Roman Catholic Church in Togo

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The Roman Catholic Church in Togo is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church under the spiritual guidance of the Pope and the Curia in Rome.

history

Saint-Esprit Cathedral in Kpalimé

After Togo became a German protected area in 1884 , the Society of Africa Missions began with the mission in 1886. On April 12, 1892, the Apostolic Prefecture of Togo was established and entrusted to the Steyler Missionaries (SVD). It was spun off from the Dahomey Apostolic Prefecture (now Benin ), which was established in 1883 . The first Apostolic Prefect was the German Hermann Bücking (SVD) in 1896 . On March 16, 1914, the prefecture was elevated to the position of Apostolic Vicariate , the first Apostolic Vicar was Franz Wolf (SVD). As a result of the First World War, the Steyler missionaries had to leave Togo and Togo was divided between France and Great Britain. During this time the number of Catholics had increased from 57 (1892) to 22,128 (1917). On July 2, 1922, the first local priest, P. O'Dogli, was ordained. After the separation of the Apostolic Prefecture of Sokodé on May 18, 1937, the Apostolic Vicariate of Togo was renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Lomé on June 14, 1938. On September 14, 1955 the elevation to the archbishopric took place.

Pope John Paul II visited Togo in 1985.

Diocesan organization

church

Of the approx. 5 million inhabitants, almost 31% are Catholics. 4% belong to other Christian churches, 1% are Muslims and 50% are followers of traditional religions . There is 1 archdiocese and 6 other dioceses. A nunciature has existed since 1982. The last apostolic nuncio was Archbishop Brian Udaigwe until June 2020 .

literature

  • Karl Müller : History of the Catholic Church in Togo . Kaldenkirchen 1958.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Karl Müller: History of the Catholic Church in Togo, pp. 550f
  2. ^ Karl Müller: History of the Catholic Church in Togo, p. 500f