Roman Catholic Diocese of Bissau
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bissau (Latin: Bissagen(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Bissau in Guinea-Bissau.
Diocese or Archdiocese of Bissau Dioecesis Bissagensis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  Guinea-Bissau |
| Metropolitan | Immediately subject to the Holy See |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 11,490 km2 (4,440 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members) | (as of 2012) 1,050,000 166,000 (15,77%) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelária, Bissau |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | vacant |
| Auxiliary Bishops | José Lampra Cá |
| Bishops emeritus | José Câmnate na Bissign |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| diocese de bissau.gw | |
History
Pope Pius XII created a Mission “sui iuris” comprising the then overseas colony of Portuguese Guinea on September 4, 1940, until then under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde, in Cape Verde islands. It was promoted to an Apostolic Prefecture on April 29, 1955. After the independence of Guinea-Bissau, on September 10, 1974, it was renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Guinea-Bissau the January 1st, 1975. The Diocese of Bissau was finally created on 21 March 1977. The first Bishop of the Diocese of Bissau was Italian-born Settimio Ferrazzetta, who held office until his death, at 26 January 1999. He was succeeded by the first Bissau-Guinean native bishop, José Câmnate na Bissign, aged 57 years old. On 13 May 2011 Pope Benedict XVI named Father José Lampra Cá as Auxiliary Bishop-elect of Bissau. Lampra Cá was born in 1964 and ordained a priest in 1997. He was formerly the Rector of the St. Kizito Minor Seminary and Professor of Philosophy at the Major Seminary of Bissau.
Chronology
- September 4, 1940: Established as the Mission “sui iuris” of Portuguese Guinea from the Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde in Cape Verde
- April 29, 1955: Promoted as the Apostolic Prefecture of Portuguese Guinea
- January 1, 1975: Renamed as the Apostolic Prefecture of Guinea-Bissau
- March 21, 1977: Promoted to the Diocese of Bissau
Leadership
- Ecclesiastical Superiors of Portuguese Guinea
- Fr. Giuseppe Ribeiro de Magalhães, O.F.M. (1941.06.20 – 1953)
- Fr. Martinho da Silva Carvalhosa, O.F.M. (1953 – 1955.04.29 see below)
- Prefects Apostolic of Portuguese Guinea
- Fr. Martinho da Silva Carvalhosa, O.F.M. (see above 1955.04.29 – 1963)
- Fr. João Ferreira, O.F.M. (1963.01.25 – 1965)
- Fr. Amândio Domingues Neto, O.F.M. (1966.04.04 – 1977)
- Bishops of Bissau
- Bishop Settimio Ferrazzetta, O.F.M. (1977.03.21 – 1999.01.26)
- Bishop José Câmnate na Bissign (15 October 1999 – 11 July 2020)
Auxiliary Bishop
- José Lampra Cà (2011 – present)