Diocese of Gozo
| Diocese of Gozo | |
| Basic data | |
|---|---|
| Country | Malta |
| Metropolitan bishopric | Archdiocese of Malta |
| Diocesan bishop | Anthony Teuma |
| founding | September 22, 1864 |
| surface | 67 km² |
| Parishes | 15 (2016 / AP 2017 ) |
| Residents | 31,446 (2016 / AP 2017 ) |
| Catholics | 28,000 (2016 / AP 2017 ) |
| proportion of | 89% |
| Diocesan priest | 144 (2016 / AP 2017 ) |
| Religious priest | 15 (2016 / AP 2017 ) |
| Catholics per priest | 176 |
| Friars | 23 (2016 / AP 2017 ) |
| Religious sisters | 95 (2016 / AP 2017 ) |
| rite | Roman rite |
| Liturgical language | English |
| cathedral | Assumption of Our Lady (Assumption of Mary) |
| address | PO Box 1 Republic Street Victoria VCT 101 Ghawdex, Malta |
| Website | www.gozodiocese.org |
The Diocese of Gozo ( Latin Dioecesis Gaudisiensis ) was founded on September 22, 1864 and has its seat in Victoria . It includes the entire island of Gozo and the small island of Comino . The Metropolitan Diocese is the Archdiocese of Malta .
history
Gozo has belonged to the diocese of Malta since the arrival of Christianity . When French troops occupied the island in June 1798, resistance from the Gozitans rose and in September 1798 there was a popular uprising. As a result, the short-lived (1798–1800) state of Gozo came into being under the sovereignty of the King of Sicily , Ferdinand I. At the same time, efforts were made to establish a separate diocese on Gozo, which on October 29, 1798 in a petition by the Gozitans to Ferdinand flowed. However, due to the confused political situation during the Napoleonic wars, this petition remained unanswered, although the king at that time had the authority to establish dioceses on his territory.
Another petition, this time to Pope Gregory XVI. on December 30th, 1836, was again unsuccessful. Only a request on June 9, 1855 brought the matter into motion. Pope Pius IX was very fond of the Maltese and with the young priest Pietro Pace (1831–1914), later Bishop of Gozo, the Catholics of the island had an advocate in Rome. In the Privy Council of Malta, Adriano Dingli (1817–1900) supported the establishment of a diocese. Because of his support, the Colonial Office in London gave its unreserved approval in December 1860, which the Pope had made a prerequisite.
With the papal bull Singulari Amore of September 16, 1864, Pope Pius IX separated. the area of Gozo and Comino as a separate diocese from the diocese of Malta .
Nikol Joseph Cauchi was the bishop from 1972 until his retirement for reasons of age on November 26, 2005 . Mario Grech , who was previously vicar at the diocesan court and pastor in Kerċem, was appointed his successor in 2006 . He was appointed Pro-General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops in October 2019.
Episcopal Church is the Cathedral of the Assumption in the Citadel of Victoria , consecrated in 1716 .
Bishops of Gozo
-
Michele Francesco Buttigieg , 1864–1866
- Paolo Micallef , diocesan administrator 1866–1867
- Antonio Grech Delicata , 1868–1876
- Pietro Pace , 1877-1889
- Giovanni Maria Camilleri , 1889–1924
- Michael Gonzi , 1924-1943
- Giuseppe Pace , 1944-1972
- Nikol Joseph Cauchi , 1972–2006 (diocesan administrator 1967–1972)
-
Mario Grech , 2006–2019, then Pro-General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops
- Mario Grech, Apostolic Administrator October 2, 2019 - June 17, 2020
- Anthony Teuma , since 2020
literature
- Joseph Bezzina: Religion and Politics in a Crown Colony. The Gozo-Malta Story, 1798-1864. Bugelli Publications, 1985 (English).
Web links
- Homepage of the Diocese of Gozo (English)
- Homepage of the Cathedral of the Assumption in Victoria
- Historical note. Diocese of Gozo, 2007, accessed on October 10, 2019 (English, short history of the Diocese of Gozo).
- Entry on the Diocese of Gozo on catholic-hierarchy.org (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Joseph Bezzina: The solemn entry of the first bishop of Gozo 150 years ago. In: Times of Malta. November 2, 2014, accessed October 10, 2019 .