The Roman Catholic Diocese of Iaşi, Romania was established on 27 June 1884. A diocese had been set up at Siret by Pope Urban V in 1370, due to work done by Franciscans and Dominicans; its seat was transferred to Bacău at the beginning of the 15th century. Abandoned in 1497 due to Muslim persecutions, the See of Bacău was re-established in 1611, and had a succession of twenty prelates until 1789, when it was suppressed. The Catholics of Moldavia were then placed under the spiritual direction of Apostolic prefects, generally chosen from the Conventuals in charge of the mission. In 1884, Pope Leo XIII raised to a diocese the Apostolic Vicariate of Moldavia, with Iaşi as residence.
The diocese covers the Romanian region of Moldavia—the counties of Suceava, Botoşani, Neamţ, Iaşi, Bacău, Vaslui, Vrancea and Galaţi, of which 5.2% are Roman Catholic, with concentrations around Bacău and Roman. Its adherents are predominantly Romanian, with small Csángó and Polish communities. It is subordinate to the Bucharest Archdiocese. Its bishop since 1990 has been Petru Gherghel, previously Apostolic Administrator since 1978.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.
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