Diocese of Copenhagen
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Copenhagen is a diocese
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church named after its episcopal see, the Danish national capital, Copenhagen
. It covers all Denmark
(as in neighbouring provinces where none of the pre-Reformation
bishoprics were re-established after Lutheranism became the new official state church in the 16th century) and two Danish overseas possessions, the Faroe Islands
and Greenland
. It is estimated that 36,000 (0.7%) out of the 5,516,597 inhabitants of the diocesan territory are Roman Catholics.
The current bishop
, appointed in 1995, is Czeslaw Kozon
. Hans Ludvig Martensen, S.J.
, is the bishop emeritus
. The principal church of the diocese is St. Ansgar's Cathedral
.
The former bishoprics of Ribe
and Odense
were the former provincial dioceses, that have since been subsumed into the diocese of Copenhagen. The Diocese of Copenhagen is exempt
immediately subject to the Holy See.
It was established on August 7, 1868 as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern Missions. In 1869, it was demoted as the Apostolic Prefecture of Denmark. On March 15, 1892, it was again promoted as the Vicariate Apostolic of Denmark. Only on April 29, 1953 it was promoted as the regular, post-missionary diocese of København.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church named after its episcopal see, the Danish national capital, Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. It covers all Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
(as in neighbouring provinces where none of the pre-Reformation
Reformation in Denmark
The Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein was the transition from Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism in the realms ruled by the Copenhagen-based House of Oldenburg in the first half of the sixteenth century...
bishoprics were re-established after Lutheranism became the new official state church in the 16th century) and two Danish overseas possessions, the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
and Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. It is estimated that 36,000 (0.7%) out of the 5,516,597 inhabitants of the diocesan territory are Roman Catholics.
The current bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, appointed in 1995, is Czeslaw Kozon
Czeslaw Kozon
Czeslaw Kozon is the Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Copenhagen. His parents were emigres from Poland who fled the Communist takeover of that country. He was appointed bishop in March 1995....
. Hans Ludvig Martensen, S.J.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, is the bishop emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
. The principal church of the diocese is St. Ansgar's Cathedral
St. Ansgar's Cathedral
Saint Ansgar's Cathedral in Copenhagen, Denmark is the principal church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Copenhagen, which encompasses all of Denmark, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland.-History:...
.
The former bishoprics of Ribe
Roman Catholic bishopric of Ribe
The former Roman Catholic diocese of Ribe consisted of the modern Danish Provinces of Ribe, Vejle and Ringkøbing, and part of South Jutland. The first church built at Ribe was founded by Saint Ansgar in 860, served by his biographer and successor, Saint Rembert, and destroyed during the heathen...
and Odense
Roman Catholic bishopric of Odense
The former Roman Catholic bishopric of Odense was a bishopric on the Danish islands that included the islands of Funen , Langeland, Tåsinge, Lolland, Falster, Als and Ærø. The diocese was disputed as suffragan between the archdioceses of Hamburg-Bremen and Canterbury...
were the former provincial dioceses, that have since been subsumed into the diocese of Copenhagen. The Diocese of Copenhagen is exempt
Exemption (church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, exemption is the whole or partial release of an ecclesiastical person, corporation, or institution from the authority of the ecclesiastical superior next higher in rank....
immediately subject to the Holy See.
It was established on August 7, 1868 as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Northern Missions. In 1869, it was demoted as the Apostolic Prefecture of Denmark. On March 15, 1892, it was again promoted as the Vicariate Apostolic of Denmark. Only on April 29, 1953 it was promoted as the regular, post-missionary diocese of København.