Roman Catholic Diocese of Eshowe

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Eshowe (Latin: Eshoven(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Eshowe in the ecclesiastical province of Durban in South Africa.

Diocese of Eshowe Dioecesis Eshovensis
Location
Country	South Africa
Metropolitan	Durban
Statistics
Area	26,364 km2 (10,179 sq mi)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2004) 2,200,600 81,000 (3.7%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Bishop	Wilfrid Napier

History

• 27 August 1921: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Zululand from the Apostolic Vicariate of Natal
• 11 December 1923: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Eshowe
• 11 January 1951: Promoted as Diocese of Eshowe

Special churches

The Cathedral is the Cathedral of St. Benedict's Cathedral in Eshowe. The Diocese have 4 Deaneries, they are all made up to the total number of 34 parishes.

Leadership

• Prefect Apostolic of Zululand (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Thomas Spreiter, O.S.B. (1921-08-27 – 1923-12-11 see below)
• Vicars Apostolic of Eshowe (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Thomas Spreiter, O.S.B. (see above 1923-12-11 – 1943-05-14)
  • Bishop Aurelian Bilgeri, O.S.B. (1947-06-12 – 1951-01-11 see below)
• Bishops of Eshowe (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Aurelian Bilgeri, O.S.B. (see above 1951-01-11 – 1973-07-24)
  • Bishop Mansuet Dela Biyase (1975-02-28 – 2005-06-26)
  • Bishop Thaddaeus Kumalo (2008-03-11-2020)
  • Archbishop Wilfrid Napier (since 2021)

See also

• Roman Catholicism in South Africa