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TheCatholic Church in Greater China comprises 152 Latin jurisdictions:
Furthermore, theEastern Catholic (Byzantine rite)Russian Greek Catholic Church has an exempt apostolic exarchate for China in Harbin.
There is anapostolic nunciature as papal diplomatic representation (embassy-level) to China, in Taipei, the seat of government of the Republic of China on Taiwan, also charged with mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
The Catholic Church recognizes the Republic of China as the sole government for all of China; nevertheless, it does not recognize all of its territorial claims. In this context, the term "China" is understood as including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan in its 1949 provincial boundaries and mainland China as effectively controlled by the People's Republic of China. Due to the non-recognition of the People's Republic of China, however, the authority of the Taipei-basedChinese Regional Bishops' Conference is effectively limited to the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. The dioceses ofHong Kong (suffragan ofGuangzhou) andMacao (exempt) do not belong to that conference. The dioceses ofmainland China take part in the Beijing-based Chinese Bishops Conference, which is not recognized by the Holy See.
Note that the diocese of Hong Kong belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Guangzhou, whereas the diocese of Macau is exempt. Also note that a small part of the diocese of Xiamen, the island of Kinmen, is administered by the Republic of China. At this moment, this part of the diocese is administered by the archdiocese of Taipei.
In all of greater China, only one non-Latin jurisdiction exists: an apostolic exarchate of theRussian Greek Catholic Church in Harbin. It has, however, been vacant since 1939.
| Area | Archdioceses | Dioceses | Apostolic prefectures | Apostolic administrations | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | 20 | 94 | 28 | 1 | 143 |
| Hong Kong | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Macau | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Taiwan | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Total | 21 | 101 | 29 | 1 | 152 |
However, the Chinese government has its own division of the dioceses, which is not necessarily identical to that of the Holy See. For example, many dioceses have been merged, and the difference between archdioceses, dioceses, apostolic prefectures and apostolic administrations has been abolished. Thus, according to the Chinese government, mainland China is divided into 104 jurisdictions, all dioceses.
Originally, the ecclesiastical provinces were closely aligned with the civil provinces of China. However, the borders of most provinces have not been redrawn again for decades. As a general guideline, however, the ecclesiastical provinces largely correspond with the following civil provinces:
| Ecclesiastical province | Civil province | Jurisdictions (Holy See) | Jurisdictions (CPCA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anqing | Anhui | 4 | 1 |
| Beijing | Beijing,Hebei,Tianjin | 15 (16 if including Xiwanzi) | 12 |
| Changsha | Hunan | 9 | 1 |
| Chongqing | Chongqing,Sichuan,Tibet | 8 | 8 |
| Fuzhou | Fujian | 6 | 4 |
| Guangzhou | Guangdong,Hong Kong(,Macau,Hainan) | 9 (including Hong Kong and Macau; 8 if excluding Beihai) | 7 (9 including Hong Kong and Macau) |
| Guiyang | Guizhou | 3 | 1 |
| Hangzhou | Zhejiang | 5 | 5 |
| Hankou | Hubei | 11 | 5 |
| Jinan | Shandong | 11 | 9 |
| Kaifeng | Henan | 9 | 9 |
| Kunming | Yunnan | 3 | 3 |
| Lanzhou | Gansu(,Qinghai,Xinjiang) | 5 | 5 |
| Nanchang | Jiangxi | 5 | 1 |
| Nanjing | Jiangsu,Shanghai | 7 | 5 |
| Nanning | Guangxi | 3 (4 if including Beihai) | 1 |
| Shenyang | Jilin,Liaoning(,Heilongjiang) | 12 (11 if excluding Chifeng) | 3 |
| Suiyuan | Inner Mongolia,Ningxia | 4 (also 4 if including Chifeng and excluding Xiwanzi) | 6 |
| Taipei | Taiwan,Kaohsiung,New Taipei,Taichung,Tainan,Taipei,Taoyuan,Fujian (Kinmen-Matsu) | 7 | — |
| Taiyuan | Shanxi | 8 | 10 |
| Xi'an | Shaanxi | 8 | 8 |
| Total | 152 | 104 (106 including Hong Kong, Macau) |
The ecclesiastical jurisdictions inHainan,Macao,Qinghai andXinjiang are all exempt, though Macao is a diocese (the others are apostolic prefectures or apostolic administrations).Heilongjiang is also exempt, being administered by three apostolic prefectures, with the exception of some parts ofMudanjiang, which belong to theRoman Catholic Diocese of Yanji, which is located in Jilin province (Ecclesiastical Province of Shenyang).
In the Apostolic Constitution of 11 April 1946, all provinces are named by the name of the civil province as well as by the name of the archdiocese. The province of Suiyuan is described as the province ofMongolia, and the province of Shenyang as the province ofManchuria. However, these two names are not used anymore.
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The Ecclesiastical Province of Anqing roughly covers the territory of Anhui province. The archdiocese is located inAnqing, even thoughHefei has been the provincial capital since the 1940s – in fact, no diocese is located in Hefei. Also, apart from the archdiocese and the two diocese, there is also one exempt jurisdiction, theApostolic Prefecture of Tunxi.
The territory of the Ecclesiastical Province of Beijing is largely equal to that of Hebei province, when including Beijing and Tianjin. An important exception was Chengde; however, in 2018, the diocese of Chengde was erected, a suffragan of the archdiocese of Beijing, covering the entire prefecture-level city of Chengde. Furthermore, Puyang and Xinxiang's Changyuan County (Henan province) belong to the diocese of Daming (Ecclesiastical Province of Beijing), whereas Handan's Linzhang County, She County and Wu'an (all located in Hebei) belong to the diocese of Weihui (Ecclesiastical Province of Kaifeng). ShandongsNingjin County also belongs to the diocese of Jingxian. Parts ofQinhuangdao andZhangjiakou do not belong to the Ecclesiastical Province of Beijing. Furthermore, theApostolic Prefecture of Yixian has not yet been elevated to the rank of diocese, and as such is not yet part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Beijing, but is still exempt. Furthermore, theDiocese of Xiwanzi belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Suiyuan (Inner Mongolia), even though its seat is located in Hebei province.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Changsha roughly covers the territory of Hunan province. In Hunan province, five exempt jurisdictions are also located: theApostolic Prefecture of Baoqing, theApostolic Prefecture of Lixian, theApostolic Prefecture of Xiangtan, theApostolic Prefecture of Yongzhou and theApostolic Prefecture of Yueyang.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Chongqing roughly corresponds to Sichuan and Chongqing (Chongqing was separated from Sichuan in 1997) and also covers Tibet, though the diocese serving Tibet, the diocese of Kangding, is located in Sichuan. All the dioceses are located in Sichuan, except for Chongqing and Wanxian, which are located in Chongqing.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Fuzhou roughly covers the territory of Fujian province. In Fujian province, two exempt jurisdictions are also located: theApostolic Prefecture of Jian'ou and theApostolic Prefecture of Shaowu.Note that Kinmen belongs to thediocese of Xiamen, and Matsu Islands belongs to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fuzhou, but both are administered by the archdiocese of Taipei.[4]
The Ecclesiastical Province of Guangzhou roughly covers Guangdong and Hong Kong. Nearby Macau and Hainan are both exempt: thediocese of Macau and theApostolic Prefecture of Hainan. Also, note that the diocese of Beihai is located in Guangxi.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Guiyang roughly covers the territory ofGuizhou. In Guizhou province, one exempt jurisdiction is also located: theApostolic Prefecture of Shiqian.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Hangzhou roughly covers the territory ofZhejiang.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Hankou roughly corresponds withHubei. Hankou has been merged with Wuchang and Hanyang to formWuhan in 1927. Apart from the dioceses, two exempt jurisdictions exist, theApostolic Prefecture of Shashi and theApostolic Prefecture of Suixian.
Apart from the dioceses, Shandong province also has two apostolic prefectures: theApostolic Prefecture of Weihai and theApostolic Prefecture of Linqing. However, even after taking this into account, the boundaries do not completely correspond with Shandong province.
The territory of the Ecclesiastical Province of Kaifeng is almost equal to that of Henan province. However,Puyang andXinxiang'sChangyuan County belong to thediocese of Daming (Ecclesiastical Province of Beijing), whereasHandan'sLinzhang County,She County andWu'an (all located inHebei) belong to thediocese of Weihui. Furthermore, theApostolic Prefecture of Xinxiang has not yet been elevated to the rank of diocese, and as such is not yet part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Kaifeng, but is still exempt.
Note that the archdiocese is located in Kaifeng, and not in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital of Henan since 1954.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Kunming roughly covers the territory ofYunnan. In Yunnan province, one exempt jurisdiction is also located: theApostolic Prefecture of Zhaotong.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Lanzhou roughly covers the territory ofGansu. Note that Xinjiang is covered by theApostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang-Urumqi and Qinghai by theApostolic Prefecture of Xining. Historically, both provinces were part of the Apostolic Vicariate (now Archdiocese) of Lanzhou.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Nanchang roughly covers the territory ofJiangxi.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Nanjing roughly covers the territory ofJiangsu andShanghai. In Jiangsu province, two exempt jurisdictions are also located: theApostolic Prefecture of Haizhou and theApostolic Prefecture of Yangzhou.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Nanning roughly covers the territory ofGuangxi. In Guangxi, one exempt jurisdiction is also located: theApostolic Prefecture of Guilin. Also, note that the diocese of Beihai, which is located in Guangxi, is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Guangdong.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Shenyang (Shenyang is the capital ofLiaoning) roughly covers Liaoning and Jilin. However, the Diocese of Chifeng belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Shenyang, but is located in Inner Mongolia. Furthermore, thediocese of Yanji (in Jilin) also covers a very small part of Heilongjiang. Some parts of the North-East are covered by exempt jurisdictions: theApostolic Administration of Harbin, theApostolic Prefecture of Jiamusi, theApostolic Prefecture of Lindong and theApostolic Prefecture of Qiqihar.
Harbin is also the seat of the Eastern CatholicRussian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Harbin, which, however, has been vacant since 1952 and only exists on paper.
Suiyuan is now known asHohhot; the dioceses roughly coverInner Mongolia andNingxia, though thediocese of Xiwanzi is actually located in Hebei. Also, the Diocese of Chifeng is located in Inner Mongolia, but belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Shenyang.
The territory of the Ecclesiastical Province of Taiyuan is almost equal to that of Shanxi province. However, theApostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang (also referred to as Yuncheng or Jiangzhou) has not yet been elevated to the rank of diocese, and as such is not yet part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Taiyuan, but is still exempt.
Apart from the dioceses, Shaanxi province also has two apostolic prefectures: theApostolic Prefecture of Tongzhou and theApostolic Prefecture of Xing’anfu. However, even after taking this into account, the boundaries do not completely correspond with Shaanxi province.
Note thatKinmen and theMatsu Islands belong to thediocese of Xiamen, but are administered by the archdiocese of Taipei with its Archbishop serving as anApostolic Administrator in respect of the islands.[4]
Most former jurisdictions have current successor sees (although many are vacant).
Suppressed without 'direct' successor (all in continental China) :
There are no titular sees, and the Latin Titular Patriarchal See of All the East was suppressed in 1370 after a single incumbent, the Archbishop of Khanbalik.
(some had their title preserved when merged into another)
The structure of dioceses of theCPCA is not the same one as that of the Holy See. First of all, the distinction between archdioceses, dioceses, apostolic prefectures and apostolic administrations is not maintained: only dioceses exist. Secondly, the dioceses are structured according to the administrative divisions of the PRC. Many dioceses have been merged; some provinces are only served by a single diocese. Except for the diocese of Kangding, which also covers Tibet, all dioceses are restricted to territory within a single province.
In total the CPCA has 104 dioceses, whereas according to the Holy See, mainland China has 143 jurisdictions. In the course of time, the CPCA has established five new dioceses (theDiocese of Jincheng and theDiocese of Xinzhou in Shanxi, theDiocese of Bayannur and theDiocese of Baotou in Inner Mongolia, and theDiocese of Zhanjiang in Guangdong. Forty-four other jurisdictions have been merged with other dioceses. For example, according to the Holy See, Hunan province exists of one archdiocese, three dioceses and four apostolic prefectures. These eight jurisdictions have all been merged by the CPCA to form a single diocese of Hunan. Furthermore, many dioceses have been renamed or have had their seat relocated to a nearby city; most of the dioceses boundaries have also been redrawn to correspond with current PRC administrative divisions. In general, Chinese prefectures have no more than one diocese, but there are exceptions: the prefecture ofBaoding is divided in theDiocese of Baoding and theDiocese of Anguo.
This results in the following list of dioceses:
The CPCA has abolished and merged:
3 jurisdictions in Anhui
2 jurisdictions in Fujian
3 jurisdictions in Guangxi
2 jurisdictions in Guizhou
4 jurisdictions in Hebei
3 jurisdictions in Heilongjiang
6 jurisdictions in Hebei
7 jurisdictions in Hunan
1 jurisdiction in Inner Mongolia
2 jurisdictions in Jiangsu
4 jurisdictions in Jiangxi
2 jurisdictions in Jilin
3 jurisdictions in Liaoning
2 jurisdictions in Shandong
In total, 44 Holy See jurisdictions have been abolished and merged. This includes 26 out of 93 dioceses and 18 out of 29 apostolic prefectures.
The CPCA has established:
1 jurisdiction in Guangdong
2 jurisdictions in Inner Mongolia
2 jurisdictions in Shanxi
In total, 5 new CPCA jurisdictions have been established, all dioceses. Apart from these 5, the CPCA has also established a new diocese in Hebei, theDiocese of Chengde, but this diocese was recognized by the Holy See in 2018.
In the following provinces, no new dioceses were established and existing dioceses were not abolished: Beijing, Chongqing, Gansu, Hainan, Henan, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanghai, Sichuan, Tianjin, Tibet, Xinjiang, Yunnan and Zhejiang. In Guangdong and Zhejiang, no dioceses were abolished, but new diocese were established.
However, names of dioceses may have been changed, dioceses may have been elevated, and the boundaries of dioceses may have changed.