Roman Catholicism in Eritrea
Encyclopedia
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Located in the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n country of Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, this church is under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
and curia
Curia
A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Characteristics
There are approximately 150,000 Catholics in EritreaEritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, who follow both the Latin rite and the Ge’ez rite. There are three territorial jurisdictions in the country known as eparchies.
There are no Dioceses of Latin rite in Eritrea, only 3 eparchies (originally only Asmara) and the main Cathedral is St. Joseph in Asmara, the capital. After Eritrea achieved independence in May 1993, Pope John Paul II created two additional Eritrean eparchies, Keren and Barentu.
So, the Eritrean Catholic Church
Ethiopian Catholic Church
The Ethiopian Catholic Church is a Metropolitan sui iuris Eastern particular Church within the Catholic Church. Established in 1930, its membership includes inhabitants of Ethiopia and Eritrea....
with the Ge’ez rite, has the Dioceses (called even Eparchies in Ge’ez rite) of Asmara
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
, Keren
Keren, Eritrea
Keren is the second largest city in Eritrea. It is situated about 91 kilometers northwest of Asmara. The town serves as the capital of the Anseba region, and is home to the Bilen ethnic group.-History:...
and Barentu
Barentu
Barentu may refer to:* Barentu, Eritrea is a town in Eritrea.* Barentu is a moiety of the Oromo people....
:
- The most important (and the original since 1930) is the one of Asmara.
- The Eparchy of Keren is the most important as percentage of total Eritrean population (nearly 12%).
- The Eparchy of Barentu has been created in 1995.
Both Catholic denominations (the Ge’ez and the Latin) account for an estimated 5 percent of the Eritrean population. The Eritrean Catholic Church is "tolerated" by the actual dictatorship ruling Eritrea.
Latin rite
The nation has also many adherents of the original Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Latin rite, most of whom are Italian Eritreans
Italian Eritreans
Italian Eritreans are Eritrean-born descendants of Italian settlers as well as Italian long-term residents in Eritrea.-History:...
. When Eritrea was an Italian colony, all the Italians (colonists and military troops) professed the Latin rite: in 1940 they were 11% of the total population.
The Cathedral of Asmara was their main religious center. So, in the early 1940s Catholicism was the religion of nearly 28% of people in the colony of Italian Eritrea
Italian Eritrea
Italian Eritrea was the first colony of the Kingdom of Italy. It was created in 1890 and lasted officially until 1947.-Acquisition of Assab and creation of the colony:...
.
Actually (2010) there are only 900 Italian Eritreans, mostly old aged and all followers of the Latin rite.
See also
- Ethiopic Catholic Church
- Italian EritreansItalian EritreansItalian Eritreans are Eritrean-born descendants of Italian settlers as well as Italian long-term residents in Eritrea.-History:...
- St Joseph's Cathedral, Asmara
- Christianity in EritreaChristianity in EritreaEritrea is a multi-religious country; Eritrea has two dominant religions, Christianity and Islam, with approximately 50% of the population being Christian and 50% Muslim according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees...
- Religion in EritreaReligion in EritreaEritrea has two major religions, Christianity and Islam, with approximately 50% of the population being Christian and 48% Muslim according to the United States Department of State...