Roman Catholic Diocese of Vijayawada

Diocese of Vijayawada Dioecesis Viiayavadanus విజయవాడ డియోసెస్
Location
Country	India
Ecclesiastical province	Visakhapatnam
Metropolitan	Visakhapatnam
Statistics
Area	8,734 km2 (3,372 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2010) 5,038,000 277,673 (5.5%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Cathedral	St Paul’s Cathedral in Vijayawada
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Thelagathoti J. Raja Rao, S.M.M.
Metropolitan Archbishop	Prakash Mallavarapu

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Vijayawada (Template:Lang-la) is a diocese located in the city of Vijayawada in the Ecclesiastical province of Visakhapatnam in India.

History

• January 10, 1933: Established as Mission “sui iuris” of Bezwada from the Diocese of Hyderabad
• April 13, 1937: Promoted as Diocese of Bezwada
• October 21, 1950: Renamed as Diocese of Vijayawada

Leadership

• Bishops of Vijayawada (Latin Rite)
  • Bishop Thelagathoti J. Raja Rao, S.M.M. (February 2, 2016 - Present)
  • Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu (July 26, 2002 – July 3, 2012); named Metropolitan Archbishop of Visakhapatnam
  • Bishop Marampudi Joji (later Archbishop) (November 8, 1996 – January 29, 2000)
  • Bishop Joseph S. Thumma (January 23, 1971 – November 8, 1996)
  • Bishop Ambrose De Battista, P.I.M.E. (December 13, 1951 – January 23, 1971)

References

• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy