Roman Catholicism in Libya
Encyclopedia
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 around 50,000 Catholics in Libya, comprising less than one percent of the population. Among the Catholics are Italian Libyans and MalteseMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
Libyans. Thousands of Filipino Catholic nurses moved to Libya during the 1980s and 1990s. The Italians were the majority of the Catholics in Libya until their expulsion in 1969 by Colonel Gaddafi.
There are no dioceses in Libya, but there are four territorial jurisdictions - three Apostolic Administrations and one Apostolic Prefecture.
- Apostolic Vicariate of BenghaziApostolic Vicariate of BenghaziThe Apostolic Vicariate of Benghazi is a Roman Catholic apostolic Vicariate located in the city of Benghazi in Libya.-History:* February 3, 1927: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Cirenaica from the Apostolic Vicariate of Libya...
- Apostolic Vicariate of DernaApostolic Vicariate of DernaThe Apostolic Vicariate of Derna is a Roman Catholic apostolic Vicariate located in the city of Derna in Libya.-History:* June 22, 1939: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Derna from the Apostolic Vicariate of Cirenaica-Leadership:...
- Apostolic Vicariate of TripoliApostolic Vicariate of TripoliThe Apostolic Vicariate of Tripoli is a Roman Catholic apostolic vicariate located in the city of Tripoli in Libya.-History:* 1630: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Tripoli* 1894: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Libya...
- Apostolic Prefecture of Misrata
History
Christianity has been present in Libya since Roman timesRoman Libya
The area of North Africa which has been known as Libya since 1911 was under Roman domination between 146 BC and 670 AD.The Latin name Libya at the time referred to the continent of Africa in general....
. Saint Francis of Assisi brought his faith to Tripoli in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.
The Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Our Lady of the Angels) in the Old City - Medina of Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
was founded in 1645 and, with the permission of the Sultan of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, the Church of the Immaculate Conception was founded in Benghazi in 1858.
Before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the number of Catholics increased in Libya due to its status as an Italian colony
Italian Libya
Italian Libya was a unified colony of Italian North Africa established in 1934 in what represents present-day Libya...
, but the Catholic Cathedral of Tripoli
Tripoli Cathedral
Tripoli Cathedral was a Roman Catholic cathedral in Tripoli, the capital of Libya, located on Algeria/Elgazayer Square - Maidan al Jazair /Maydan elgazayer in the city centre.-History:...
(built in the 1920s) was converted to a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
. The other Catholic cathedral in Libya, the Benghazi Cathedral
Benghazi Cathedral
Benghazi Cathedral was a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Benghazi, Libya. It is located in the city center and is currently disused and undergoing renovation work.-History:...
is under reconstruction and probably will reopen as a museum.