Varanasi (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Eugene Joseph, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 14 May 1971
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Agra
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 25,173 (9,723 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 45 Varanasi Cantt. 221002, U.P., India
Telephone: (0542)250.27.61
Fax: 250.27.67

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Gorakhpur
- Latin Name: de Gorakhpur
- Erected: 11 July 1946
- Country: India
Prefecture Apostolic of Benares-Gorakhpur
- Latin Name: de Benares-Gorakhpur
- Name Changed: 17 September 1958
- Country: India
Diocese of Banaras
- Latin Name: Banarensis
- Elevated: 5 June 1970
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Agra
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jérôme (Joseph Emil) Malenfant, O.F.M. Cap. † (6 Jun 1947 Appointed - 1970 Resigned)
Patrick Paul D’Souza † (5 Jun 1970 Appointed - 24 Feb 2007 Retired)
Raphy Manjaly (24 Feb 2007 Appointed - 17 Oct 2013 Appointed, Bishop of Allahabad)
Eugene Joseph (30 May 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Gorakhpur
11 July 1946	Erected	Diocese of Allahabad (Goraldipur, Azamgarli, Ballia, Jaunpur, Ghezipur, Behares, and Mirza)	Prefecture Apostolic of Gorakhpur (erected)
9 January 1947	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Gorakhpur (Mirzapur)	Diocese of Allahabad
Prefecture Apostolic of Benares-Gorakhpur
17 September 1958	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Gorakhpur	Prefecture Apostolic of Benares-Gorakhpur
Diocese of Banaras
5 June 1970	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Benares-Gorakhpur	Diocese of Banaras
Diocese of Varanasi
14 May 1971	Name Changed	Diocese of Banaras	Diocese of Varanasi
19 June 1984	Territory Lost	Diocese of Varanasi (Gorakhpur, Basti, and Deoria)	Diocese of Gorakhpur (Syro-Malabar) (erected)

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

Prefecture Apostolic of Gorakhpur

1950 4,451 12,100,000 .0% 7 16 23 193 24 30 9 ap1951

Prefecture Apostolic of Benares-Gorakhpur

Diocese of Banaras

1970 8,783 19,000,000 .0% 30 23 53 165 39 84 ap1971

Diocese of Varanasi

1980 10,862 22,888,800 .0% 30 33 63 172 75 284 ap1981

1990 11,962 13,914,932 .1% 50 34 84 142 101 341 32 ap1991

1999 14,427 17,353,775 .1% 66 43 109 132 84 399 34 ap2000

2000 14,304 17,353,775 .1% 62 46 108 132 84 388 35 ap2001

2001 14,978 17,353,775 .1% 65 41 106 141 92 382 35 ap2002

2002 15,101 18,628,614 .1% 69 53 122 123 110 429 36 ap2003

2003 15,659 21,626,916 .1% 69 55 124 126 125 451 36 ap2004

2004 16,169 18,650,517 .1% 73 51 124 130 147 464 36 ap2005

2010 18,259 20,328,000 .1% 101 50 151 120 116 457 43 ap2011

2014 18,390 26,185,330 .1% 108 52 160 114 145 454 44 ap2015

2017 19,739 27,218,980 .1% 101 57 158 124 170 477 44 ap2018

2020 21,390 25,659,300 .1% 109 64 173 123 89 451 45 ap2021

2022 21,132 25,381,937 .1% 99 58 157 134 74 462 45 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Gorakhpur
1950	4,451	12,100,000	.0%	7	16	23	193	24	30	9	ap1951
Prefecture Apostolic of Benares-Gorakhpur
Diocese of Banaras
1970	8,783	19,000,000	.0%	30	23	53	165	39	84		ap1971
Diocese of Varanasi
1980	10,862	22,888,800	.0%	30	33	63	172	75	284		ap1981
1990	11,962	13,914,932	.1%	50	34	84	142	101	341	32	ap1991
1999	14,427	17,353,775	.1%	66	43	109	132	84	399	34	ap2000
2000	14,304	17,353,775	.1%	62	46	108	132	84	388	35	ap2001
2001	14,978	17,353,775	.1%	65	41	106	141	92	382	35	ap2002
2002	15,101	18,628,614	.1%	69	53	122	123	110	429	36	ap2003
2003	15,659	21,626,916	.1%	69	55	124	126	125	451	36	ap2004
2004	16,169	18,650,517	.1%	73	51	124	130	147	464	36	ap2005
2010	18,259	20,328,000	.1%	101	50	151	120	116	457	43	ap2011
2014	18,390	26,185,330	.1%	108	52	160	114	145	454	44	ap2015
2017	19,739	27,218,980	.1%	101	57	158	124	170	477	44	ap2018
2020	21,390	25,659,300	.1%	109	64	173	123	89	451	45	ap2021
2022	21,132	25,381,937	.1%	99	58	157	134	74	462	45	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Eugene Joseph (Priest: 10 Apr 1985; Administrator: Dec 2013; Bishop: 30 May 2015 - )
Raphy Manjaly (Bishop: 24 Feb 2007 to 17 Oct 2013)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Patrick Paul D’Souza † (Bishop: 5 Jun 1970 to 24 Feb 2007)
Anthony Fernandes † (Priest: 2 Dec 1964 to 19 Jan 1989)
Jérôme (Joseph Emil) Malenfant, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 6 Jun 1947 to 1970)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Gorakhpur
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 39, Page 165, and Page 166
Prefecture Apostolic of Benares-Gorakhpur
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 50, Page 972
Diocese of Banaras
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 62, Page 819, and Page 820
Diocese of Varanasi
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 63, Page 581

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024
Code: web_d, v3.4.6, 4 Feb 2024; Data: 14 Apr 2024

✠

Diocese of Varanasi

Dioecesis Varanasiensis