Roman Catholicism in Latvia
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Church of Latvia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church
, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
and curia
in Rome
.
There are around 430,235 Catholics — around 17% of the total population.
since Saint Canute IV in the mid-11th century brought Christianity to Courland
and Livonia
and the first Christian church was built 1048 in Courland. Bishop Albert of Riga and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword
were the first to initiate organized Christianization of all the indigenous people in the early 13th century - at the time tribal cultures like the Curonians
, the Latgallians, the Livs
, the Selonians
and the Semigallians
.
Archbishop
Jānis Pujats. On 19 June 2010, Pope Benedict XVI
accepted the retirement of Archbishop Pujats and appointed Zbigņevs Stankevičs as his successor.
The Roman Catholic Church of Latvia is divided into one archdiocese and three dioceses:
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...
, 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...
.
There are around 430,235 Catholics — around 17% of the total population.
History
The Roman Catholic Church has been present in the area that now constitutes the Republic of LatviaLatvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
since Saint Canute IV in the mid-11th century brought Christianity to Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
and Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
and the first Christian church was built 1048 in Courland. Bishop Albert of Riga and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword
Livonian Brothers of the Sword
The Livonian Brothers of the Sword were a military order founded by Bishop Albert of Riga in 1202. Pope Innocent III sanctioned the establishment in 1204. The membership of the order comprised German "warrior monks"...
were the first to initiate organized Christianization of all the indigenous people in the early 13th century - at the time tribal cultures like the Curonians
Curonians
The Curonians or Kurs were a Baltic tribe living on the shores of the Baltic sea in what are now the western parts of Latvia and Lithuania from the 5th to the 16th centuries, when they merged with other Baltic tribes. They gave their name to the region of Courland , and they spoke the Old...
, the Latgallians, the Livs
Livonian people
The Livonians or Livs are the indigenous inhabitants of Livonia, a large part of what is today northwestern Latvia and southwestern Estonia. They spoke the Uralic Livonian language, a language which is closely related to Estonian and Finnish...
, the Selonians
Selonians
Selonians were a tribe of Baltic peoples. The Selonians lived until the 15th century in Selonia, located in southeastern Latvia and northeastern Lithuania. They merged with neighbouring tribes, contributing to the ethnogenesis of Latvians and Lithuanians....
and the Semigallians
Semigallians
Semigallians were the Baltic tribe that lived in the southcentral part of contemporary Latvia and northern Lithuania...
.
Organization
The highest office in the Roman Catholic Church of Latvia was held from 1991 to 2010 by CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Jānis Pujats. On 19 June 2010, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
accepted the retirement of Archbishop Pujats and appointed Zbigņevs Stankevičs as his successor.
The Roman Catholic Church of Latvia is divided into one archdiocese and three dioceses:
- Archdiocese of Rīga
- Diocese of Jelgava
- Diocese of Liepāja
- Diocese of Rēzekne-AglonaRoman Catholic Diocese of Rezekne-AglonaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Rēzekne–Aglona is a diocese located in the cities of Rēzekne and Aglona in the Ecclesiastical province of Riga in Latvia.-History:* 2 December 1995: Established as Diocese of Rēzekne–Aglona from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Riga...