Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Kingdom of Kongo consisted of a large part of central Africa from the 14th to the 19th Centuries.  King Leopold II of Belgium acquired the Congo as his personal property in the 1870s.  Leopold forced the people to work on rubber plantations and millions died.  International pressure forced Leopold to make the area a colony of Belgium at which time it became known as the Belgium Congo.  The Congo gained its independence from Belgium in 1960 and it became Zaire in 1965.  Ethnic strife and civil war erupted in mid-1990s during which time the Archbishop of Bukavu was assassinated and the nation became known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Catholic missionaries first came to the Congo in 1490, but modern evangelization did not begin until the late 1800s.  Today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has 102 million people.  Estimates of religious affiliation of its people varies greatly.  Catholics account for between 40 to 50 percent and other Christians for 40 to 50 percent.  These other Christians included Protestants as well as quasi-Christian African churches.  About 1 to 5 percent of the people as Muslim.  There are six Catholic provinces:  Bukava, Kananga, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, and Mbandaka-Bikoro.  Maronite-rite Catholics are under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of the Annunciation in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Province of Kinshasa

The province consists of the civil provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, and Mai-Ndombe in west central Congo.  The Mission sui juris of Congo was established in 1886 and this became an apostolic vicariate in 1888.  It was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Leopoldville in 1959 and acquired its current name in 1966.  

Our Lady (Notre Dame) of the Congo Cathedral in Kinshasa was built in 1947.

The first picture is from Panaramio and the other two are from TripAdvisor.

The Province has eight suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Kikwit was established as a Mission sui juris in 1892, became an apostolic prefecture in 1903, an apostolic vicariate in 1928, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Matadi was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1911, became an apostolic vicariate in 1930, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Kisantu was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1931 and became a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Boma was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1934 and became a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Idiofa was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1937, became an apostolic vicariate in 1948, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Inongo was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1953 and became a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Popokabaka was established in 1961.
• The Diocese of Kenge was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1957 and became a diocese in 1963.

Province of Kisangani

The province consists of the civil provinces of Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, and Tshopo in northeastern Congo.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Stanley Falls was established in 1904, became an apostolic vicariate in 1908, and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Stanleyville in 1959.  It acquired its current name in 1966.

Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in Kisangani was built in 1899 and it has been restored several times.

From Wikipedia.

The Province has eight suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Buta was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1898, became an apostolic vicariate in 1924, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Isiro-Niangara was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1911, became an apostolic vicariate in 1924, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Bunia was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1922, became an apostolic vicariate in 1933, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Bondo was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1926, became an apostolic vicariate in 1937, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Wamba was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1949 and became a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Isangi was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1951 and became a diocese in 1962.
• The Diocese of Mahagi-Nioka was established in 1962.
• The Diocese of Doruma-Dungu was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1958 and became a diocese in 1967.

Province of Kananga

The province consists of the civil provinces of Lomami, Kasai, Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental, and Sankuru in the central part of the Congo.  The Mission sui juris of Upper Kasai was established in 1901.  This became an apostolic prefecture in 1904, an apostolic vicariate in 1917, and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1959. 

The Cathedral of St. Joseph is in Mikalayi, about 22 miles southwest of Kananga.  This was the first settlement of Catholic missionaries in Kasai in 1891.

From a local website.

The Pro-Cathedral of St. Clement is in Kananga.

The first picture is from a local website and the second is from Panaramio.

The Province has eight suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Tshumbe was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1936, became an apostolic vicariate in 1947, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Kabinda was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1953 and was promoted to a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Luebo was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1959 and became a diocese later that year.
• The Diocese of Mweka was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1953 and became a diocese in 1964.
• The Diocese of Mbujimayi was established as an apostolic administration in 1963 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Kole was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1951 and became a diocese in 1967.
• The Diocese of Lwiza was established in 1967.
• The Diocese of Tshilomba was established in 2022.

Province of Lubumbashi

The province consists of the civil provinces of Haut-Katanga, Haut-Lomami, Lualaba, and Tanganyika in southern Congo.  The apostolic prefecture of Katanga was established in 1910, became an apostolic vicariate in 1932 and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1959. 

Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Lubumbashi was built in 1920 in a Romanesque Revival style.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has seven suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Kalemie-Kirungu was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1887 and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Kongolo was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1911, became an apostolic vicariate in 1935, and became a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Kamina was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1922, became an apostolic vicariate in 1934, and became a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Sakania-Kipushi was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1925, became an apostolic vicariate in 1939, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Kilwa-Kasenga was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1948 and became a diocese in 1962.
• The Diocese of Kolwezi was established in 1971.
• The Diocese of Manono was established in 1971.

Province of Mbandaka-Bikoro

The province consists of the civil provinces of Equateur, Mongala, Nord-Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi, and Tshuapa in northwestern Congo.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Tsuapa was established in 1924, became the Apostolic Vicariate of Coquilhatville in 1932, and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1959.  It acquired its current name in 1975.  

The Cathedral of St. Eugene in Mbankaka was built by Trappist missionaries between 1910 and 1914.  It was built primarily with bricks (hundreds of thousands of them) and has a bell that came from Westmalle Abbey in Belgium.  [As an aside, the Trappist monks at Westmalle Abbey operate a brewery and one of their beers is considered to be one of the best in the world.]

The first picture is from a blog and the second is from Wikipedia.

The Co-Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul is in Bikoro. 

The Province has six suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Lisala was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1919 and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Molegbe was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1911, became an apostolic vicariate in 1935, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Basankusu was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1926, became an apostolic vicariate in 1948, and a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Bokungu-Ikela was established in 1961.
• The Diocese of Lolo was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1937 and became a diocese in 1962.
• The Diocese of Budjala was established in 1964.

Province of Bukavu

The province consists of the civil provinces of Maniema, North Kivu, and South Kivu in the east central part of the Congo.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bukavu started as an apostolic vicariate in 1929 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1959.

The brick Our Lady of Peace Cathedral in Bukavu was built between 1948 and 1951.

The top picture is from a blog and the bottom picture is from Wikipedia.

The Province has five suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Butembo-Beni was established as a Mission sui juris in 1934, became an apostolic vicariate in 1938, and a diocese in 1959.  It acquired its current name in 1967.
• The Diocese of Kasongo was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1952 and became a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Kindu was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1956 and became a diocese in 1959.
• The Diocese of Goma was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1959 and became a diocese later that same year.
• The Diocese of Uvira was established in 1962.

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 missionary jurisdictions below the level of a diocese including apostolic vicariates, apostolic prefectures, apostolic administrations, and Missions sui juris. 

Other Nations—6

Scandinavia

This blog is the sixth of six to discuss nations that do not have ecclesiastic provinces.  Typically the jurisdictions are subject directly to the pope.  This blog covers Scandinavia—Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland (including the Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway (including Svalbard and Jan Mayen), and Sweden.

Denmark

Denmark became a kingdom by the late 8th Century and for the next two centuries, Danish Vikings raided and settled parts of England and Western Europe.  St. Ansgar brought Catholicism to Denmark in the 9th Century and he established a diocese in 831.  Harald Bluetooth, the King of Denmark, declared his nation to be Catholic around 965, and by 1060, there were six Catholic dioceses.  This changed in 1536 when the nation embraced Lutheranism.  Catholicism was outlawed until 1682, but even then, conversion from Lutheranism was illegal.  Full religious rights for Catholics, and others, was not allowed until 1849. 

The Faroe Islands, which are part of Denmark, were settled by Vikings in the 9th Century and have been part of Denmark since the 14th Century.  A Catholic diocese was established there in 1076.  Greenland, which is the world’s largest island, is also part of Denmark.  The Vikings came to Greenland in the 10th Century from Iceland and Danish colonization began in the 18th Century.  Greenland became part of Denmark in 1953.  Catholic missionaries came to Greenland at the beginning of the 11th Century and established churches—the first known churches in the Western Hemisphere.  A diocese was established in 1124 at Gardar in southern Greenland, near modern day Igaliku.  Both the Faroe Islands and Greenland embraced Lutheranism in the 1530s.    

Denmark has 5.9 million people, including 58,000 in Greenland and 51,000 in the Faroe Islands.  About 75 percent of Denmark’s people belong to the official Evangelical Lutheran Church and 6 percent are Muslim.  Lutherans account for at least 90 percent of the people in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.  Denmark’s 48,000 Catholics are part of the Diocese of Copenhagen, which is immediately subject to the Pope.  This began as the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Missions in 1868 before being demoted to the Apostolic Prefecture of Denmark in 1869.  It once again became an apostolic vicariate in 1892 before becoming the Diocese of Copenhagen in 1953.  St. Ansgar’s Cathedral in Copenhagen was built between 1840 and 1842.  At the time of its construction, it was the only Catholic church in Denmark and served mostly foreign diplomats and their families.  The Cathedral contains a relic of St. Lucius, a Third Century pope. 

The first picture is from Flickr, the next two from Panaramio, the fourth is from Pinterest, and the last from Wikipedia.

Ukrainian-rite Catholics in Denmark are served by the Apostolic Exarchate of Germany and Scandinavia headquartered in Munich, Germany.

Finland

Finland was part of Sweden from the 12th to the 19th Centuries and became part of Russia in 1809.  It finally gained independence in 1917.  Catholicism came to Finland in the 11th Century, but almost all Finns became Lutheran after the 16th Century Protestant Reformation.  It would not be until 1799 that a Catholic parish would be reestablished in Finland and 1929 that the Church would receive full legal status.  

Finland, including the Aland Islands, has 5.6 million people and 70 percent are Lutheran.  About 3 percent belong to another religious group and 27 percent have no specific religion.  There are only 15,000 Catholics, about half of whom are immigrants or foreign nationals, who make up the Diocese of Helsinki.  The Diocese was created in 1955 after first being established as an apostolic vicariate in 1920.  It is immediately subject to the Pope.  Catholic parishes in Finland celebrate Mass in 20 languages.  

St. Henry’s Cathedral is in Helsinki and is dedicated to a 12th Century Finnish bishop.  The Gothic Revival church was built between 1858 and 1860.

The first picture is from Pinterest and the rest are from Wikipedia. 

Iceland

Iceland was settled by Norwegian and Celtic peoples starting in the 9th Century.  It was eventually ruled by Norway and Denmark and did not achieve complete independence until 1944.  Among the first settlers were Irish monks and around 1000, Iceland officially became a Catholic nation.  Southern Iceland was served by the Diocese of Skalholt (now a village about 40 miles east of Reykjavik) established in 1056.  Northern Iceland was served by the Diocese of Holar (now a village in north central Iceland), which was established in 1106.  The Protestant Reformation came to Iceland in the mid-1500s, encourage by King Christian III of Denmark and Norway, who had converted to Lutheranism.  The two Catholic bishops resisted the change and one was executed 1550 and the other exiled.  Catholicism was outlawed and faithful Catholics were forced into exile.  It would not be until the mid-1800s that Catholic missionaries were allowed into Iceland.  

About two-thirds of Iceland’s 350,000 people belong to the official Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Catholics account for 4 percent, other religions (mostly Protestant) account for 11 percent.  The Church has grown rapidly in recent years mostly due to Eastern European and Filipino immigrants.  The Catholics are served by the Diocese of Reykjavik, which was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1923, became an apostolic vicariate in 1929, and a diocese in 1968.  It is immediately subject to the Pope.  Christ the King Cathedral is in Reykjavik.  The Neo-Gothic cathedral opened in 1929 and has a flat top rather than a steeple.  Pope Pius XI gave the cathedral a statue of Christ standing on the world which is located above the main altar.  The Stations of the Cross were painted in Bavaria a century ago.  A wooden Madonna from the 14th Century is on the left side of the sanctuary.  Pope John Paul II designated the cathedral as a minor basilica in 1999.

The first picture is from Flickr and the other two are from Pinterest. 

Norway

Norwegian Vikings terrorized Europe for two centuries until King Olav converted to Catholicism in 994.  Norway became a part of Denmark in 1397 and part of Sweden in 1814, before gaining independence in 1905.  After King Olav, it took many years for English and Irish missionaries to complete the work of conversion in Norway.  The Diocese of Nidaros (Trondheim) was established in 1015 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1152.  The province consisted of four other Norwegian dioceses, as well as dioceses in the Faroe Islands, the Orkney and Shetland Islands, the Isle of Man, Iceland, and Greenland.  The King of Denmark imposed Lutheranism on Norway in 1537, and despite persecution, Catholicism remained in various places until about 1700.  Priests were exiled, imprisoned, or executed.  It was not until 1843 that Norway allowed religious tolerance.

Norway’s 5.5 million people, including those living in the Svalbard and Jan Mayen islands mostly (71 percent) belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway, which is the state church.  Other Protestants account for 4 percent and Catholics and Muslims each account for 3 percent.  About 17 percent profess no specific religion.  Most Norwegian Catholics today are immigrants—mostly from Poland—but also from other European nations, Chile, the Philippines, and Vietnam.  

Roman rite Catholics belong to one of three jurisdictions, all of which are immediately subject to the Pope:

• The Diocese of Oslo was established in 1070 and suppressed in 1537.  It was restored as a Mission sui juris in 1868, became an apostolic prefecture in 1869, and apostolic vicariate in 1892, and once again a diocese in 1953.  St. Olav’s Cathedral is in Oslo.  St. Olav’s opened in 1856 and has masses in several languages, including Polish. 

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

• The Territorial Prelature of Tromso began as a Mission sui juris in 1931, became an apostolic prefecture in 1944, an apostolic vicariate in 1955, and a territorial prelature in 1979.  The Cathedral of Our Lady is in Tromso.  The Neo-Gothic wooden church was built in 1861 and seats 150.  It is the northernmost Catholic cathedral in the world.  

Pictures are from Panaramio, TripAdvisor, and Wikipedia.

• The Territorial Prelature of Trondheim was established as the Diocese of Nidaros in 1030 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1154.  It was suppressed in 1537.  It was restored as a Mission sui juris in 1931, became an apostolic prefecture in 1935, and apostolic vicariate in 1953, before becoming a territorial prelature in 1979.  St. Olav’s Cathedral is in Trondheim.  The brick cathedral opened in 2016 and has a separate clock tower with six bells. 

Both picture are from Wikipedia.

Ukrainian-rite Catholics in Norway are served by the Apostolic Exarchate of Germany and Scandinavia headquartered in Munich, Germany. 

Sweden

Swedish Vikings raided throughout the Baltic region and beyond from the 8th to the 11th Centuries.  Sweden has been a kingdom at least since the 9th Century.  Catholicism was brought to Sweden in 829 by St. Ansgar, although it would take until the 12th Century to be firmly established.  The Diocese of Lund (which was then in Denmark) was established in 1060 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1104 and had several suffragan dioceses.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Uppsala was created in 1164.  The Protestant Reformation started in Sweden when King Gustav Vasa nationalized the Swedish church in 1527, although it would take until 1593 for Lutheranism to become the state church.  For the next two centuries, Catholics in Sweden were either deported or killed.  Conversion to Catholicism was not decriminalized until 1860 and not made fully legal until 1977.   

About 60 percent of Sweden’s 10.2 million people belong to the Lutheran Church of Sweden.  Another 9 percent, including 120,000 Catholics, belong to some other Faith tradition.  Over 30 percent of Swedes have no specific religious beliefs, if any.  Sweden’s Catholics are mostly immigrants (including people from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South America) and are served by the Diocese of Stockholm.  This was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1781, became an apostolic vicariate in 1783, and a diocese in 1953.  It is immediately subject to the Pope.  The Diocese’s current bishop is a Cardinal.  Ukrainian-rite Catholics in Sweden are served by the Apostolic Exarchate of Germany and Scandinavia headquartered in Munich, Germany.  The cathedral for the Diocese of Stockholm is dedicated to St. Eric and is located in Stockholm.  The Cathedral was built in 1892 and dedicated to a 12th Century Swedish king who was slain by a Danish prince.

The first picture is from Flickr, the second from Pinterest, and the rest from Wikipedia. 

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 missionary territories below the level of a diocese, which include apostolic vicariates, apostolic prefectures, territorial prelatures, and missions sui juris. 

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 basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  Some cathedrals are also basilicas.  Each basilica has a ceremonial umbrella in the papal colors of white and yellow and a ceremonial bell.  Both of these are symbolic of the Pope’s special relationship to the basilica. 

Other Nations—5

Europe

This blog is the fifth of six to discuss nations that do not have ecclesiastic provinces.  Typically the jurisdictions are subject directly to the pope.  This blog discusses Bulgaria, Estonia, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, and Switzerland, as well as three Crown Dependencies of the United Kingdom:  Isle of Man, Guernsey, and Jersey.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria had been part of different empires for most of its history until 1908 when it gained full independence from the Ottoman Empire.  Having been on the wrong side of both world wars, it became a Soviet republic in 1946.  It regained its independence in 1990.  Catholics first came to Bulgaria during the days of the Roman Empire, but in the 13th Century Bulgarians became Orthodox Christians.  Catholic missionaries continued evangelization efforts, especially in the early 20th Century under a Catholic king of Bulgaria.  The Church was persecuted during the Communist era. 

 Almost 60 percent of the 7 million Bulgarians consider themselves as Eastern Orthodox Christians.  Muslims make up 8 percent of the population and 31 percent have no specific faith.  There are about 70,000 Catholics, of whom 10,000 belong to the Bulgarian-rite Catholic Church.  Most of the Catholics live in the western half of the nation and are of Bulgarian, Croatian, Italian, Arabian, and German descent.  There are three dioceses.

The Diocese of Sofia-Plovdiv was established as the Diocese of Sofia in 200.  It was later suppressed and was restored in 1601.  It became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1642 before being demoted to an apostolic vicariate in 1758.  It became the Diocese of Sofia-Plovdiv in 1979 and is immediately subject to the Pope.

The Cathedral of St. Louis of France is in Plovdiv.  The Neoclassical and Neo-Baroque building was built between 1858 and 1861, but substantially rebuilt after a 1931 fire.

From Flickr and Wikipedia.

The Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph is in Sofia.  The cathedral opened in 2006 to replace a church destroyed in the Second World War.  The cathedral can hold 1,000 people and has a 100-foot bell tower.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Diocese of Nikopol was established in 1789 and is immediately subject to the Pope.  The Cathedral of St. Paul of the Cross is in Ruse.  The brick Gothic Revival church was built in 1890.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Bulgarian-rite Diocese of St. John XXIII of Sofia was established as an apostolic exarchate in 1926 and became a diocese in 2019.  It is immediately subject to the Pope.  Bulgarian-rite Catholics reunited with Rome in 1861 and this is their only diocese.  The concrete Cathedral of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is in Sofia and was built in 1924. 

From Wikipedia.

Estonia

Estonia was been controlled by one foreign power or another until it gained independence in 1918.  It was taken by the Soviet Union in 1940 and would not regain its independence until 1991.  Catholicism came to Estonia with German invaders in the 12th Century and much of the territory became Catholic.  Sweden gained control of Estonia in 1561 and banned Catholicism in favor of Lutheranism.  After Russia gained control in 1710, it granted religious freedom to all, and local Catholics—especially of Polish and Lithuanian ethnicity—began to openly practice their Faith.  The 1940 Soviet invasion ended religious liberty and almost all Catholics either left the country or were imprisoned.    

About 16 percent of Estonia’s 1.2 million people are Orthodox Christians.  Another 10 percent are Lutheran, and other Christians account for 2 percent.  Over 70 percent claim no or no specific religious faith.  About 6,500 Catholics are served by the Apostolic Administration of Estonia, which was established in 1924 and is immediately subject to the Pope.  Most Catholics today are of Estonian ethnicity, but many are Polish and Lithuanian.

St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cathedral is in Tallinn.  The Cathedral was built between 1841 and 1844 in a neoclassical style.  The Cathedral has several works of art by local artists.  

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

There are some Armenian-rite Catholics in Estonia and they are served by the Armenian Ordinariate of East Europe headquartered in Gyumri, Armenia.  See my blog of June 16, 2020.

Gibraltar

Spain was forced to give up control of Gibraltar in 1713 and it became a British colony in 1830.  The two countries continue to disagree over Gibraltar.  Catholic evangelization began in the 15th Century after the Moors were expelled.  

Catholics make up 72 percent of Gibraltar’s 30,000 people.  Anglicans account for 8 percent and other Christians and Muslims each account for 4 percent.  The Catholics are served by the Diocese of Gibraltar which was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1816 and became a diocese in 1910.  It is immediately subject to the Pope.  The Gothic Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned was built in the 15th Century, but was mostly reconstructed in the early 19th Century due to the need to straighten the street.  The clock tower was added in 1820 and a new façade was built in 1931. 

The first picture is from Panaramio and the others are from Wikipedia.

Liechtenstein

The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719 and became fully independent in 1866.  Catholicism came to the area in the 4th Century.

About 73 percent of Liechtenstein’s 39,000 people are Catholic, 10 percent are members of other Christian churches and 6 percent are Muslim.  The Catholics are served by the Archdiocese of Vaduz, which was established in 1997 and is immediately subject to the Pope.  The Cathedral of St. Florin in Vaduz was built in a neo-Gothic style between 1869 and 1874.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg was established in 963 and became a grand duchy as an autonomous part of the Netherlands in 1815.  It became fully independent in 1867.  Catholicism came to the area in the 5th Century, although was not fully established until the 8th Century.

Seventy percent of Luxembourg’s 628,000 people are Catholic and 27 percent are not religious.  Catholics make up the Archdiocese of Luxembourg which is immediately subject to the Pope.  This was established as an apostolic vicariate in 1840, became a diocese in 1870, and was promoted to an archdiocese in 1988.  Ukrainian-rite Catholics are served by the Diocese of Saint-Vladimir-le-Grand de Paris in Paris.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg was originally built as a Jesuit church between 1613 and 1621.  It was enlarged in the 1930s at which time two towers were added, bringing the total to three.  The cathedral is mostly Gothic, but has Renaissance elements.  The image of Our Lady of Consolation was brought to the cathedral at the end of the 18th Century.  She is the patron saint of Luxembourg. 

The first picture is from Panaramio and the others are from Wikipedia.

Moldova

Moldova became a Hungarian principality in the 1350s and was ruled variously be Hungary, Poland, and the Ottoman Turks until it became part of the Russian Empire in 1812.  It became part of Romania in 1918 and a Soviet republic in 1944.  Moldova became independent in 1991, although Russian troops occupy a portion of Moldova called Transnistria, which is across the Nistru (Dniester) River from the rest of Moldova.  Roman colonists settled in what is now Moldova in the Second Century, but most left in 271.  Some of these colonists were Catholic, although most Christians in the area eventually became Orthodox.  Moldova Catholics have been part of a diocese, usually in another country, since at least 1227.

Orthodox Christians make up 90 percent of Moldova’s total population of 3.4 million.  Other Christians account for less than 3 percent, of which 20,000 are Catholic.  The Catholics, who are mostly of Polish or German descent, are part of the Diocese of Chisinau, which is immediately subject to the Pope.  This was established as an apostolic administration in 1993 before being promoted to a diocese in 2001.  The Cathedral of Divine Providence is in Chisinau.  The neoclassical cathedral was built in 1836.   

From Wikipedia.

There are some Armenian-rite Catholics in Moldova and they are theoretically under the jurisdiction of the Armenian-rite Archdiocese of Lviv, Ukraine.  The Archdiocese serves Armenian-rite Catholics in the Ukraine and in Moldova and is immediately subject to the Armenian-rite Patriarch in Lebanon.  The Archdiocese was established in 1630, but has not had an archbishop since 1938.  Its cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, is now an Orthodox church.

Monaco

An army from Genoa built a fort at what is now Monaco in 1215.  The fort was seized by the Grimalda family in 1297 and the family has ruled Monaco from 1419 up to the present time.  Catholicism was introduced at least by 1000 and possibly was introduced during the days of the Roman Empire.

Today, Catholics make up 90 percent of the total population of 39,000.  It is the state religion although religious freedom is guaranteed to all.  The Catholics make up the Archdiocese of Monaco, which is immediately subject to the Pope.  It was established as a territorial abbey in 1868, became a diocese in 1887 and an archdiocese in 1981.

The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate was built between 1875 and 1903.  The wedding of Princess Grace (Grace Kelly) was held here in 1956 and her funeral in 1982. 

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

Switzerland

The Swiss Confederation was formed in 1291 by three cantons, later joined by others.  The Confederation gained independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499.  A centralized federal government was established in 1848.  Catholicism was introduced in Switzerland by at least the 4th Century.  The Protestant Reformation was very successful in parts of Switzerland and conflicts between Catholic and Protestant cantons lasted from the 16th to the 20th Centuries.

Catholics make up 36 percent of Switzerland’s total population of 8.4 million.  Protestants and other Christians total 30 percent, Muslims 5 percent, and non-religious 27 percent.  Southern Switzerland is majority Catholic.  Roman-rite Catholics are served by six dioceses and two territorial abbeys in Switzerland and one diocese in France.  Ukrainian-rite Catholics are part of the Diocese of Saint-Vladimir-le-Grand de Paris in Paris.  All of the Roman Catholic dioceses and territorial abbeys in Switzerland are immediately subject to the Pope.  There have been discussions about creating a Province for Switzerland with a metropolitan archdiocese, but unresolved issues remain.

The Diocese of Sion was established in 380 and acquired its current name in 589.  It covers the cantons of Vaud (some) and Valais (most) in southwestern Switzerland.  From 999 to 1638, the Bishop of Sion also was a prince of the Holy Roman Empire.  The Cathedral of Our Lady of Light in Sion was built in Byzantine and Gothic styles between 1450 and 1500, although the bell tower dates to the 13th Century.  The Cathedral has 15 altars.  Its library has 120 medieval codices that date from the 9th to the 15th Centuries, some of which are richly illuminated. 

The first picture is from Panaramio and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Basilica and Co-Cathedral of Our Lady of Valor in Sion is a fortified church built by the Prince-Bishops of Sion in the 12th and 13th Centuries using Romanesque and Gothic styles.  The church’s pipe organ was built in 1435 and is one of the oldest functioning pipe organs in the world.  Pope John Paul II designated the co-cathedral as a minor basilica in 1987.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Diocese of Chur was established at least by the 5th Century and covers the cantons of Glarus, Graubunden, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwzy, Uri, and Zurich, in eastern Switzerland.  The bishop of Chur was a prince with temporal power from 1170 to 1526.  The Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption is in Chur.  The Cathedral was built in a Romanesque style between 1154 and 1270.  The late-Gothic main altar dates to 1492.  Five of the Cathedral’s six bells were fabricated in the 1820s.

The first picture is from Flickr and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva, and Fribourg was established as the Diocese of Lausanne in 595 (and possibly as early as 517) and gained its current name in 1924.  It covers the cantons of Fribourg, Geneva, Neuchatel, and most of Vaud, in western Switzerland.  The bishops of Lausanne were prince-bishops of the Holy Roman Empire from 1270 until the Reformation.  The Diocesan see moved to Fribourg in 1610 and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas is located there.  The Gothic cathedral was built on a hill between 1283 and 1430.  The stained glass windows were designed by a Polish artist and are considered important examples of religious art nouveau.  

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Diocese of Basel was established in 740 and covers the cantons of Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Jura, Luzern, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, and Zug, in northwestern Switzerland.  Basel was a Prince-Bishopric within the Holy Roman Empire from 1032 to 1803, which meant that the bishop was also the temporal ruler of Basel.  The bishop has not resided in Basel since 1528 due to the Protestant Reformation.  The Cathedral of Sts. Ursen and Victor is in Solothurn.  It is dedicated to two Third Century Roman martyrs.  The Cathedral was completed in 1773 and is built in a neoclassical style.  The onion-domed bell tower has 11 bells, all but one dating to the 1760s.    

The top picture is from Pinterest and the rest are from Wikipedia.

The Diocese of St. Gallen was established in 1847.  It covers the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, and St. Gallen, in northeastern Switzerland.  The Cathedral of Sts. Gall and Otmar is in St. Gallen.  The Benedictine Abbey of St. Gallen (or Gall) existed from the early 8th Century until 1805.  From 1207 to 1798, the abbey and surrounding territory was ruled by the Prince Abbot—a spiritual and temporal ruler of the Holy Roman Empire.  Most of the current Baroque Abbey church, now the Cathedral, dates to the 18th Century.  The former abbey library contains one of the largest collections of German medieval books and manuscripts in the world.  It contains more than 160,000 books, of which 2,100 are handwritten.  Some are over 1,000 years old.  The Abbey was also known for its use of neume, a type of musical notation popular prior to the five-line staff notation used today.

The first four pictures are from Flickr, the fifth is from Pinterest, and the others from Wikipedia.

The Diocese of Lugano was established as an apostolic administration in 1884 and became a diocese in 1888.  It covers the canton of Ticino in southeastern Switzerland.  The Cathedral of St. Lawrence is in Lugano.  The Cathedral was originally built in the 9th Century, but was significantly rebuilt and expanded in the 15th Century.  The cathedral is built in a combination of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles.  The white stone and Carrara marble façade dates to the 16th Century and has a rose window.

The first picture is from Flickr, the second from TripAdvisor, and the rest from Wikipedia.

The Diocese of Annecy, France, includes a small part of the Swiss Canton of Valais.

The Territorial Abbey of Saint-Maurice d’Agaune consists of four parishes and about 6,000 Catholics in the Canton of Valais.  The Augustinian abbey was founded in 515 and is the longest continuously inhabited monastery in Europe.  The current abbey church dates to the 17th Century, although the Romanesque tower was built in the 11th Century.  From the 6th to the 9th Centuries, rotating choirs sang psalms day and night without ceasing.  The Abbey was designated a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1948. 

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Territorial Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln is located in the Canton of Schwyz.  The Benedictine abbey was founded in 934 and consists of the abbey parish.  The abbey has been a stop on the Way of St. James (for pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela in Spain) and a pilgrimage destination in itself.  About one million people a year visit the church to pray to Our Lady of the Hermits, who is represented by a 15th Century statue.  The abbot was a prince of the Holy Roman Empire from 965 to 1805 and was a temporal ruler of the area from 1274 to 1798.  The Baroque abbey church was substantially rebuilt between 1704 and 1719.  The abbey library contains 250,000 books and many manuscripts.  It also has a manuscript, dating to about 1000, with a poem with the first known European reference to the game of chess.

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

Crown Dependencies of the United Kingdom

The Isle of Man, Guernsey, and Jersey are self-governing territories that are not part of the United Kingdom, but that depend on the United Kingdom for their defense and international representation.  The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland.  Guernsey and Jersey are part of the Channel Islands in the English Channel off the coast of France.

The Isle of Man has 90,000 people.  Catholicism came there possibly with the Romans, although it is not clear if the Isle was ever part of the Roman Empire.  Today, about half of the people are Protestant—mostly Anglican and Methodist—and 10 percent are Catholic.  The other 40 percent have no particular faith.  The eight Catholic parishes are part of the Archdiocese of Liverpool (England).  (See my blog of March 17, 2019.)  

Guernsey has a population of 67,000.  St. Samson brought the Catholic Faith there in the 6th Century.  Today, most of the people are Protestant.  The Catholics have three parishes that are part of the Diocese of Portsmouth, England.  (See my blog of March 17, 2019.)

Jersey has 101,000 people and Catholicism was introduced at least by the 6th Century.  Catholics make up about a quarter of the population today and another quarter are Anglican.  About 10 percent are Protestant and the rest claim no religion.  The Catholics are part of the Diocese of Portsmouth, England.  (See my blog of March 17, 2019.) 

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 missionary jurisdictions below the level of a diocese and these include apostolic vicariates and apostolic administrations.  A territorial abbey is a territory surrounding an abbey or monastery, in which the abbot serves as the bishop.

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 basilica is an honorary title bestowed on a church by the Pope because of the church’s antiquity, dignity, historical importance, or significance as a center of worship.  Some cathedrals are also basilicas.  Each basilica has a ceremonial umbrella in the papal colors of white and yellow and a ceremonial bell.  Both of these are symbolic of the Pope’s special relationship to the basilica.