Roman Catholicism in Western Sahara
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Church in Western Sahara is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church
, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
and curia
in Rome
.
Western Sahara
is one of the least-Catholic countries in the world; the church is largely composed of little more than 100 expatriate
Spaniards
out of a population of over 250,000. There are no dioceses in the country, which forms a single apostolic prefect
ure, originally administered by the Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni (founded July 5, 1954), later the Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara (founded May 2, 1970.) The latter was renamed the Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara on May 2, 1976 and this is presently divided among two parish
es. Only two bishops have overseen the territory: Father Félix Erviti Barcelona
, from July 19, 1954 until his retirement on July 6, 1994, and Father Acacio Valbuena Rodríguez
from July 10, 1994 until his retirement in 2009.
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony
, and the Catholic faith was introduced via Spanish colonialism
and prior Portuguese exploration
. Prior to Spain's abandoning the country
in 1975, there were over 20,000 Spanish Catholics who left the country on General Franco
's orders.
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...
, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
and curia
Curia
A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
is one of the least-Catholic countries in the world; the church is largely composed of little more than 100 expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
Spaniards
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
out of a population of over 250,000. There are no dioceses in the country, which forms a single apostolic prefect
Apostolic prefect
An apostolic prefect is a priest who heads what is known as an apostolic prefecture, a missionary area where the Catholic Church is not yet sufficiently developed to have it made a diocese....
ure, originally administered by the Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni (founded July 5, 1954), later the Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara (founded May 2, 1970.) The latter was renamed the Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara on May 2, 1976 and this is presently divided among two parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es. Only two bishops have overseen the territory: Father Félix Erviti Barcelona
Félix Erviti Barcelona
Félix Erviti Barcelona was a Spanish Roman Catholic priest, in the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He was ordained as priest on February 19, 1933. In 1954 he was appointed apostolic prefect of Spanish Sahara and Ifni. He served as the apostolic prefect of Western Sahara until 1994, when he was...
, from July 19, 1954 until his retirement on July 6, 1994, and Father Acacio Valbuena Rodríguez
Acacio Valbuena Rodríguez
Fr. Acacio Valbuena Rodríguez was the Roman Catholic Prefect for Western Sahara. He was a priest in the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Fr. Rodríguez had an audience with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on 8 June 2007. Fr. Rodríguez has also attended the Assembly of the Conference of Bishops of North...
from July 10, 1994 until his retirement in 2009.
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
, and the Catholic faith was introduced via Spanish colonialism
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
and prior Portuguese exploration
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
. Prior to Spain's abandoning the country
History of Western Sahara
The history of Western Sahara can be traced back to the times of Carthaginian explorer Hanno the Navigator in the 5th century BC. Though few historical records are left from that period, Western Sahara's modern history has its roots linked to some nomadic groups such as the Sanhaja group and the...
in 1975, there were over 20,000 Spanish Catholics who left the country on General Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's orders.