Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nanking
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic
Metropolitan
Archdiocese
of Nanking
is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church
in China
. It was erected as the Apostolic Vicariate
of Nanking in 1659 by Pope Alexander VII
, and promoted to a diocese by Pope Alexander VIII
on April 10, 1690. However, the diocese was demoted to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kiangnan
on January 21, 1856 by Pope Pius IX
, and its name was later changed to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kiangsu on August 8, 1921 and to the Vicariate Apostolic of Nanking on May 1, 1922. Pope Pius XII
elevated it on April 11, 1946 to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese
, with the suffragan sees
of Haimen, Shanghai
, Suzhou, and Xuzhou.
The archdiocese's motherchurch
and thus seat of its archbishop is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
also known as the Shigu Road church. There were a number of years without a bishop after the death of Paul Cardinal Yü Pin
on August 16, 1978, because of the irregular relations between the Communist government
and the Holy See
. On January 6, 2000, Francis Xavier Lu Xinping was ordained the new bishop of Nanjing along with four others in an illicit ceremony in Beijing's South Cathedral. Since then he has been reconciled to the Holy See.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
Archdiocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Nanking
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It was erected as the Apostolic Vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
of Nanking in 1659 by Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII , born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from 7 April 1655, until his death.- Early life :Born in Siena, a member of the illustrious banking family of Chigi and a great-nephew of Pope Paul V , he was privately tutored and eventually received doctorates of philosophy, law, and theology from...
, and promoted to a diocese by Pope Alexander VIII
Pope Alexander VIII
Pope Alexander VIII , born Pietro Vito Ottoboni, was Pope from 1689 to 1691.-Early life:Pietro Ottoboni was born of a noble Venetian family, and was the son of Marco Ottoboni, chancellor of the Republic of Venice...
on April 10, 1690. However, the diocese was demoted to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kiangnan
Vicariate Apostolic of Kiang-nan
The Roman Catholic Vicariate Apostolic of Kiang-nan was a missionary jurisdiction in mainland China, comprising the two imperial provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui, often referred to as Jiangnan .-History:...
on January 21, 1856 by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
, and its name was later changed to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kiangsu on August 8, 1921 and to the Vicariate Apostolic of Nanking on May 1, 1922. Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
elevated it on April 11, 1946 to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
, with the suffragan sees
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
of Haimen, Shanghai
Roman Catholic Diocese of Shanghai
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Shanghai is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in China. It was erected on December 13, 1933 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Shanghai by Pope Pius XI, and was later elevated to the rank of a diocese on April 11, 1946 by Pope Pius XII...
, Suzhou, and Xuzhou.
The archdiocese's motherchurch
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
and thus seat of its archbishop is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Nanjing
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Nanjing , also known as Shigu Road Cathedral to the locals, is a historical Roman Catholic Church located at 112 Shigu Road in Nanjing, China. First built in 1870 during the Qing dynasty, it was later severely damaged during the Northern Expedition War...
also known as the Shigu Road church. There were a number of years without a bishop after the death of Paul Cardinal Yü Pin
Paul Yü Pin
Paul Yü Pin was a Chinese cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Nanking from 1946 until his death, having previously served as its Apostolic Vicar, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1969.-Biography:Paul Yü Pin was born in Hai-lun, Kirin, to Shuayuan Yu Pin and...
on August 16, 1978, because of the irregular relations between the Communist government
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. On January 6, 2000, Francis Xavier Lu Xinping was ordained the new bishop of Nanjing along with four others in an illicit ceremony in Beijing's South Cathedral. Since then he has been reconciled to the Holy See.
List of Ordinaries of Nanking
- Ignace CotolendiIgnace CotolendiIgnace Cotolendi was a French bishop. He was a founding member of the Paris Foreign Missions Society and became a missionnary in Asia.-Life:...
(1660–1662) - Gregory Luo Wen-zaoLuo WenzaoLuo Wenzao became the first Chinese priest in 1656 and the first Chinese Bishop in 1685. He was also known as George Lopez in the Philippines....
, OPDominican OrderThe Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
(1674–1691) - Cayetano Pires Pireira, CMLazaristsCongregation of the Mission is a vowed order of priests and brothers associated with the Vincentian Family, a loose federation of organizations who claim St. Vincent de Paul as their founder or Patron...
(1804–1838) - André-Pierre Borgniet, SJSociety of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(1859–1862) - Adrien-Hyppolyte Languillat, SJSociety of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(1864–1878) - Valentin Garnier, SJSociety of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(1879–1898) - Jean-Baptiste Simon, SJSociety of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(1899) - Próspero ParísPróspero ParísPróspero París, SJ was a French prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who served as Apostolic Vicar of Nanking from 1900 until his death....
, SJSociety of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(1900–1931) - Auguste HaouiséeAuguste HaouiséeAuguste Haouissée, SJ was a French prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who served as Bishop of Shanghai from 1946 until his death, having previously served as its Apostolic Vicar....
, SJSociety of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(1931–1933) - Paul Yü PinPaul Yü PinPaul Yü Pin was a Chinese cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Nanking from 1946 until his death, having previously served as its Apostolic Vicar, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1969.-Biography:Paul Yü Pin was born in Hai-lun, Kirin, to Shuayuan Yu Pin and...
(1936–1978) - Francis Xavier Lu Xinping (2000–present)
See also
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in NanjingCathedral of the Immaculate Conception in NanjingThe Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Nanjing , also known as Shigu Road Cathedral to the locals, is a historical Roman Catholic Church located at 112 Shigu Road in Nanjing, China. First built in 1870 during the Qing dynasty, it was later severely damaged during the Northern Expedition War...
- Christianity in ChinaChristianity in ChinaChristianity in China is a growing minority religion that comprises Protestants , Catholics , and a small number of Orthodox Christians. Although its lineage in China is not as ancient as the institutional religions of Taoism and Mahayana Buddhism, and the social system and ideology of...
- Roman Catholicism in ChinaRoman Catholicism in ChinaRoman Catholicism in China has a long and complicated history...
- Chinese Patriotic Catholic AssociationChinese Patriotic Catholic AssociationThe Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association , abbreviated CPA, CPCA, or CCPA, is an association of people, established in 1957 by the People's Republic of China's Religious Affairs Bureau to exercise state supervision over mainland China's Catholics...
- List of Catholic cathedrals in China
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses in China
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses (structured view)-Episcopal Conference of China