of Vatican II.
As of June 17, 2026, the Church counts nine bishops who have already surpassed 100 years of age. The number increased this Tuesday with the birthday of the Brazilian Hildebrando Mendes Costa, bishop emeritus of Estância, in the state of Sergipe.
A small group of bishops who lived through the 20th century
The neun bishops who have reached 100 years of age belong to an exceptional ecclesial generation. They lived through World War II, were witnesses to de großen changes of the 20th century, and some of them participated directly in Vatican II.
The case of Sahagún de la Parra is especially significant. Born in 1922 in the Mexican state of Michoacán, he was appointed in 1961 by St. John XXIII as the first bishop of the newly created diocese of Tula. He participated in three sessions of Vatican II and was one of the few Mexican bishops present at the opening of the conciliar assembly.
In 1985, St. John Paul II appointed him as the first bishop of Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas. From his retirement in 1993 he live again in his native state.
Hildebrando Mendes Costa raises the number of centenarian bishops to nine
The list passed from eight to nine members with the 100th birthday of Hildebrando Mendes Costa, who turned 100 on June 16. The Brazilian prelate governed the diocese of Estância for about 17 years, until his resignation by age in April 2003.
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