Archdiocese of Isfahan
| Archdiocese of Isfahan | |
| Basic data | |
|---|---|
| Country | Iran |
| Ecclesiastical province | Immediate |
| Diocesan bishop | Sedis vacancy |
| Apostolic Administrator | Jack Youssef CM |
| Emeritus diocesan bishop | Ignazio Bedini SDS |
| surface | ? km² |
| Parishes | 6 (2004) |
| Residents | 70,472,846 (2006) |
| Catholics | 10,000 (2004) |
| proportion of | 0% |
| Diocesan priest | 0 (2004) |
| Religious priest | 6 (2004) |
| Catholics per priest | 1,667 |
| Friars | 6 (2004) |
| Religious sisters | 12 (2004) |
| rite | Roman rite |
| Liturgical language | Persian |
The Archdiocese of Isfahan ( Latin Archidioecesis Hispahanensis Latinorum ) based in Tehran is responsible for the pastoral care of Roman Catholic Christians in Iran . Besides a few native Catholics of the Latin rite, these are predominantly foreigners living in Iran. The majority of Iranian Catholics belong to the Chaldean Catholic Church , there is also a diocese of Armenian Catholics .
Forerunner in the 14th century
The Roman Catholic presence in Iran has always been a function of the relationship between the papacy and Iranian rulers. A Roman Catholic diocese for what is now Iran was first established in Soltanije in 1318 , which was then the capital of the Ilkhan in Iran. After the death of Abusaid Bahador Khan in 1335, the Ilkhan broke off relations with Rome.
Isfahan diocese
A new establishment took place in 1629 in Isfahan (New Iranian Esfahan, Latin mostly Ispahan), the then capital of the Safavids and existed under the rule of Safi I , the successor of Abbas the Great .
The following occupations were only possible with longer interruptions: from 1693 to 1708 (Elias Mutton) and from 1716 to 1731 (Barnabas Fedeli).
Based in Urmia
There was another appointment only again in 1896 with the Lazarist missionary François Lesné, who was, however, in Urmia . His successor Jacques-Emile Sontag also resided as archbishop until his death in 1918 in this western Iranian city, which was the center of the Assyrians and Catholic Chaldeans in Iran.
Based in Tehran
When a renewed appointment was made under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1974, the choice fell on the Irish Dominican Kevin William Barden , who worked in Tehran and who continued to reside in the capital as archbishop. After he was expelled from the country at the beginning of the Iranian revolution in 1980, it was again nine years before Archbishop Ignazio Bedini could be appointed in 1989.
The Archbishopric Cathedral is located in Tehran next to the Italian Embassy.
See also
Web links
- Entry for Archdiocese of Isfahan on catholic-hierarchy.org
- Entry on Archdiocese of Isfahan on gcatholic.org (English)
- Art. "Ispahan" in Catholic Encyclopedia (English)
- A brief history of the Lazarist mission in Iran and the Jeanne d'Arc School of Tehran
- Website about Bishop Sontag (French)
- Website of the Dominicans in Iran (English)
- Obituary for Bishop W. Barden (English)
Footnotes
- ↑ In the literature the year 1629 (year of death of Abbas the Great) and also the year 1632 are given; this could refer to a period between appointment in Rome and consecration or taking office in Isfahan.
- ↑ cf. the information about Lesne in this post about Keldani