Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara {Sahara Occiental}

---

Bishop(s) Mario León Dorado, O.M.I., Prefect

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Prefecture Apostolic Name Changed: 2 May 1976 Prefecture Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Western Sahara Square Kilometers: 266,000 (102,742 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Eglise Catholique de Laayoune, B.P. 31, 70000 Laayoune, Sahara Occidental Telephone: (0808)55.26.56

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni}
  • Latin Name: de Sahara Hispanico et Ifni
  • Erected: 5 July 1954
  • Country: Western Sahara

• Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}
  • Latin Name: de Sahara Hispanico
  • Name Changed: 2 May 1970
  • Country: Western Sahara

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Félix Erviti Barcelona, O.M.I. † (19 Jul 1954 Appointed - 6 Jul 1994 Retired)
• Acacio Valbuena Rodríguez, O.M.I. † (10 Jul 1994 Appointed - 25 Feb 2009 Retired)
• Mario León Dorado, O.M.I. (24 Jun 2013 Appointed - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni}
5 July 1954	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Ghardaïa nel Sahara (Sahara (subject to the Spaniards)) Vicariate Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos (Ifni)	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni} (erected)
2 May 1970	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni} (Ifni)	Archdiocese of Rabat
Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}
2 May 1970	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni}	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}
Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara {Sahara Occiental}
2 May 1976	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}	Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara {Sahara Occiental}

---

Statistics

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 Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}
1969	22,512	70,000	32.2%		11	11	2,046		13	31	5	ap1971
Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara {Sahara Occiental}
1978	365	151,000	.2%		3	3	121		3		2	ap1981
1990	75	200,000	.0%		5	5	15		5		2	ap1991
1999	160	350,260	.0%		3	3	53		3		2	ap2000
2000	150	350,250	.0%		2	2	75		2		2	ap2001
2001	150	350,000	.0%		3	3	50		3		2	ap2002
2002	100	400,000	.0%		3	3	33		3		2	ap2003
2003	120	400,000	.0%		3	3	40		3		2	ap2004
2004	110	400,000	.0%		3	3	36		3		2	ap2005
2010	120	800,265	.0%		3	3	40		3		2	ap2011
2014	260	930,000	.0%		2	2	130		2		2	ap2015
2017	350	1,030,700	.0%		2	2	175		2		2	ap2018
2020	350	1,075,350	.0%		4	4	87		4		2	ap2021
2022	340	1,027,200	.0%		4	4	85		5		2	ap2023

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

---

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Mario León Dorado, O.M.I. (Prefect: 24 Jun 2013)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Félix Erviti Barcelona, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 19 Jul 1954 to 6 Jul 1994)
• Acacio Valbuena Rodríguez, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 10 Jul 1994 to 25 Feb 2009)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni} Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 694, and Page 695 Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español} Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 62, Page 551, and Page 552

Home | Countries | Religious Orders | Popes | Holy See | Roman Curia | Cardinals by Rank Bishops: All | Living | Deceased | Youngest | Oldest | Cardinal Electors Dioceses: All | Current Only | Titular | Vacant | Structured View Events: Overview | Recent | by Date | by Year | Necrology Ad Limina | Conclaves | Consistories | Councils Eastern Catholic Churches
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

✠