Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi

Diocese of Varanasi Dioecesis Varanasiensis वाराणसी के सूबा

Location
Country	India
Ecclesiastical province	Agra
Metropolitan	Agra
Statistics
Area	21,395 km² (8,261 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2010) 20,328,000 18,259 (0.1%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Cathedral	St Mary’s Cathedral in Varanasi
Patron saint	St John the Baptist
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Eugene Joseph
Metropolitan Archbishop	Albert D'Souza
Emeritus Bishops	Patrick Paul D’Souza
Website
Website of the Diocese

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi (Latin: Varanasien(sis)) is a Latin suffragan diocese in the Ecclesiastical province of Agra in northern India' s vast state Uttar Pradesh.

Its cathedral episcopal see is St. Mary’s Cathedral in the city of Varanasi.

History

Established on July 11, 1946 as Apostolic Prefecture of Gorakhpur, on territory split off from the Diocese of Allahabad, exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See
September 17, 1958: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Benares-Gorakhpur
Promoted on June 5, 1970 as Diocese of Banaras (Benares), losing its exempt status by becoming a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agra
May 14, 1971: Renamed as Diocese of Varanasi (as the city had changed its name).

(all Latin, Roman Rite)

Father Joseph Emil Malenfant, Capuchin Friars (O.F.M. Cap.) (June 6, 1947 – September 17, 1958 see below)

Patrick Paul D’Souza (see above May 14, 1971 – February 24, 2007), Vice-President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (1996 – 1998)
Raphy Manjaly (February 24, 2007 – 2013.10.17), later Bishop of Allahabad (India, in the same province) (2013.10.17 – ...)
Eugene Joseph (2015.05.30 – ...)

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