The Military Bishopric of Argentina (Spanish: Obispado Castrense de Argentina) is a military ordinariate (pseudo-diocese) of the Roman Catholic Church for the Argentine (para)military forces.
It is exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See and its Roman Congregation for Bishops, and vacant since 2007.
Its patron saint is Our Lady of Luján and the Episcopal seat is located at the (also Marian) Cathedral of the Star of the Sea (Catedral Stella Maris) in Buenos Aires, national capital of Argentina.
As per 2014, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Argentine Armed Forces, paramilitary National Gendarmerie and Naval Prefecture of Argentina in 4 parishes and 237 missions with 195 priests (178 diocesan, 17 religious), 1 deacon, 29 lay religious (17 brothers, 12 sisters) and 8 seminarians.
It was created as Military vicariate of Argentina on 8 July 1957, and elevated to Military ordinariate of Argentina on 21 July 1986. It remained known as Obispado Castrense (Army bishopric), as in several hispanophone countries.
It once had one Auxiliary Bishop of the Military Vicariate : Victorio Manuel Bonamín, Salesians (S.D.B.) (1960.01.27 – retired 1982.03.30), Titular Bishop of Bita (1960.01.27 – death 1991.11.11) and initially still Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1960.01.27 – retired 1975.04.22)
Fermín Emilio Lafitte (appointed 1957 – resigned 1959), while Titular Archbishop of Antiochia in Pisidia (1958.01.20 – 1959.03.25) and Coadjutor Archbishop of Córdoba (Argentina) (1958.01.20 – 1959.03.25), later Metropolitan Archbishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1959.03.25 – death 1959.08.08); previously Bishop of above Córdoba (1927.07.07 – 1934.04.20), promoted Metropolitan Archbishop of Córdoba (1934.04.20 – 1958.01.20)
Antonio Caggiano (appointed 14 December 1959 – retired 7 July 1975), while Metropolitan Archbishop of Buenos Aires (1959.08.15 – retired 1975.04.22), President of Episcopal Conference of Argentina (1958 – 1970), was already created Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Panisperna (1946.02.22 – 1979.10.23) while Bishop of Rosario (Argentina) (1934.09.13 – 1959.08.15); died 1979
Adolfo Servando Tortolo (appointed 7 July 1975 – retired 30 March 1982), while Metropolitan Archbishop of Paraná (Argentina) (1962.09.06 – 1986.04.01) and President of Episcopal Conference of Argentina (1970 – 1976); died 1998
José Miguel Medina (appointed 30 March 1982 – see below first Mililtary Ordinary 21 July 1986), initially still Bishop of Jujuy (Argentina) (1965.09.08 – 1983.07.07)
José Miguel Medina (see above last Military Vicar promoted 21 July 1986 – died 7 March 1990), nor more other office
Norberto Eugenio Conrado Martina, Friars Minor (O.F.M.) (appointed 8 November 1990 – died 28 August 2001), Titular Bishop of Satafis (1990.11.08 – 1998.03.07)
Antonio Juan Baseotto, Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (C.Ss.R.) (appointed 8 November 2002 – retired 15 May 2007), nor more other office; previously Coadjutor Bishop of Añatuya (Argentina) (1991.02.01 – 1992.12.21), succeeded as Bishop of Añatuya (1992.12.21 – 2002.11.08)
long vacancy : No military Ordinary appointed since 2007.
