Iraq, Iran, and Turkey

Iraq

Christianity has been in Iraq since Apostolic times.  Today, Muslims account for over 95 percent of Iraq’s 40 million people.  Christians account for less than 1 percent and of these about 300,000 are Catholic.  Catholics belong to one of five liturgical rites.

Chaldean Rite

Most Iraqi Catholics are Chaldean-rite and they number about 250,000.  Chaldean Catholics in Iraq have two provinces and three separate archdioceses that are immediately subject to the Chaldean patriarch.  The Archdiocese of Basra was established as the Diocese of Perat-Maishan in 280 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 410.  It was later suppressed before becoming an archdiocese in 1954.  The Archdiocese of Mosul began as a diocese in 1800 before becoming an archdiocese in 1967.  The Archdiocese of Erbil was established in 1968 and its cathedral is in Ankawa.

Province of the Chaldean Patriarchal See of Baghdad

The Patriarchate of Baghdad was established in the 3^rd Century and became the Patriarchal See of the Chaldean Patriarch in 1553.  On the same day, the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baghdad was created as the Patriarch’s province.  The Patriarch’s cathedral in Baghdad is dedicated to Mary, Mother of Sorrows and it was built the 1890s.

From Wikipedia

The Province has three suffragan dioceses in Iraq—there are others in other countries.

• The Diocese of Amadiyah was created in 1785.  The cathedral is in Duhok.
• The Diocese of Akre was established in 1850, was suppressed in 1895, and was restored in 1910.
• The Diocese of Alquoch was established in 1960.
• The Diocese of Zaku was established in 2020.

Province of Kirkuk-Sulaimaniya

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kirkuk was established in 1789 and was renamed Kirkuk-Sulaimaniya in 2013.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese has no suffragan sees.  The Metropolitan Cathedral in Kirkuk is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Roman Rite

There are about 3,000 Roman Rite Catholics in Iraq in 2 parishes.  The Diocese of Baghdad was established in 1632 and became an archdiocese in 1848.  It is immediately subject to the Pope.

Armenian Rite

There are 2,000 Armenian Rite Catholics in Iraq in 2 parishes.  The Archdiocese of Baghdad was established in 1954 and is immediately subject to the Armenian patriarch.

Greek-Melkite Rite

There are only about 200 Greek-Melkite Catholics in Iraq and they are under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Iraq.  The Exarchate was established in 1838 and is immediately subject to the Greek-Melkite Patriarch.  There has been not bishop since 2004.  There is only one parish—the cathedral in Baghdad.

Syriac Rite

Syrian Catholics number about 50,000 in Iraq and there are three archdioceses and a patriarchal exarchate.  All are immediately subject to the Syriac patriarch.  The Archdiocese of Mosul was established in 1790, the Archdiocese of Baghdad was established in 1862, and the Archdiocese of Hadib-Erbil was established in 2019.  The Patriarchal Exarchate of Basra and the Gulf was created in 1982.  The cathedral is in Basra.  

Iran

Christianity has been in Iran since Apostolic times.  Today, Muslims account for over 99 percent of Iran’s 83 million people.  Catholics number about seven thousand and belong to one of three liturgical rites.

Chaldean Rite

There are about 5,000 Chaldean Rite Catholics in Iran.  They fall under the jurisdiction of one of four dioceses and fewer than a dozen parishes.  

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tehran was established as the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sehna in 1853 and was renamed in 1971.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese has no suffragan sees.  The Metropolitan Cathedral in Tehran is dedicated to St. Joseph.

From Flickr and Youtube

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Urmya (in northwestern Iran) was established in 1890 and has one suffragan see—the Diocese of Salmas.  The Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Mary the Mother of God in Urmya was originally built in the 1880s, but was destroyed in 1918.  It reopened in 1954.  The Diocese of Salmas was established in 1709. Salmas is in northwestern Iran.

Urmya Cathedral from Pinterest

The Archdiocese of Ahvaz was established in 1966 and is immediately subject to the Chaldean patriarch.  The Cathedral is in Ahvaz, Iran (in the southwest near Kuwait).

Roman Rite

There are 2,000 Roman Rite Catholics in Iran under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Tehran-Isfahan.  The Archdiocese, which has 3 parishes, was established in 1629 and became an archdiocese in 1910.  It is immediately subject to the Pope.  The Cathedral is in Tehran.

Armenian Rite

There are 150 Armenian Rite Catholics in Iran under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Isfahan.  The Diocese, which has 1 parish, was established in 1850 and is part of the Armenian Province of Cilicia (in Beirut, Lebanon).  The Cathedral is in Isfahan in central Iran.

Turkey

Christianity has been in Turkey since Apostolic times.  Today, Muslims account for over 99 percent of Turkey’s 81 million people.  Catholics number about 50-75 thousand and belong to one of five liturgical rites.

Roman Rite

Roman Rite Catholic make up the majority of Catholics in Turkey.  The 30,000 Roman Rite Catholics belong to one of three dioceses:  the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Izmir (located in western Turkey), the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia, and the Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul.

Izmir is the same as Smyrna, one of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation (and the only still in existence).  The Christian community dates to Apostolic times and claims to have been founded by John the Apostle.  St. Polycarp later served as bishop.  Officially, the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Izmir was established as the Archdiocese of Smyrna in 1346, was suppressed in 1575, restored as an apostolic vicariate in 1625, before being raised to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Izmir (Smyrna) in 1818.  Despite being a metropolitan archdiocese, it has no suffragan dioceses.

St. John’s Cathedral was built in a neo-classical style between 1862 and 1874.  The beautifully decorated church was mostly destroyed during the Turkish War of Independence (1922-1925) and most of the Catholic community left.  In an attempt to save the Cathedral, the Archbishop entered into an agreement with the U.S. military in 1965 to use it as a chapel.  Unfortunately, this caused distrust in the larger Muslim community and the agreement was cancelled in 2013.  See izmirkatedrali.com.

From Wikipedia

The Apostolic Vicariate of Istanbul was established in 1742 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople and was renamed in 1990.  It is immediately subject to the Pope.  The cathedral is in Istanbul.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia is immediately subject to the Pope.  It began as the mission sui juris of Trabzon in 1931 and acquired its current name and status in 1990.  There are cathedrals in Iskenderun and Mersin (both in southern Turkey).

Armenian Rite

There are 3,000 Armenian Catholics in Turkey.  The Patriarch of the Armenian Rite is officially headquartered in Cilicia (a region in southern Turkey), but is now based in Beirut, Lebanon.  (See my blog on Lebanon of April 8, 2019.)  The Armenian Archdiocese of Istanbul was established in 1830, suppressed in 1867, and restored in 1928.  It is immediately subject to the Armenian Patriarch.

Chaldean Rite

There are 30,000 Chaldean Catholics in Turkey under the jurisdiction of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Diarbekir.  (Diarbekir is in southeastern Turkey.)  The Archdiocese, which is immediately subject to the Chaldean Patriarch, was established as a diocese in 1553.  It became an archdiocese in 1966.

Greek Catholic Rite

There are only about two dozen Greek Catholics in Turkey.  They are under the jurisdiction of the Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Istanbul, which was established in 1911 and acquired its current name in 1936.  The Exarchate is immediately subject to the Pope.  Its last bishop died in 1957 and it has had apostolic administrators ever since.

Syriac Rite

Syriac Rite Catholics in Turkey number about 2,000 and are under the jurisdiction of the Syriac Patriarchal Exarchate of Turkey, which was established in 1908 and is immediately subject to the Syriac Patriarch.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also archdioceses that are not part of a province that are directly under the jurisdiction of the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates and apostolic prefectures.  Both are missionary territories below the level of a diocese.  The difference is that a vicar apostolic holds the rank of a bishop and the prefect apostolic is a priest, but not a bishop.  There is also a jurisdiction called a mission sui juris.  A mission sui juris may be part of a province and is often administered by a bishop of another diocese. 

Most Catholics in the world belong to the Latin or Roman rite.  Rite refers to liturgical practices, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage.  Many Catholics belong to one of two dozen Eastern rite churches.  Eastern rite churches trace their heritage to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.  Eastern rite churches sometimes use different terminologies.  For example, a diocese might be called an eparchy and is led by an eparch.  A vicariate apostolic is called an exarchy and is led by an exarch.  A patriarchal exarchate is an exarchy directly subject to the Patriarch. 

Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger

Senegal

Portuguese explorers came to Senegal in the 15^th Century, but it was not until the 17^th Century that Senegal was colonized by France.  Senegal became part of French West Africa in 1895 and the capital of French West Africa—a colony now divided into 8 independent nations—was in Saint-Louis in Senegal.  The Capital moved to Dakar in 1902.  Senegal, then combined with Gambia into a nation called Senegambia, gained independence in 1960.  The Gambia split from Senegal in 1989.  Catholicism came with the Portuguese and the French and converts were made as early as the late 1400s.  Missionaries continued to visit over the next 300 years.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Senegal was created in 1763 in Saint-Louis and was assigned to the Holy Ghost Fathers, who were later assisted by the St. Joseph Sisters of Cluny.  Over 96 percent of Senegal’s 15 million people are Muslim.  Catholics number over 600,000 or 4 percent of the total.

Province of Dakar

The province consists of the nation of Senegal.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Senegambia was created in 1863 and was renamed Dakar in 1936.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dakar was created in 1955.  Our Lady of Victories Cathedral was consecrated in 1936.  Much of the building material is African—sandstone from Sudan, marble from Tunisia, and wood from Gabon.

 

The top picture is from pinterest and the bottom picture is from Wikipedia.

The Province has six suffragan dioceses.

• The Apostolic Prefecture of Ziguinchor was established in 1939, became an apostolic vicariate in 1952, before becoming the Diocese of Ziguinchor in 1955.
• The Apostolic Prefecture of Kaolack was established in 1957 and was promoted to a Diocese in 1965.
• The Apostolic Prefecture of Senegal was created in 1763 and became the Diocese of Saint-Louis du Senegal in 1966.
• The Diocese of Thies was established in 1969.
• Tambacounda was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1970 before being promoted to a Diocese in 1989.
• The Diocese of Kolda was established in 1999. 

Burkina Faso

France made a colony of what is now Burkina Faso in 1897.  Missionaries of Africa (formerly the White Fathers) established missions in Koupela in 1900 and in Ouagadougou in 1901.  The nation gained its independence from France in 1960.  Muslims make up over 60 percent of the population of Burkina Faso.  Catholics account for about 4.5 million people or 23 percent of the total population of 20 million.  Catholics are divided among three ecclesiastical provinces—Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, and Koupela.

Province of Ouagadougou

The province consists of central Burkina Faso.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Ouagadougou was established in 1921 and was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ouagadougou in 1955.  The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Ouagadougou was constructed between 1934 and 1936 with red mud bricks in a Romanesque style.  The Cathedral has an outdoor altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Apostolic Vicariate of Koudougou was established in 1954 and was promoted to a diocese in 1955.
• The Diocese of Ouahigouya started as an apostolic prefecture in 1947 before becoming a diocese in 1958.
• The Diocese of Manga was established in 1997. 

Province of Bobo-Dioulasso

The province consists of western Burkina Faso.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Bobo-Dioulasso was created in 1927, became an apostolic vicariate in 1937, and a diocese in 1955.  It was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bobo-Dioulasso in 2000.  Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Bobo-Dioulasso was built between 1957 and 1961.  See cathedralebobo.bf.

From inspirock

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Nouna began as an apostolic prefecture in 1947 before becoming an apostolic vicariate in 1951.  It became a Diocese in 1955.
• The Diocese of Diebougou was established in 1968.
• The Diocese of Banfora was established in 1998.
• The Diocese of Dedougou was established in 2000.
• The Diocese of Gaoua was established in 2011. 

Province of Koupela

The province consists of eastern Burkina Faso.  The Diocese of Koupela was founded in 1956 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Koupela in 2000.  Our Lady of Graces Cathedral is in Koupela.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Fada N’Gourma was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1959 before being promoted to a Diocese in 1964.
• The Diocese of Kaya was established in 1969.
• The Diocese of Dori was established in 2004.
• The Diocese of Tenkodogo was established in 2012. 

Mali

Morocco governed what is now Mali for 300 years until the French gained control in the 19^th Century.  Mali became part of the Apostolic Prefecture of Sahara and Sudan in 1868, which became the Apostolic Vicariate of Sahara and Sudan in 1891.  Two groups of White Fathers (now Missionaries of Africa) were martyred by their local guides trying to reach Mali by crossing the Sahara Desert.  A third group entered Mali by way of what is now Senegal and established missions in Segou and Timbuctoo in 1895, but evangelization was hampered by many factors.  The French referred to their colony as French Sudan until granting greater political autonomy in 1958 leading to independence in 1960.  Senegal and Gambia, which were part of the colony, broke from Mali shortly after independence.  Muslims make up 95 percent of Mali’s population.  Catholics account for 280,000 or about 2 percent of the total population of 18 million.

Province of Bamako

The province consists of the nation of Mali.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Bamako was established in 1921 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bamako in 1955.  The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Bamako was constructed between 1927 and 1936 and replaced a mission church.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Segou was established in 1962.
• The Apostolic Prefecture of Kayes was established in 1947 and was promoted to the Diocese of Kays in 1963.
• The Apostolic Prefecture of Sikasso was established in 1947 and was promoted to the Diocese of Sikasso in 1963.
• The Apostolic Prefecture of Gao was established in 1942 and became the Diocese of Mopti in 1964.
• The Mission sui juris of San was established in 1962 and became the Diocese of San in 1964. 

Niger

Christianity came to Niger with French and German explorers in the late 1700s and Catholics established a mission in Niamey in 1831.  Niger became part of French West Africa in 1904 and gained its independence from France in 1960.  Almost all of the nation’s 19 million people are Muslim.  There are about 20,000 Catholics in Niger and a somewhat larger number of Protestants.

Province of Niamey

The province consists of the nation of Niger.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Niamey was established in 1942. It became a diocese in 1961 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Niamey in 2007.  Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral in Niamey was built as a parish church in 1931 before its dedication to Our Lady in 1948.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has one suffragan diocese.

• The Diocese of Maradi was created in 2001.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates and apostolic prefectures.  Both are missionary territories below the level of a diocese.  The difference is that a vicar apostolic holds the rank of a bishop and the prefect apostolic is a priest, but not a bishop.  There is also a jurisdiction called a mission sui juris.  A mission sui juris may be part of a province and is often administered by a bishop of another diocese. 

Southern Africa

This blog covers five countries in Southern Africa—South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Namibia.

South Africa

Portuguese explorers came to South Africa in 1488, but it was the Dutch who settled in the Cape area and established Cape Town in 1652.  The British came at the beginning of the 19^th Century and fought the Dutch (known as the Boers) and the Native people (including the Zulus) for the next century for control of the whole territory.  South Africa became an independent nation in steps between 1910 and 1961.

The Portuguese brought the Catholic Faith to the region, but after the Dutch gained control in 1651, the Catholic Faith was banned.  The British allowed the Church to return in the early 19^th Century and the first vicar apostolic was appointed in 1818.  There are 3.8 million Catholics in South Africa or 7 percent of the total population.  There are five ecclesiastical provinces:  Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, and Johannesburg.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Ingwavuma was established in 1990 and is immediately subject to the Vatican and thus is not part of any province. There is also a separate diocese for the armed services.

Province of Cape Town

The province consists of southwestern South Africa, including the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces and the southern portion of the Northern Cape Province.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Cape of Good Hope was established in 1818.  It became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cape Town in 1951 with the creation of the new Province.  

The Neo-Gothic Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Mary of the Flight into Egypt opened in 1851.  Additional detail can be found at stmaryscathedral.org.za and catholic-ct.co.za.

Both are from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses. 

• The Diocese of Port Elizabeth began as an apostolic prefecture in 1847, became an apostolic vicariate in 1939, and a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of Oudtshoorn began as an apostolic prefecture in 1874, became an apostolic vicariate in 1948 and a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of Aliwal was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1923, became an apostolic vicariate in 1936, and a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of Queenstown began as a mission sui juris in 1929 before becoming an apostolic prefecture in 1938, an apostolic vicariate in 1948, and a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of De Aar started as an apostolic prefecture in 1953 and became a diocese in 1967. 

Province of Durban

The province consists of east central South Africa, including the KwaZulu-Natal Province.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Natal was created in 1850 and this became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Durban in 1951 with the creation of the new Province.

Construction of Emmanuel Cathedral in Durban was completed in 1903.  The Gothic Cathedral is made from local clay brick.  It has a single octagonal tower.  The Stations of the Cross were made in France and were installed in 1904.  Additional information can be found at emmanuelcathedral.org.za and www.catholic-dbn.org.za.

From Flickr.

The Province has six suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Eshowe began as an apostolic prefecture in 1921, became an apostolic vicariate in 1923, and a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of Mariannhill started as an apostolic vicariate in 1921 and became a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of Mthatha began as an apostolic prefecture in 1930, became an apostolic vicariate in 1937, and a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of Kokstad began as an apostolic prefecture in 1935, became an apostolic vicariate in 1939, and a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of Dundee started as an apostolic prefecture in 1958 and became a diocese in 1982.
• The Diocese of Umzimkulu was created in 1954.

Province of Pretoria

The province consists of far northeastern South Africa (including Limpopo Province and portions of Gauteng and North West Provinces) and Botswana.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Pretoria was established in 1948 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Pretoria in 1951 with the creation of the new Province.

The main portion of Sacred Heart Cathedral was completed in 1933.  The Cathedral is of French Gothic design with a Latin cross floor plan.  The building is made of pre-cast concrete and has two towers.  The Cathedral has beautiful stained glass windows and bas relief Stations of the Cross.  See cshpretoria.co.za  and archdioceseofpretoria.org.za.

Both are from the Diocesan website.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Polokwane, South Africa, was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1910, became territorial abbacy in 1939, and a diocese in 1988.
• The Diocese of Tzaneen, South Africa, was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1962 and became a diocese in 1972.
• The Diocese of Rustenburg, South Africa, was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1971 and became a diocese in 1987.
• The Diocese of Gaborone, Botswana, started as an apostolic prefecture in 1959 before becoming a diocese in 1966.  Great Britain annexed Botswana in 1885 to connect the Cape Colony (South Africa) with its colonies north of Botswana.  Botswana became independent in 1966.  Protestant missionaries came to Botswana in the two decades before British colonization and tribal chiefs essentially made Christianity the state religion early in the 20^th Century.  The first successful Catholic mission opened near Gaborone in 1928.  Botswana has 110,000 Catholics or 5 percent of the total population.
• The Diocese of Francistown, Botswana, was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1998 and became a diocese in 2017.

Province of Bloemfontein

The province consists of central South Africa including Free State Province and portions of Northern Cape Province.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bloemfontein was created in 1951 with the creation of the new Province.  The Metropolitan Cathedral is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  There is a Facebook page.

I could not find an non-copyright picture.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Keimoes-Upington began as an apostolic prefecture in 1885 and became an apostolic vicariate in 1898.  The diocese was created in 1951.
• The Diocese of Kimberly started as an apostolic vicariate in 1886 and became a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of Kroonstad began as an apostolic prefecture in 1923, became an apostolic vicariate in 1935, and a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of Bethlehem was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1948 and became a diocese in 1951.

Province of Johannesburg

The province consists of northeastern South Africa (including Mpumalanga Province and portions of Gauteng and North West Provinces) and Swaziland.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Transvaal was established in 1886 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Transvaal in 1904.  The name was changed to Johannesburg in 1948 and it became a Diocese in 1951.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Johannesburg was established in 2007 with the creation of the new Province.

The Cathedral of Christ the King opened in 1960 and is made of reinforced concrete with a red granite finish and with brick.  The modern-style Cathedral has large stained glass windows.  Pope John Paul II visited the Cathedral in 1995.  See the following websites for more information:  catholic-johannesburg.org.za and catholicjhb.org.za/about/the-cathedral.

Both are from Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Klerksdorp, South Africa, was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1965 and became a diocese in 1978.
• The Diocese of Witbank, South Africa, was created in 1923 as an apostolic prefecture and became an apostolic vicariate in 1948.  It became a diocese in 1951.
• The Diocese of Manzini, Swaziland, was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1923, became an apostolic vicariate in 1939, and became a diocese in 1951.  The British ruled Swaziland from 1903 until independence in 1968.  Successful Catholic evangelization began when Servite missionaries arrived in 1913.  Swaziland, also known as Eswatini, has 59,000 Catholics or 5 percent of the total population.

Lesotho

After several years of war, the British took control of Lesotho in 1869.  Lesotho gained independence in 1966.  The Oblates of Mary Immaculate established the first Catholic mission in Lesotho in 1862.  The Church built an extensive network of schools—75 percent of all schools in Lesotho in 2000 were run by the Catholic Church.  Lesotho has 1.4 million Catholics or 55 percent of the total population.  There is one province:  Maseru.

Province of Maseru

The province consists of Lesotho.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Basutoland was created in 1894 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Basutoland in 1909.  It became the Diocese of Maseru in 1951 and the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Maseru in 1961 with the creation of the new Province.  The Cathedral is dedicated to Our Lady of Victories.  The Cathedral has a Facebook page.

From tripadvisor.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Leribe was created in 1952.
• The Diocese of Qacha’s Nek was created in 1961.
• The Diocese of Mohale’s Hoek was created in 1977. 

Namibia

Germany gained control of Namibia in 1884, but lost it to South Africa in 1920.  It became independent in 1990.  Almost 90 percent of the people are Christian, with about half being Lutheran.  Namibia has 439,000 Catholics (18 percent of the total population).  There is one province:  Windhoek.

Province of Windhoek

The province consists of Namibia.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Lower Cimbebasia was established in 1892 and this became the Apostolic Vicariate of Windhoek in 1926.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Windhoek was established in 1994 with the creation of the new Province.

The Metropolitan Cathedral is dedicated to St. Mary.  The Cathedral was built between 1906 and 1908 in a Romanesque Revival architectural style.  The façade is flanked by two towers rising 40 feet above street level.  The towers are topped with white crosses.  See rcchurch.na.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan territories.

• The Diocese of Keetmanshoop started as an apostolic prefecture in 1909, became a vicariate apostolic in 1930, before becoming a diocese in 1994.
• The Apostolic Vicariate of Rundu was created in 1994.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also archdioceses that are not part of a province that are directly under the jurisdiction of the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include apostolic vicariates and apostolic prefectures.  Both are missionary territories below the level of a diocese.  The difference is that a vicar apostolic holds the rank of a bishop and the prefect apostolic is a priest, but not a bishop.  There is also a jurisdiction called a mission sui juris.  A mission sui juris may be part of a province and is often administered by a bishop of another diocese.  A territorial abbacy is a defined territory surrounding an abbey or monastery that is not part of a diocese.  The abbot serves as the bishop for all Catholics and parishes within the territory.