Roman Catholic Diocese of Benguela

Diocese of Benguela

Dioecesis Benguelensis
Location
CountryAngola
MetropolitanHuambo
Statistics
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2020)
2,551,000
1,985,760 (77.8%)
Parishes68
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
RiteLatin Rite
Established6 June 1970
CathedralOur Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Benguela
Patron saintOur Lady of Fatima
Secular priests172 (2020)
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopAntónio Francisco Jaca

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Benguela (Latin: Dioecesis Benguelensis) is a diocese located in the city of Benguela in the ecclesiastical province of Huambo in Angola. The current bishop of the diocese is António Francisco Jaca.

History

The diocese was established on 6 June 1970 as Diocese of Benguela from the Diocese of Nova Lisboa (now the Archdiocese of Huambo). It was initially a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Luanda but became a suffragan of Huambo on 3 February 1977.

It enjoyed a papal visit by Pope John Paul II on 9 June 1992.[1]

Geography

The diocese covers the entirety of Benguela Province. It has an area of 39,823 km2 and is divided into 68 parishes.

Special churches

The Cathedral of the diocese is Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral (Portuguese: Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora de Fátima) in Benguela.

Bishops

Bishops of Benguela

Auxiliary Bishops

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

See also

References

  1. ^ "Apostolic Journey to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (June 4-10, 1992)". Vatican.va. Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Resignations and Appointments, 26.03.2018" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2019.

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