Roman Catholic Diocese of Balasore
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Balasore (Latin: Balasoren(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Balasore in the Ecclesiastical province of Cuttack–Bhubaneswar in India.
Diocese of Balasore Dioecesis Balasorensis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  India |
| Ecclesiastical province | Cuttack–Bhubaneswar |
| Metropolitan | Cuttack–Bhubaneswar |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 25,118 km2 (9,698 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members) | (as of 2012) 8,974,200 23,643 (0.3%) |
| Parishes | 39 |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Cathedral | Christ the King Cathedral in Balasore |
| Patron saint | Christ the King |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Vacant |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | John Barwa |
| Bishops emeritus | Thomas Thiruthalil Bishop Emeritus (1989-2013) |
| Website | |
| Website of the Diocese | |
On Monday, December 9, 2013, Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral governance of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balasore, presented by Bishop Thomas Thiruthalil, CM, in accordance with Canon 401.1 of the Latin rite 1983 Code of Canon Law. Pope Francis appointed as Bishop-elect of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balasore, the Reverend Father Simon Kaipuram, C.M., who until then had been serving as Dean and Professor of Aquinas College of Gopalpur, India, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Berhampur (based in Berhampur, India).
HistoryEdit
- June 8, 1968: Established as the Apostolic Prefecture of Balasore from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta
- December 18, 1989: Promoted as Diocese of Balasore
LeadershipEdit
- Bishops of Balasore (Latin Rite)
- Bishop Simon Kaipuram, C.M. (December 9, 2013 – April 22, 2019)
- Bishop Thomas Thiruthalil, C.M. (December 18, 1989 – December 9, 2013)
- Father Jacob Vadakevetil, C.M. (Apostolic Administrator, June 14, 1968 – 1989)