Archdiocese of Bulawayo

---

Bishop(s) Vacant Ernst Heinrich Karlen, C.M.M., Archbishop Emeritus Pius Alick Mvundla Ncube, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Gweru Hwange Masvingo

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 10 June 1994 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Zimbabwe Square Kilometers: 66,956 (25,861 Square Miles) Official Web Site: http://www.bulawayoarchdiocese.org/ Mailing Address: P.O. Box 837, 9th Ave., Lobengula Street, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Telephone: (09)63.590 Fax: 60.359

Historical Details

• Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bulawayo
  • Latin Name: Bulauaiensis
  • Erected: 4 January 1931
  • Country: Zimbabwe

• Prefecture Apostolic of Bulawayo
  • Latin Name: Bulauaiensis
  • Elevated: 18 July 1932
  • Country: Zimbabwe

• Vicariate Apostolic of Bulawayo
  • Latin Name: Bulauaiensis
  • Elevated: 13 April 1937
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Zimbabwe

• Diocese of Bulawayo
  • Latin Name: Bulauaiensis
  • Elevated: 1 January 1955
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Harare
  • Country: Zimbabwe

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Giovanni Matteo Konings, O.S.Cr. † ( 1926 Appointed - 1929 Died)
• Ignatius Arnoz, M.H.M. † ( 1931 Appointed - 26 Feb 1950 Died)
• Adolph Gregory Schmitt, C.M.M. † (23 Dec 1950 Appointed - 9 May 1974 Resigned)
• Ernst Heinrich Karlen, C.M.M. (9 May 1974 Appointed - 24 Oct 1997 Retired)
• Pius Alick Mvundla Ncube (24 Oct 1997 Appointed - 11 Sep 2007 Resigned)

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bulawayo
4 January 1931	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Salisbury	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bulawayo (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Bulawayo
18 July 1932	Elevated	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bulawayo	Prefecture Apostolic of Bulawayo
Vicariate Apostolic of Bulawayo
13 April 1937	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Bulawayo	Vicariate Apostolic of Bulawayo
29 June 1953	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bulawayo Vicariate Apostolic of Salisbury	Prefecture Apostolic of Wankie (erected)
Diocese of Bulawayo
1 January 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Bulawayo	Diocese of Bulawayo
2 April 1959	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bulawayo Diocese of Kimberley Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek	Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland (erected)
Archdiocese of Bulawayo
10 June 1994	Elevated	Diocese of Bulawayo	Archdiocese of Bulawayo

---

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 Bulawayo
1950	13,654	370,000	3.7%	4	17	21	650		8	7	10	ap1951
Diocese of Bulawayo
1959	31,771	486,851	6.5%	1	39	40	794		54	177	6	ap1960
1970	60,544	668,500	9.1%	2	45	47	1,288		65	204	12	ap1971
1980	71,511	820,000	8.7%	7	30	37	1,932	9	45	141	25	ap1981
1990	95,630	1,247,643	7.7%	8	41	49	1,951	5	52	172	30	ap1991
Archdiocese of Bulawayo
1999	113,782	1,600,000	7.1%	16	44	60	1,896	10	56	167	31	ap2000
2000	107,515	1,648,000	6.5%	13	44	57	1,886	10	59	190	31	ap2001
2001	105,675	1,694,000	6.2%	20	41	61	1,732	10	54	174	34	ap2002
2002	108,332	1,745,000	6.2%	28	47	75	1,444	10	59	157	35	ap2003
2003	109,839	1,790,000	6.1%	26	42	68	1,615	10	70	143	38	ap2004
2004	111,957	1,830,000	6.1%	28	42	70	1,599	10	69	142	38	ap2005
2006	113,266	1,849,000	6.1%	27	32	59	1,919	20	44	140	38	ap2007

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

---

Affiliated Bishops

• Ignatius Arnoz, M.H.M. † (Superior: 1931; Prefect: 11 Nov 1932; Vicar Apostolic: 13 Apr 1937 to 26 Feb 1950)
• Ernst Heinrich Karlen, C.M.M. (Bishop: 9 May 1974; Archbishop: 10 Jun 1994 to 24 Oct 1997)
• Giovanni Matteo Konings, O.S.Cr. † (Prefect: 1926 to 1929)
• Pius Alick Mvundla Ncube (Priest: 26 Aug 1973; Archbishop: 24 Oct 1997 to 11 Sep 2007)
• Adolph Gregory Schmitt, C.M.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 23 Dec 1950; Bishop: 1 Jan 1955 to 9 May 1974)