Roman Catholic Diocese of Bethlehem in South Africa

Diocese of Bethlehem Dioecesis Bethlehemensis
Location
Country	South Africa
Ecclesiastical province	Bloemfontein
Statistics
Area	34,965 km2 (13,500 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members)	(as of 2006) 946,000 77,600 (8.2%)
Information
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Jan de Groef
Bishops emeritus	Hubert Bucher

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bethlehem (Latin: Bethlehemen(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Bethlehem in the Ecclesiastical province of Bloemfontein in South Africa.

History

• February 12, 1948: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Bethlehem from the Apostolic Vicariate of Kroonstad
• January 11, 1951: Promoted as Diocese of Bethlehem

Special churches

The Cathedral is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Bethlehem.

Bishops

• Vicars Apostolic of Bethlehem (Latin Church)
  • Léon Klerlein (1948.02.12 – 1950.05.22)
  • Peter Kelleter (1950.03.12 – 1951.01.11 see below)
• Bishops of Bethlehem (Latin Church)
  • Peter Kelleter (see above 1951.01.11 – 1975.07.05)
  • Hubert Bucher (1976.12.09 - 2008.12.31)
  • Jan de Groef (since 2008.12.31)

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

• Xolelo Thaddaeus Kumalo, appointed Bishop of Eshowe in 2008

See also

• Roman Catholicism in South Africa

External links

• GCatholic.org ^{[self-published]}
• Catholic Hierarchy ^{[self-published]}