Roman Catholicism in Pakistan
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church
, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
and curia
in Rome
. Pope John Paul II
visited Pakistan
on February 16, 1981.
There are over one million Catholics in Pakistan, which represents less than 1% of the total population. There are 7 ecclesiastical units in Pakistan comprising 2 archdioceses, 4 dioceses, and one Apostolic Vicariate
, all Latin Rite.
The Catholic Church in Pakistan is also active in education managing leading schools like Saint Patrick's High School, Karachi
, health and other social aspects of daily life in addition to its spiritual work. The Catholic Church runs 534 schools, 53 hostels, 8 colleges, 7 technical institutes and 8 catechetical centers, according to 2008 statistics.
Joseph Cordeiro
, Archbishop of Karachi, became the first (and thus far only) Pakistani Cardinal
elevated to the position by Pope Paul VI
on 5 Mar 1973.
Pope John Paul II received the President of Pakistan
Pervez Musharraf
in a private audience in the Vatican on 30 September 2004. In 2004 President Pervez Musharraf began hosting an annual Christmas
dinner as an expression of seasonal goodwill.
For the first time in the country’s history, Shahbaz Bhatti
, a Catholic, became the federal minister for minorities in 2008.Bhatti was assassinated February 2011.
Pope Benedict XVI
met the Roman Catholic bishops of Pakistan on June 19, 2008. The bishops were in Rome for their ad limina visit.
. They set ablaze six Christian houses and injured three Christians, including an 11-year-old boy, who was in critical condition in hospital.
The minorities in Swat Valley are fleeing the area as the Taliban have imposed a tax on non-Muslims, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference president Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha
has said, urging the Pakistani president and prime minister to intervene. The government has recently allowed the imposition of Sharia
laws in parts of the North West Frontier Province much to the detriment of non- Muslims.
In 2009, Pakistan is the only country in the world with a “blasphemy law”. The constitution also ensures that a non-Muslim cannot become president, prime minister or any of the 11 senior most government positions in the country.
On July 30, 2009, tensions arose in the Christian village of Korian after pages containing Islamic inscriptions were found in front of a Christian home. Muslims then accused a family there of blasphemy against Islam. On Aug. 1, 2009, a Muslim mob raided a Christian settlement in Gojra
vandalizing and looting houses and causing the deaths of eight people and injuries to many others. Fifty Christian homes were destroyed. Pope Benedict XVI has expressed profound sorrow at recent anti-Christian riots in Pakistan and appealed to everyone to renounce violence and take up again the path of peace. He communicated this message in a telegram to Faisalabad Bishop Joseph Coutts.
St. Thomas’ Church, Wah Cantt
was attacked by a group of armed men on 28 March 2011 which resulted in damages. It is believed that the incident was related to the recent episode of the burning of the Quran by Pastor Terry Jones in the U.S.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore
Roman Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad
Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi
Roman Catholic Diocese of Multan
Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta
Source:
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...
. Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
visited Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
on February 16, 1981.
There are over one million Catholics in Pakistan, which represents less than 1% of the total population. There are 7 ecclesiastical units in Pakistan comprising 2 archdioceses, 4 dioceses, and one Apostolic Vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
, all Latin Rite.
The Catholic Church in Pakistan is also active in education managing leading schools like Saint Patrick's High School, Karachi
Saint Patrick's High School, Karachi
St Patrick's High School, located in Saddar Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, is one of the oldest educational institutions in Pakistan. The principal is Fr. Joseph Paul and vice principal Fr. Nobert Mendonca.- History :...
, health and other social aspects of daily life in addition to its spiritual work. The Catholic Church runs 534 schools, 53 hostels, 8 colleges, 7 technical institutes and 8 catechetical centers, according to 2008 statistics.
Joseph Cordeiro
Joseph Cordeiro
Joseph Marie Anthony Cordeiro was the first Pakistani cardinal.-Education:He was educated at St Patrick's High School, Karachi, the University of Bombay and Oxford University...
, Archbishop of Karachi, became the first (and thus far only) Pakistani Cardinal
Cardinal (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...
elevated to the position by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
on 5 Mar 1973.
Pope John Paul II received the President of Pakistan
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
in a private audience in the Vatican on 30 September 2004. In 2004 President Pervez Musharraf began hosting an annual Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
dinner as an expression of seasonal goodwill.
For the first time in the country’s history, Shahbaz Bhatti
Shahbaz Bhatti
Clement Shahbaz Bhatti , popularly known as Shahbaz Bhatti, was a Pakistani politician and elected member of the National Assembly from 2008. He was the first Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs from November 2008 until his assassination on 2 March 2011 in Islamabad...
, a Catholic, became the federal minister for minorities in 2008.Bhatti was assassinated February 2011.
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...
met the Roman Catholic bishops of Pakistan on June 19, 2008. The bishops were in Rome for their ad limina visit.
Violence
Meanwhile the Church continues to be persecuted. As recently at April 2009 armed men attacked a group of Christians in Taiser Town, near KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. They set ablaze six Christian houses and injured three Christians, including an 11-year-old boy, who was in critical condition in hospital.
The minorities in Swat Valley are fleeing the area as the Taliban have imposed a tax on non-Muslims, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference president Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha
Lawrence Saldanha
Lawrence John Saldanha was born in Mangalore, India on 25 October 1936. He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi and was ordained a priest in Lahore, Pakistan on 16 January 1960....
has said, urging the Pakistani president and prime minister to intervene. The government has recently allowed the imposition of Sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
laws in parts of the North West Frontier Province much to the detriment of non- Muslims.
In 2009, Pakistan is the only country in the world with a “blasphemy law”. The constitution also ensures that a non-Muslim cannot become president, prime minister or any of the 11 senior most government positions in the country.
On July 30, 2009, tensions arose in the Christian village of Korian after pages containing Islamic inscriptions were found in front of a Christian home. Muslims then accused a family there of blasphemy against Islam. On Aug. 1, 2009, a Muslim mob raided a Christian settlement in Gojra
Gojra
Gojra , the capital of Gojra Tehsil, is a city of Toba Tek Singh District in the Punjab province of Pakistan, it is located at 31°9'N 72°41'E and is located 30 miles from Faisalabad, 125 km from Burewala, 157 km from Vehari and north of Toba Tek Singh...
vandalizing and looting houses and causing the deaths of eight people and injuries to many others. Fifty Christian homes were destroyed. Pope Benedict XVI has expressed profound sorrow at recent anti-Christian riots in Pakistan and appealed to everyone to renounce violence and take up again the path of peace. He communicated this message in a telegram to Faisalabad Bishop Joseph Coutts.
St. Thomas’ Church, Wah Cantt
St. Thomas’ Church, Wah Cantt
St. Thomas’ Church, Wah Cantt is a Catholic church located about 50 km from Rawalpindi, Pakistan.The church was attacked by a group of armed men on 28 March 2011 which resulted in damages. About 6.30 pm six armed men broke into the Church's courtyard, throwing rocks and trying to force open the...
was attacked by a group of armed men on 28 March 2011 which resulted in damages. It is believed that the incident was related to the recent episode of the burning of the Quran by Pastor Terry Jones in the U.S.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of LahoreRoman Catholic Archdiocese of LahoreThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore is an archdiocese in Punjab, Pakistan.-History:It was founded as a diocese on 1 September 1886, having previously been the Vicariate of Punjab. On 23 April 1994 the diocese was elevated to the rank of Archdiocese. Fr...
Roman Catholic Diocese of FaisalabadRoman Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan.Erected in 1960, as the Diocese of Lyallpur, the diocese was created from the Diocese of Multan...
Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi
Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan....
Roman Catholic Diocese of Multan
Roman Catholic Diocese of Multan
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Multan is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan....
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi
Roman Catholic Diocese of HyderabadRoman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad in Pakistan
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan.Erected in 1958, the diocese was split off from the Archdiocese of Karachi....
Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta
Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta
The Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta was established on November 9, 2001 from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi...
Statistics
| Arch/diocese/vicariate | Catholics | Priests |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi | 149350 | 36 |
| Hyderabad | 48991 | 7 |
| Quetta | 27000 | 1 |
| Lahore | 502619 | 28 |
| Multan | 98500 | 11 |
| Faisalabad | 135879 | 44 |
| Islamabad-Rawalpindi | 122443 | 19 |
Source:
External links
- The Catholic Church in Pakistan by Giga-Catholic Information
- The Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi in Pakistan