Roman Catholic Diocese of Bethlehem in South Africa

Diocese of Bethlehem Dioecesis Bethlehemensis
Location
Country	South Africa
Metropolitan	Bloemfontein
Statistics
Area	34,965 km2 (13,500 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2006) 946,000 77,600 (8.2%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Jan de Groef, M. Afr.

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.

Leadership

• Bishops of Bethlehem (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Jan de Groef, M. Afr. (since 2008.12.31)
  • Bishop Hubert Bucher (1976.12.09 - 2008.12.31)
  • Bishop Peter Kelleter, C.S.Sp. (1951.01.11 – 1975.07.05)
• Vicars Apostolic of Bethlehem (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Peter Kelleter, C.S.Sp. (1950.03.12 – 1951.01.11)
  • Bishop Léon Klerlein, C.S.Sp. (1948.02.12 – 1950.05.22)

See also

• Roman Catholicism in South Africa

References

External links

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

Coordinates: 28°14′00″S 28°18′00″E / 28.2333°S 28.3000°E / -28.2333; 28.3000