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.
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 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 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 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.
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