Diocese of Caroline Islands Dioecesis Carolinensium |
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Location | |
Country | Federated States of Micronesia Republic of Palau |
Territory | Caroline Islands |
Ecclesiastical province | Agaña |
Statistics | |
Area | 480 sq mi (1,200 km2) |
Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2006) 128,718 68,500 (53.2%) |
Parishes | 27 |
Information | |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Rite | Roman Rite |
Established | 19 December 1905 (111 years ago) |
Cathedral | Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Bishop | Amando Samo |
Map | |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Caroline Islands (Latin: Dioecesis Carolinensium) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Federated States of Micronesia and in the Republic of Palau. It is a suffragan diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Agaña. The Diocese of Caroline Islands is led by a bishop who pastors the mother church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The diocese was established on 19 December 1905, as the Apostolic Prefecture (missionary jurisdiction) of Caroline Islands, uniting the Mission sui iuris of Eastern Carolines and Mission sui iuris of Western Carolines, both of which had been split from the Apostolic Prefecture of Micronesia in 1886.
It became the Apostolic Vicariate (higher missionary stage jurisdiction, entitled to a titular bishop) of Marianne and Caroline Islands on 1 March 1911. It grew to become the Apostolic Vicariate of Marianne, Caroline and Marshall Islands on 4 May 1923. It changed its name to become the Apostolic Vicariate of Caroline and Marshall Islands on 4 July 1946.
It was elevated to become the Diocese Carolines-Marshalls by promotion on 3 May 1979.