Catholic missionaries were active in the coastal regions of Sierra Leone from the early sixteenth century although only a few people converted to Catholicism.[2]
There are no titular sees. All defunct jurisdictions are precursors of present sees.
There formally is an Apostolic Nunciature (embassy-level papal diplomatic representation) to Sierra Leone and an Apostolic Nunciature to The Gambia, but both are vested in the Apostolic Nunciature to Liberia (in its capital Monrovia).
The vicariate was elevated to the status of a diocese, taking the name of Freetown and Bo on 18 April 1950. In 1952, the Prefecture Apostolic of Makeni was split off from its territory. The diocese was elevated to an archdiocese on 11 November 1970, at which time also the Diocese of Kenema was split off.[4]
April 3, 1952: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Makeni from territory of the Diocese of Freetown and Bo
February 24, 1962: Elevated to the status of a diocese
The Episcopal Diocese of Bo
In January 2011, the Diocese of Bo (Dioecesis Boënsis) was created in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI[7] through the bull Petrini ministerii.
The seat of the diocese is at the Immaculate Church of Mary where the Roman Rite is observed and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Bo (Dioecesis Boënsis) which was created in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI[7] through the bull Petrini ministerii.
There are about 50,000 Catholics under the jurisdiction of the diocese.
^Haggett, Peter (2002), Encyclopedia of world geography, Marshall Cavendish, p. 2318, ISBN0-7614-7306-8
^Osagie, Iyunolu Folayan (2000), The Amistad Revolt: Memory, Slavery, and the Politics of Identity in the United States and Sierra Leone, University of Georgia Press, p. 55, ISBN0-8203-2465-5
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