Poona (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Thomas Dabre, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 1 September 1886
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bombay
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 49,687 (19,191 Square Miles)
Description: consists of the civil districts of Pune, Satara, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.
Official Web Site: http://www.poonadiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 1-B Prince of Wales Drive, Pune-411001, Maharashtra, India
Telephone: (020)2636.00.65; 2636.13.18

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Poona
- Latin Name: Poonensis
- Erected: 8 March 1854
- Vicariate
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Bernhard Beiderlinden, S.J. † (22 Dec 1886 Appointed - 7 May 1907 Died)
Heinrich Döring (Doëring), S.J. † (7 Sep 1907 Appointed - 16 Jun 1921 Appointed, Titular Archbishop of Madytus)
Heinrich Döring (Doëring), S.J. † (14 Jul 1927 Appointed - 15 Jan 1948 Retired)
Andrew Alexis D’Souza † (12 May 1949 Appointed - 12 Jun 1967 Retired)
William Zephyrine Gomes † (12 Jun 1967 Appointed - 1 Dec 1976 Resigned)
Valerian D’Souza † (7 Jul 1977 Appointed - 4 Apr 2009 Retired)
Thomas Dabre (4 Apr 2009 Appointed - 25 Mar 2023 Retired)
John Rodrigues (25 Mar 2023 Appointed - 30 Nov 2024 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Bombay)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Poona
8 March 1854	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Bombay	Vicariate Apostolic of Poona (erected)
Diocese of Poona
1 September 1886	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Poona	Diocese of Poona
25 January 1930	Territory Lost	Diocese of Poona (Khandala and Kune)	Archdiocese of Bombay
19 September 1953	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Goa e Damão (Belgaum and North Kanara) Diocese of Poona (Dharwad and Bijapur)	Diocese of Belgaum (erected)
19 September 1953	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Goa e Damão (Ratnagiri and Sawntwadi)	Diocese of Poona
15 May 1987	Territory Lost	Diocese of Poona (Dhulia, Jalgoan, Nashik, and Ahmednagar)	Diocese of Nashik (erected)
30 April 1988	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bombay Diocese of Nashik Diocese of Poona	Diocese of Kalyan (Syro-Malabar) (erected) (Syro-Malabar Faithful)
5 July 2005	Territory Lost	Diocese of Poona (Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri along with Ajra and Gandhinglaj; and Kolhapur (except St. Francis Xavier))	Diocese of Sindhudurg (erected)

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

Diocese of Poona

1950 43,831 11,000,000 .4% 23 23 46 952 45 72 28 ap1951

1970 114,272 27,000,000 .4% 49 77 126 906 248 514 55 ap1971

1980 144,650 24,450,000 .6% 55 186 241 600 669 523 59 ap1981

1990 80,669 15,600,000 .5% 63 129 192 420 722 629 40 ap1991

1999 93,407 29,671,589 .3% 79 131 210 444 731 483 40 ap2000

2000 94,028 29,700,000 .3% 80 19 99 949 663 480 40 ap2001

2001 94,822 30,000,000 .3% 76 139 215 441 771 537 40 ap2002

2002 95,056 30,000,000 .3% 77 138 215 442 753 459 43 ap2003

2003 96,082 30,000,000 .3% 77 136 213 451 757 547 43 ap2004

2004 96,480 30,000,000 .3% 79 142 221 436 728 570 43 ap2005

2005 64,234 24,305,883 .3% 61 14 75 856 2 419 26 bul:5Jul2005

2013 78,713 19,729,686 .4% 65 114 179 439 1 1,367 428 30 ap2014

2016 82,713 21,139,800 .4% 70 175 245 337 1 1,560 595 30 ap2017

2019 87,571 24,305,883 .4% 69 119 188 465 1 1,345 378 26 ap2020

2021 89,980 25,306,920 .4% 62 121 183 491 1 1,161 289 42 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Poona
1950	43,831	11,000,000	.4%	23	23	46	952		45	72	28	ap1951
1970	114,272	27,000,000	.4%	49	77	126	906		248	514	55	ap1971
1980	144,650	24,450,000	.6%	55	186	241	600		669	523	59	ap1981
1990	80,669	15,600,000	.5%	63	129	192	420		722	629	40	ap1991
1999	93,407	29,671,589	.3%	79	131	210	444		731	483	40	ap2000
2000	94,028	29,700,000	.3%	80	19	99	949		663	480	40	ap2001
2001	94,822	30,000,000	.3%	76	139	215	441		771	537	40	ap2002
2002	95,056	30,000,000	.3%	77	138	215	442		753	459	43	ap2003
2003	96,082	30,000,000	.3%	77	136	213	451		757	547	43	ap2004
2004	96,480	30,000,000	.3%	79	142	221	436		728	570	43	ap2005
2005	64,234	24,305,883	.3%	61	14	75	856		2	419	26	bul:5Jul2005
2013	78,713	19,729,686	.4%	65	114	179	439	1	1,367	428	30	ap2014
2016	82,713	21,139,800	.4%	70	175	245	337	1	1,560	595	30	ap2017
2019	87,571	24,305,883	.4%	69	119	188	465	1	1,345	378	26	ap2020
2021	89,980	25,306,920	.4%	62	121	183	491	1	1,161	289	42	ap2022