Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi
| Diocese of Varanasi Dioecesis Varanasiensis वाराणसी के सूबा | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| Ecclesiastical province | Agra |
| Metropolitan | Agra |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 21,395 km2 (8,261 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2010) 20,328,000 18,259 (0.1%) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Cathedral | St Mary’s Cathedral in Varanasi |
| Patron saint | St John the Baptist |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Eugene Joseph |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Albert D'Souza |
| Emeritus Bishops | Patrick Paul D’Souza |
| Website | |
| Website of the Diocese | |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi (Latin: Varanasien(sis)) is a Latin suffragan diocese in the Ecclesiastical province of Agra in northern India' s vaste state Uttar Pradesh.
Its cathedral episcopal see is St. Mary’s Cathedral in the city of Varanasi.
History
- Established on July 11, 1946 as Apostolic Prefecture of Gorakhpur, on territory split off from the Diocese of Allahabad, exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See
- September 17, 1958: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Benares-Gorakhpur
- Promoted on June 5, 1970 as Diocese of Banaras (Benares), losing its exempt status by becoming a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agra
- May 14, 1971: Renamed as Diocese of Varanasi (as the city had changed its name).
Ordinaries
(all Latin, Roman Rite)
- Apostolic Prefects of Gorakhpur
- Father Joseph Emil Malenfant, Capuchin Friars (O.F.M. Cap.) (June 6, 1947 – September 17, 1958 see below)
- Apostolic Prefects of Benares-Gorakhpur
- Joseph Emil Malenfant, O.F.M. Cap. (see above September 17, 1958 – 1970)
- Bishops of Banaras
- Patrick Paul D’Souza (June 5, 1970 – May 14, 1971 see below)
- Bishops of Varanasi
- Patrick Paul D’Souza (see above May 14, 1971 – February 24, 2007), Vice-President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (1996 – 1998)
- Raphy Manjaly (February 24, 2007 – 2013.10.17), later Bishop of Allahabad (India, in the same province) (2013.10.17 – ...)
- Eugene Joseph (2015.05.30 – ...)
Sources and External Links
- Diocese of Varanasi Official Website
- GCatholic.org, with incumbent biography links
- Catholic Hierarchy
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