Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi (Latin: Varanasien[sis]) is a Latin suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Agra in northern India's vast state Uttar Pradesh. Its cathedral episcopal see is St. Mary's Cathedral in the city of Varanasi.

Diocese of Varanasi

Dioecesis Varanasiensis

वाराणसी के सूबा
St. Mary's Cathedral, Varanasi
Location
CountryIndia
Ecclesiastical provinceAgra
MetropolitanAgra
Statistics
Area21,395 km2 (8,261 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2010)
20,328,000
18,259 (0.1%)
Information
RiteLatin Rite
CathedralSt Mary's Cathedral in Varanasi
Patron saintJohn the Baptist, Fidelis of Sigmaringen
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopEugene Joseph
Metropolitan ArchbishopAlbert D'Souza
Bishops emeritusPatrick Paul D'Souza
Map
Website
Website of the Diocese

History

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  • Established on 11 July 1946 as Apostolic Prefecture of Gorakhpur, on territory split off from the Diocese of Allahabad, exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See
  • 17 September 1958: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Benares-Gorakhpur
  • Promoted on 5 June 1970 as Diocese of Banaras (Benares), losing its exempt status by becoming a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agra
  • 14 May 1971: Renamed as Diocese of Varanasi (as the city had changed its name).

Ordinaries

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(all Latin, Roman Rite)

Apostolic Prefects of Gorakhpur
Apostolic Prefects of Benares-Gorakhpur
  • Joseph Emil Malenfant, OFMCap (see above 17 September 1958 – 1970)
Bishops of Banaras
  • Patrick Paul D'Souza (5 June 1970 – 14 May 1971 see below)
Bishops of Varanasi
  • Patrick Paul D'Souza (see above 14 May 1971 – 24 February 2007), Vice-President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (1996 – 1998)
  • Raphy Manjaly (24 February 2007 – 2013.10.17), later Bishop of Allahabad (India, in the same province) (2013.10.17 – ...)
  • Eugene Joseph (2015.05.30 – ...)

References

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25°19′52″N 82°59′03″E / 25.3312°N 82.9842°E / 25.3312; 82.9842