 Catholic Church in Sierra Leone | |
|---|---|
| Type | National polity |
| Classification | Catholic |
| Orientation | Latin |
| Governance | Episcopal |
| Pope | Pope Leo XIV |
| President | Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles |
| Region | Sierra Leone |
| Language | English,Latin |
| Headquarters | Sacred Heart Cathedral, Freetown |
| Official website | Catholic Bishops Conference of Sierra Leone |
TheCatholic Church in Sierra Leone is part of the worldwideCatholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of thePope inRome.
According to 2011 data, there are approximately 300,000 Catholics in Sierra Leone - around 5% of the total population.[1] The country is divided intofour dioceses in one ecclesiastical province.
Catholicmissionaries were active in the coastal regions ofSierra Leone from the early sixteenth century although only a few people converted to Catholicism.[2] Significant conversions began in the 19th century due to the efforts of Jesuit andCongregation of the Holy Spirit missions.[3]
The Catholic Church in Sierra Leone is organized in a Latin hierarchy and consists of a singleecclesiastical province that regulates all ofSierra Leone. This comprises theMetropolitan Archdiocese of Freetown and threesuffragan dioceses.
The Catholic Church in Sierra Leone does not have a nationalEpiscopal Conference, however it is part of joint one for theGambia andSierra Leone, which hosts it inFreetown.[4]
There are no titular sees. All defunct jurisdictions are precursors of present sees.
There formally is anApostolic Nunciature (embassy-level papal diplomatic representation) to Sierra Leone and an Apostolic Nunciature to The Gambia, but both are vested in the Apostolic Nunciature toLiberia (in its capitalMonrovia).
It was established as theVicariate Apostolic of Sierra Leone, on 13 April 1858 by PopePius IX, taking territory from theVicariate Apostolic of Two Guineas and Senegambia. It itself lost territory in 1897 to thePrefecture Apostolic of Guinea Francese and in 1903 to thePrefecture Apostolic of Liberia.[5]
The vicariate was elevated to the status of a diocese, taking the name ofFreetown and Bo on 18 April 1950. In 1952, thePrefecture Apostolic of Makeni was split off from its territory. The diocese was elevated to an archdiocese on 11 November 1970, at which time also theDiocese of Kenema was split off.[5]
On 15 January 2010, theArchdiocese of Freetown since then.[6]
The Diocese of Kenema is adiocese in theecclesiastical province ofFreetown inSierra Leone. It was established on 11 November 1970, with its territory being split off from the diocese of Freetown and Bo. TheCathedral is the St. Paul's Cathedral inKenema.
The Diocese of Makeni is adiocese in theecclesiastical province ofFreetown inSierra Leone. TheCathedral is the Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral inMakeni.[7]
In January 2011, theDiocese of Bo (Dioecesis Boënsis) was created in 2011 byPope Benedict XVI[8] through the bullPetrini ministerii.
The seat of the diocese is at theImmaculate Church of Mary where the Roman Rite is observed and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Bo (Dioecesis Boënsis) which was created in 2011 byPope Benedict XVI[8] through the bullPetrini ministerii.
There are about 50,000 Catholics under the jurisdiction of the diocese.
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