Asmara (Eritrean Archeparchy) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Menghesteab Tesfamariam, M.C.C.I., Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archeparchy
Elevated: 19 January 2015
Metropolitan See
Eritrean Catholic Church of the Alexandrian Tradition
Country: Eritrea
Square Kilometers: 23,886 (9,225 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.catholicasmara.com/
Mailing Address: Addi Keih Street 19, P.O. Box 244, Asmara, Eritrea
Telephone: (07)112.329
Fax: (01)126.519

Historical Details

Ordinariate of Eritrea (Ethiopian)
- Erected: 4 July 1930
- Country: Eritrea
- Square Kilometers: 119,000 (45,963 Square Miles)
Apostolic Exarchate of Asmara (Ethiopian)
- Latin Name: Asmarensis
- Elevated: 31 October 1951
- Metropolitan: Archeparchy of Addis Abeba (Ethiopian)
- Country: Eritrea
Eparchy of Asmara (Ethiopian)
- Latin Name: Asmarensis
- Elevated: 20 February 1961
- Metropolitan: Archeparchy of Addis Abeba (Ethiopian)
- Country: Eritrea
- Square Kilometers: 23,686 (9,148 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Kidanè-Maryam Cassà † (4 Jul 1930 Appointed - 1 Sep 1951 Died)
Ghebre Jesus Jacob † (31 Oct 1951 Appointed - Feb 1958 Resigned)
Asrate Mariam Yemmeru † (3 Feb 1958 Appointed - 9 Apr 1961 Appointed, Archbishop of Addis Abeba (Ethiopian))
François Abraha † (9 Apr 1961 Appointed - 17 Jul 1984 Resigned)
Zekarias Yohannes † (17 Jul 1984 Appointed - 25 Jun 2001 Retired)
Menghesteab Tesfamariam, M.C.C.I. (25 Jun 2001 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Ordinariate of Eritrea (Ethiopian)
4 July 1930	Erected		Ordinariate of Eritrea (Ethiopian) (erected)
Apostolic Exarchate of Asmara (Ethiopian)
31 October 1951	Elevated	Ordinariate of Eritrea (Ethiopian)	Apostolic Exarchate of Asmara (Ethiopian)
Eparchy of Asmara (Ethiopian)
20 February 1961	Elevated	Apostolic Exarchate of Asmara (Ethiopian)	Eparchy of Asmara (Ethiopian)
21 December 1995	Territory Lost	Eparchy of Asmara (Ethiopian) (Gasc-Setit and Barca)	Eparchy of Barentu (Eritrean) (erected)
21 December 1995	Territory Lost	Eparchy of Asmara (Ethiopian) (Sahel and Senhit)	Eparchy of Keren (Eritrean) (erected)
24 February 2012	Territory Lost	Eparchy of Asmara (Ethiopian)	Eparchy of Segheneity (Eritrean) (erected) (Between Adigrat (Ethiopia) to the south and Asmara to the north)
Archeparchy of Asmara (Eritrean)
19 January 2015	Elevated	Eparchy of Asmara (Ethiopian)	Archeparchy of Asmara (Eritrean)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Ordinariate of Eritrea (Ethiopian)

1950 26,186 900,000 2.9% 83 83 315 13 89 65 ap1951

Apostolic Exarchate of Asmara (Ethiopian)

Eparchy of Asmara (Ethiopian)

1966 42,463 1,200,000 3.5% 91 52 143 296 97 93 84 ap1971

1975 55,800 83 102 185 301 130 192 72 ap1981

1990 60,780 78 108 186 326 4 181 282 87 ap1991

1999 46,303 2,927,280 1.6% 34 143 177 261 208 393 70 ap2000

2000 44,646 2,927,280 1.5% 33 171 204 218 246 392 60 ap2001

2001 44,646 2,927,280 1.5% 33 171 204 218 246 392 60 ap2002

2002 49,519 3,027,280 1.6% 38 199 237 208 304 475 138 ap2003

2003 54,712 3,500,000 1.6% 41 203 244 224 332 494 65 ap2004

2004 58,624 3,900,000 1.5% 41 223 264 222 302 484 66 ap2005

2006 62,453 4,010,000 1.6% 44 287 331 188 2 535 628 66 ap2007

2009 66,443 4,250,000 1.6% 43 276 319 208 3 542 699 69 ap2010

2010 70,351 4,500,000 1.6% 48 326 374 188 3 707 646 69 ap2011

2012 67,314 3,934,000 1.7% 21 340 361 186 3 703 847 74 ap2013

Archeparchy of Asmara (Eritrean)

2015 31,850 3,258,000 1.0% 20 316 336 94 2 602 498 59 ap2016

2018 35,017 3,539,186 1.0% 17 332 349 100 3 498 617 60 ap2019

2020 40,113 1,923,728 2.1% 20 360 380 105 3 535 619 60 ap2021

2022 43,601 2,118,484 2.1% 17 329 346 126 3 648 891 60 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Ordinariate of Eritrea (Ethiopian)
1950	26,186	900,000	2.9%	83		83	315		13	89	65	ap1951
Apostolic Exarchate of Asmara (Ethiopian)
Eparchy of Asmara (Ethiopian)
1966	42,463	1,200,000	3.5%	91	52	143	296		97	93	84	ap1971
1975	55,800			83	102	185	301		130	192	72	ap1981
1990	60,780			78	108	186	326	4	181	282	87	ap1991
1999	46,303	2,927,280	1.6%	34	143	177	261		208	393	70	ap2000
2000	44,646	2,927,280	1.5%	33	171	204	218		246	392	60	ap2001
2001	44,646	2,927,280	1.5%	33	171	204	218		246	392	60	ap2002
2002	49,519	3,027,280	1.6%	38	199	237	208		304	475	138	ap2003
2003	54,712	3,500,000	1.6%	41	203	244	224		332	494	65	ap2004
2004	58,624	3,900,000	1.5%	41	223	264	222		302	484	66	ap2005
2006	62,453	4,010,000	1.6%	44	287	331	188	2	535	628	66	ap2007
2009	66,443	4,250,000	1.6%	43	276	319	208	3	542	699	69	ap2010
2010	70,351	4,500,000	1.6%	48	326	374	188	3	707	646	69	ap2011
2012	67,314	3,934,000	1.7%	21	340	361	186	3	703	847	74	ap2013
Archeparchy of Asmara (Eritrean)
2015	31,850	3,258,000	1.0%	20	316	336	94	2	602	498	59	ap2016
2018	35,017	3,539,186	1.0%	17	332	349	100	3	498	617	60	ap2019
2020	40,113	1,923,728	2.1%	20	360	380	105	3	535	619	60	ap2021
2022	43,601	2,118,484	2.1%	17	329	346	126	3	648	891	60	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

François Abraha † (Priest: 12 Mar 1944; Bishop: 9 Apr 1961 to 17 Jul 1984)
Tesfamariam Bedho † (Priest: 19 Dec 1965 to 21 Dec 1995)
Kidanè-Maryam Cassà † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Jul 1930 to 1 Sep 1951)
Ghebre Jesus Jacob † (Priest: 4 Jul 1930; Apostolic Administrator: 7 Nov 1950; Apostolic Exarch: 31 Oct 1951 to Feb 1958)
Asrate Mariam Yemmeru † (Apostolic Exarch: 3 Feb 1958 to 9 Apr 1961)
Zekarias Yohannes † (Priest: 2 Jun 1949; Auxiliary Bishop: 29 Jan 1981; Bishop: 17 Jul 1984 to 25 Jun 2001)