Vicariate Apostolic of Benghazi

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of Cirenaica
  • Latin Name: de Cyrenaica
  • Erected: 3 February 1927
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Libya

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Bernardino Vitale Bigi, O.F.M. † (27 Jan 1927 Appointed - 19 Apr 1930 Died)
• Candido Domenico Moro, O.F.M. † (14 Jul 1931 Appointed - 7 Oct 1950 Resigned)
• Ernesto Aurelio Ghiglione, O.F.M. † (5 Jul 1951 Appointed - 8 Jun 1964 Died)
• Giustino Giulio Pastorino, O.F.M. † (11 Jan 1965 Appointed - 10 Mar 1997 Retired)
• Sylvester Carmel Magro, O.F.M. † (10 Mar 1997 Appointed - 14 Feb 2016 Retired)
• Sandro Overend Rigillo, O.F.M. (16 Jul 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Benghazi
1950	1,450	120,000	1.2%		8	8	181		11	33	3	ap1951
1969	9,979	700,000	1.4%		13	13	767		22	93	7	ap1971
1978	15,000	970,000	1.5%		6	6	2,500		6	95	1	ap1981
1990	8,000	1,827,000	.4%		6	6	1,333		6	70	1	ap1991
1999	15,000	2,147,000	.7%		6	6	2,500		6	40	1	ap2000
2000	15,000	1,048,500	1.4%		6	6	2,500		6	36	1	ap2001
2001	7,000	1,048,500	.7%	1	6	7	1,000		6	34	5	ap2002
2002	4,000	1,048,500	.4%	1	4	5	800		4	37	5	ap2003
2003	4,000	1,485,500	.3%	1	4	5	800		4	37	5	ap2004
2004	4,000	1,048,500	.4%	1	5	6	666		5	37	5	ap2005
2011	6,000	1,230,000	.5%		6	6	1,000		6	34	6	ap2011
2014	6,000	1,388,000	.4%		4	4	1,500		4	12	5	ap2015
2017	500	1,451,550	.0%		2	2	250		2		2	ap2018
2020	515	1,502,430	.0%		3	3	171		3		4	ap2021
2022	530	1,535,000	.0%		5	5	106		5		6	ap2023
2024	2,530	1,568,420	.2%		4	4	632		4			ap2025

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• George Bugeja, O.F.M. (Apostolic Administrator: 14 Feb 2016 to 8 Dec 2019)
• Sandro Overend Rigillo, O.F.M. (Apostolic Administrator: 8 Dec 2019; Vicar Apostolic: 16 Jul 2023 - )

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Bernardino Vitale Bigi, O.F.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Jan 1927 to 19 Apr 1930)
• Ernesto Aurelio Ghiglione, O.F.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 5 Jul 1951 to 8 Jun 1964)
• Sylvester Carmel Magro, O.F.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Mar 1997 to 14 Feb 2016)
• Candido Domenico Moro, O.F.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jul 1931 to 7 Oct 1950)
• Giustino Giulio Pastorino, O.F.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Jan 1965 to 10 Mar 1997)

Source(s)

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