Catholicism in Mali . The Catholic Church of Mali is part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The number of Catholics in Mali is about 235 thousand people (1.7% of the total population) according to the Catholic Encyclopedia [1] ; 227 thousand people (1.5%) according to the Catholic Hierarchy website [2] .
Content
History
Catholicism began to spread in Mali only from the middle of the 19th century , as it turned into a French colony. In 1868, the territory of modern Mali became part of the apostolic prefecture of the Sahara and Sudan, headed by Cardinal Charles Lavigieri , founder of the Society of African Missionaries or White Fathers [1] . By 1881, the missionary centers of the white fathers in Mali were liquidated, replaced by French missionaries from Senegal . On November 20, 1888, the first permanent Catholic parish was formed in the village of Kita [3] .
World War I suspended missionary activity in Mali, but it resumed in 1921. On July 2, 1921, the Bamako Apostolic Vicariate was organized, and from 1927 to 1947 four more apostolic prefectures subordinate to it [4] .
On September 14, 1955, Pope Pius XII issued the bull Dum tantis , which raised the apostolic vicar of Bamako to the rank of archdiocese . In the next 9 years, all the other dioceses of Mali were formed, suffraganized in relation to the metropolitan of Bamako : Segu (1962), Kayes (1963), Sikaso (1963), Mopti (1964), San (1964) [5] . After the reorganization of the Catholic structures in Mali, pastoral activity in the country was entrusted to the society of white fathers , who began their mission here in the 19th century [1] .
In 1970, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Mali was formed. In 1973, an apostolic delegate was established in Bamako (the apostolic delegate is a special representative of the Pope who does not have diplomatic status). On June 3, 1980, her status was elevated to nunciature , the first nuncio in Mali was Archbishop Luigi Dossen [6] .
In 1990, Pope John Paul II visited Mali [7] . In 2017, the first cardinal in the history of Mali was Jean Zerbo [4] .
Mali is predominantly an Islamic country, more than 90% of its population is Muslim. Nevertheless, the 1992 constitution guarantees freedom of religion [1] , the Catholic minority is not constrained in the practice of their faith. 150 priests are serving in the country, 42 parishes are operating [2] . Organizational parishes are united in 6 dioceses: the diocese of Bamako , the diocese of Qaes , the diocese of Mopti , the diocese of Sana , the diocese of Segu and the diocese of Sikaso .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 “Mali” // Catholic Encyclopedia , T.3. M.: 2007, Art. 70-72
- ↑ 1 2 Statistics by Country by Catholic Population
- ↑ "Les diocèses du Mali - éléments d'histoire" - African Missionaries Society website Archived July 13, 2010.
- ↑ 1 2 Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bamako
- ↑ Mali. Current dioceses
- ↑ Apostolic Nunciature. Mali
- ↑ Catholic Church in Republic of Mali (Mali)
Literature
- "Mali" // The Catholic Encyclopedia , T.3. M.: 2007, Art. 70-72. ISBN 978-5-91393-016-3