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Diocese of Speyer

Diocese of Speyer
Dioecesis Spirensis
Wappen Bistum Speyer.png
Location
Country Germany
Ecclesiastical province Bamberg
Statistics
Area 6,025 km2 (2,326 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2010)
1,307,678
616,485 (44.5%)
Parishes 346
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Rite Roman Rite
Established 4th Century
Cathedral Speyer Cathedral
Patron saint Mary, Mother of God
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop Karl-Heinz Wiesemann
Bishop of Speyer
Metropolitan Archbishop Ludwig Schick
Archbishop of Bamberg
Auxiliary Bishops Otto Georgens
Emeritus Bishops Anton Schlembach
Map
Karte Bistum Speyer.png
Website
bistum-speyer.de

The Diocese of Speyer (lat. Dioecesis Spirensis) is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Germany. The diocese is located in the South of the Rhineland-Palatinate and comprises also the Saarpfalz district in the east of the Saarland. The bishop's see is in the Palatinate city of Speyer.

The current bishop is Karl-Heinz Wiesemann. See also Bishop of Speyer for a list of previous bishops.

As of 31 December 2006, 44.5% of the population of the diocese was Catholic.

In a slightly different hierarchic structure it is one of the oldest Dioceses in Germany. A bishop of Speyer was first mentioned in a document in 346. Through grants by the Holy Roman Emperor, the prince-bishops of Speyer established themselves as worldly as well as spiritual rulers. The Diocese of Speyer in its current form was established within the borders of the former Rheinkreis, a district of the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1817 after the secularization and division of the former bishopric in 1803.

The diocese is directed by bishop Karl-Heinz Wiesemann.

The diocese is structured in the following deaneries, with borders that are almost the same as the local county borders:

Coordinates: 49°19′02″N 8°26′33″E / 49.3171°N 8.4424°E / 49.3171; 8.4424


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