Benghazi (Vicariate Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Sandro Overend Rigillo, O.F.M., Vicar Apostolic

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic
Name Changed: 22 June 1939
Vicariate
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Libya
Square Kilometers: 757,000 (292,391 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Maria Immacolata Catholic Church, Shara Omar Ibn El-Khattab, Benghazi, Libya
Telephone: (061)90.81.599

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

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Cirenaica
3 February 1927	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Libia (Cyrenaica)	Vicariate Apostolic of Cirenaica (erected)
22 June 1939	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Cirenaica (Derna)	Vicariate Apostolic of Derna (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Benghazi
22 June 1939	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Cirenaica	Vicariate Apostolic of Benghazi

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

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	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

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

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)

Vicariate Apostolic of Cirenaica
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 89, and Page 90
Vicariate Apostolic of Benghazi
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 31, Page 400

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

✠

Vicariate Apostolic of Benghazi

Vicariatus Apostolicus Berenicensis