Diocese of Caroline Islands

Diœcesis Carolinensium

Diócesis de las Islas Carolinas
The coat of arms of the Diocese of the Caroline Islands
Location
Country Micronesia
 Palau
TerritoryCaroline Islands
Ecclesiastical provinceAgaña
Statistics
Area480 sq mi (1,200 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2023)
115,382
63,437 (55%)
Parishes30
Information
DenominationChristianity (Catholic)
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established19 December 1905 (118 years ago)
CathedralImmaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopJulio Angkel
Map

The Catholic Diocese of Caroline Islands (Latin: Diœcesis Carolinensium) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the Federated States of Micronesia and in the Republic of Palau. It is a suffragan diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Agaña. The Diocese of Caroline Islands is led by a bishop who pastors the mother church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.[1]

History

The diocese was established on 19 December 1905, as the Apostolic Prefecture (missionary jurisdiction) of Caroline Islands, uniting the Mission sui iuris of Eastern Carolines and Mission sui iuris of Western Carolines, both of which had been split from the Apostolic Prefecture of Micronesia in 1886.

It became the Apostolic Vicariate (higher missionary stage jurisdiction, entitled to a titular bishop) of Marianne and Caroline Islands on 1 March 1911. It grew to become the Apostolic Vicariate of Marianne, Caroline and Marshall Islands on 4 May 1923. It changed its name to become the Apostolic Vicariate of Caroline and Marshall Islands on 4 July 1946.

It was elevated to become the diocese Carolines-Marshalls by promotion on 3 May 1979.

The diocese was split on 23 April 1993 by Pope John Paul II, resulting in the creation of the present-day Diocese of Caroline Islands and the Apostolic Prefecture of the Marshall Islands.

Demographics

According to 2022 government statistics, 55% of residents were Catholic; 42% of the population were Protestant and 2% belonged to other Christian denominations.[2]

Bishops

Ordinaries

See also

References

  1. G Catholic website, Roman Catholic Diocese of Caroline Islands
  2. US State Dept 2022 report
  3. 1 2 3 "Rinunce e nomine, 02.02.2020" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.

7°27′26″N 151°51′52″E / 7.45722°N 151.86444°E / 7.45722; 151.86444

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