Roman Catholic Church in Libya

The Roman Catholic Church in Libya represents a Christian, religious minority.

history

The Catholic Church has a long tradition in Libya. Simon of Cyrene is already mentioned by name in the New Testament and Synesios (370-414), Bishop of Tripoli, is venerated as a Doctor of the Church . After the conquest by Muslim Arabs between 642 and 666, Christianity ceased to exist. Only with the settlement of Franciscans around 1630 was there a new beginning. 1912 began with the Italian colonization, a settlement and increase of Catholics as well as the construction of churches and cemeteries. After 1945 many churches were demolished or converted into mosques.

present

The Christian community consists predominantly of foreigners, including the largest group of refugees from Africa, foreign workers from Asia, Europe and North America, and India. The number of Christians is estimated at 2.7% of the total population, thus around 70,000 to 170,000 people. The Catholics form the largest group with an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 people.

The three Apostolic Vicariates of Tripoli , Benghazi and Derna and the Apostolic Prefecture of Misurata were established as early as the Italian colonial period . In 1970 the Holy See signed an agreement with the Libyan state to regulate the material and legal situation of the Catholic Church in Libya; In 1985 diplomatic relations followed. In 1973 it became possible for religious sisters to take on medical services. In 2013 two religious orders withdrew because of Islamist reprisals, including a bomb attack in a Catholic church.

Since 2011, Libya has been in a civil war-like state and unstable political situation. Catholic missions among Muslims are prohibited, as is the mission of other churches and religious communities. The Catholic Church is present in different parts of Libya with three Apostolic Administrations and one Apostolic Prefecture.

Dioceses

• The Apostolic Vicariate of Benghazi was founded in 1913. The Apostolic Administrator has been Sandro Overend Rigillo OFM since 2019 . After a sharp decline, the vicariate has around 500 souls (as of 2017; 2014: 6,000 souls).
• The Apostolic Vicariate Derna was founded in 1939, its bishopric is vacant and has 500 souls (1966).
• The Apostolic Prefecture of Misurata was founded in 1939, its episcopal see is vacant and has 1,100 souls (1969).
• The Apostolic Vicariate Tripoli was founded in 1913, has been headed by George Bugeja OFM since 2017 and has 15,000 souls (2017).

See also

• Christianity in Libya
• Copts
• Particular church
• List of Roman Catholic Dioceses

Web links

• Entry on Catholic Church in Libya on catholic-hierarchy.org
• Entry on Catholic Church in Libya on gcatholic.org (English)
• Catholic Church in Libya (Franciscan Province “Saint Paul the Apostle”, Malta)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} country reports. Freedom of religion: Libya (pdf) , Missio 2014, accessed on June 17, 2020
2. ↑ Country portrait Libya , Church in Need 2018, accessed on June 17, 2020
3. ^ Entry to Apostolic Vicariate Benghazi on catholic-hierarchy.org
4. ^ Entry to Apostolic Vicariate Darna on catholic-hierarchy.org
5. ↑ Entry on Apostolic Prefecture Misurata on catholic-hierarchy.org
6. ↑ Entry to Apostolic Vicariate Tripoli on catholic-hierarchy.org