Asmara Archdiocese ( lat.Archieparchia Asmarensis ) - The Archdiocese of the Eritrean Catholic Church with a center in the city of Asmara , Eritrea . The Diocese of Asmara extends its jurisdiction to central and southern Eritrea. Asmara’s Metropolitanate includes the dioceses of Barentu , Karen , Saganaiti . The Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Asmara is the Church of St. Joseph in Asmara.
| Asmara Archdiocese | |
|---|---|
| Archieparchia asmarensis | |
 Cathedral of St. Joseph , Asmara , Eritrea | |
| Main city | Asmara |
| A country |  Eritrea |
| Established | July 4, 1930 |
| Cathedral | St. Joseph's Cathedral |
| Dioceses of Suffragans | Barentu , Karana , Saganaiti |
| Parishes | 74 |
| Diocese Square | 23.686 km² |
| Diocese population | 3.934.000 people |
| The number of Catholics | 67.314 people |
| Share of Catholics | 1.7% |
Content
History
On July 4, 1930, the Holy See established the ordinarium of Eritrea for the faithful of the Ethiopian Catholic Church.
On October 31, 1951, Pope Pius XII issued the bull Aethiopica Alexandrini , which transformed the ordinarium of Eritrea into the apostolic exarchate of Eritrea.
On February 20, 1961, the Apostolic Exarchate of Eritrea was transformed into the Diocese of Asmara.
On December 21, 1995, the Diocese of Asmara, transferred part of its territory for the construction of new dioceses to Barent and Caran .
On February 24, 2012, the Asmara Diocese transferred part of its territory to form the new Saganaiti Diocese.
On January 19, 2015, Pope Francis elevated the Diocese of Asmara to the rank of archdiocese.
Ordinaries of the Archdiocese
- Bishop Kidanè-Maryam Cassà (07/04/1930 - 09/09/1951);
- Bishop Ghebre Jesus Jacob (02.24.1951 - 1958);
- Bishop Asrate Mariam Yemmeru (02/03/1958 - 04/09/1961) - appointed archbishop of Addis Ababa ;
- Bishop François Abraha (04/09/1961 - 07/17/1984);
- Bishop Zekarias Yohannes (07.17.1984 - 06.25.2001);
- Archbishop Mengiste Tesfamariam (06/25/2001 - present).
Sources
- Annuario Pontificio , Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Città del Vaticano, 2003, ISBN 88-209-7422-3
- Bull Aethiopica Alexandrini , AAS 44 (1952), p. 206 (lat.)