Diocese of Chengdu

The Diocese of Chengdu (formerly spelt Chengtu) (Latin: Dioecesis Cemtuana; simplified Chinese: 天主教成都教区; traditional Chinese: 天主教成都教區) is a suffragan Latin Catholic diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Chongqing covering southwestern China's Sichuan area, yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Established on 15 October 1696 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Szechwan, its episcopal see is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as Ping'anqiao Church) located in the city of Chengdu. The Diocese of Chengdu is the first bishopric of the Catholic Church in Sichuan (Szechwan), since the separation of the mission's eastern territory in 1856, it was designated Western Szechwan Mission.

The diocese, based in Chengdu, covers 4 cities, namely, Chengdu (Tchen-tou-fou), Deyang (Te-yang-hien), Guangyuan (Koang-yuen-hien) and Mianyang (Mien-tcheou-hien), and 37 districts and counties, totaling an area of 54,900 square kilometers.^[1]

It is bordered by the Diocese of Kangding to the west, Diocese of Shunqing to the east, Diocese of Jiading to the south, Diocese of Qinzhou to the northwest, and Diocese of Hanzhong to the northeast.

No recent statistics available.

• Established on 15 October 1696 as Apostolic Vicariate of Szechwan (Vicariatus Apostolicus Seciuensis), on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Fokien
• Gained territories twice: in 1715 from the suppressed Apostolic Vicariate of Kweichow and in 1755 from the suppressed Apostolic Vicariate of Yunnan
• Lost territories repeatedly: on 28 August 1840 to re-establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Yunnan and on 27 March 1846 to re-establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Kweichow and establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Lhasa
• Renamed on 2 April 1856 as Apostolic Vicariate of Northwestern Szechwan (Vicariatus Apostolicus Seciuensis Septentrionalis-Occidentalis), having lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Szechwan)
• Lost more territory on 24 January 1860 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Szechwan
• Renamed again on 3 December 1924 after its see as Apostolic Vicariate of Chengtu (Vicariatus Apostolicus Cemtuanus; Tchen-tou-fou)
• Lost territory on 2 August 1929 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Shunkingfu (Choen-kin-fou)
• Promoted on 11 April 1946 as Diocese of Chengtu (Dioecesis Cemtuana)^[2]

One of the headquarters of the Spanish Redemptorist missions in Sichuan was based in the Apostolic Vicariate of Chengtu.^[3]

All Roman Rite; so far, like other members of Latin congregations, it has ministered by European missionaries for most of its history.^[2]

Apostolic Vicars of Szechwan

• Artus de Lionne (Paris Foreign Missions Society, abbreviated M.E.P.) (born in France) (30 November 1700 - death 2 August 1713) - never resident in diocese; Titular Bishop of Rosalia (1687年02月05日 – 1713年08月02日), initially as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Szechwan (1687年02月05日 – 1696年10月20日)
• Johannes Müllener  [ru] (Lazarists, abbreviated C.M.) (born in the Duchies of Bremen and Verden, present-day Germany) (8 December 1716 - death 17 December 1742), Titular Bishop of Myriophytos (1715年09月02日 – 1742年12月17日)
• Luigi Maria Maggi, gallicized as Louis Marie Maggi (Dominican Order, abbreviated O.P.) (born in Italy) (December 17, 1742 - August 20, 1743), Titular Bishop of Baris in Hellesponto (1738年10月08日 – 1743年08月20日), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Szechwan (1738年10月08日 – 1742年12月17日)
• Joachim-Enjobert de Martiliat, M.E.P. (born in France) (August 20, 1743 - death 24 August 1755), Titular Bishop of Echinus (1739年10月02日 – 1755年08月24日), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Yunnan (1739年10月02日 – 1743年08月20日)
• Pierre-Jean Kerhervé, M.E.P. (born in France) (1762年07月27日 – death 1766年01月22日 not possessed), Titular Bishop of Gortyna (1762年07月27日 – 1766年01月22日)
• François Pottier  [fr], M.E.P. (born in France) (24 January 1767 – death 28 September 1792), Titular Bishop of Agathopolis (1767年01月24日 – 1792年09月28日)
• Saint Gabriel-Taurin Dufresse, M.E.P. (born in France) (15 November 1801 – death 14 September 1815), Titular Bishop of Tabraca (1798年07月24日 – 1815年09月14日), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Szechwan (1798年07月24日 – 1801年11月15日)
• Giacomo Luigi Fontana  [zh], gallicized as Jacques Louis Fontana, M.E.P. (born in the Kingdom of Sardinia, present-day Italy) (July 1817 – 11 July 1838), Titular Bishop of Sinita (1817年05月24日 – 1838年07月11日), later Apostolic Vicar of Hupeh and Hunan (central China) (1838 – death 1838年07月11日)
• Jacques-Léonard Pérocheau, M.E.P. (born in France) (11 July 1838 – 2 April 1856 see below), Titular Bishop of Maxula (1817年09月30日 – 1861年05月06日), initially as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Szechwan (1817年09月30日 – 1838年07月11日)

Apostolic Vicars of Northwestern Szechwan

• Jacques-Léonard Pérocheau, M.E.P. (see above 2 April 1856 – death 6 May 1861)
• Annet-Théophile Pinchon  [fr], M.E.P. (born in France) (6 May 1861 – death 26 October 1891), Titular Bishop of Polemonium  [it] (1859年04月23日 – 1891年10月26日), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Northwestern Szechwan (1859年04月23日 – 1861年05月06日)
• Marie-Julien Dunand, M.E.P. (born in France) (21 April 1893 – death 4 August 1915), Titular Bishop of Calœ (1893年08月21日 – 1915年08月04日)
• Jacques-Victor-Marius Rouchouse, M.E.P. (born in France) (28 January 1916 – 3 December 1924 see below), Titular Bishop of Ægeæ (1916年01月28日 – 1946年04月11日)

Apostolic Vicar of Chengtu

• Jacques-Victor-Marius Rouchouse, M.E.P. (see above 3 December 1924 – 11 April 1946 see below)

Suffragan Bishops of Chengtu

• Jacques-Victor-Marius Rouchouse, M.E.P. (see above 11 April 1946 – death 20 December 1948)
• Henri-Marie-Ernest-Désiré Pinault, M.E.P. (14 July 1949 – retired 1983), died 1987

Suffragan Bishops of Chengdu

• John Li Xiting  [no] (first Chinese native incumbent) (1958 – death 1989年05月28日) - no papal mandate
• Michael Liu Xianru  [no] (1992 – death 1998年10月25日) - no papal mandate
• Joseph Tang Yuange (2015.12 [2016年11月30日] – ...)

• Catholic Church in Mianyang
• Anglican Diocese of Szechwan
• Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Mianyang
• List of Catholic dioceses in China

• "Diocese of Chengdu — with Google satellite photo, data for all sections". gcatholic.org. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
• "Diocese of Chengdu [Chengtu]". catholic-hierarchy.org . Retrieved 25 October 2023.
• Zehnder, Christopher (1998). "Give Me Jesus: The Story of a Missionary Priest (an account of a priest who worked within the Diocese of Chengdu)". losangelesmission.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2023.

30°39′59′′N 104°03′34′′E / 30.66638°N 104.05935°E / 30.66638; 104.05935

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