Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Luxembourg

Archdiocese of Luxembourg
Archidioecesis Luxemburgensis
Erzdiözees Lëtzebuerg
Archidiocèse de Luxembourg
Erzdiözese Luxemburg

Location
Country Luxembourg
Territory Entire country
Metropolitan Direct subject to Holy See
Statistics
Area 2,586 km2 (998 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		 (as of 2013)
537,000
411,000 (76.5%)
Information
Rite Latin Rite
Established 1833
Cathedral Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Metropolitan Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich
Emeritus Bishops Fernand Franck, Archbishop Emeritus (1991-2011)

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Luxembourg (Latin: Archidioecesis Luxemburgensis) is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, comprising the entire Grand Duchy. The seat of the Archdiocese is the Cathedral of Notre Dame in the city of Luxembourg, and since 2011 the Archbishop is Jean-Claude Hollerich.

History

Before the French Revolution, the southern part of the territory of what is now the archdiocese belonged to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trier (then an archbishopric) and the northern part to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Liège. After the 1815 Congress of Vienna, which raised Luxembourg to the rank of Grand Duchy in personal union with the crown of the Netherlands, Pope Pius VII attached the territory to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Namur.[1]

From 25 December 1833 the area was entrusted to a priest, acting as apostolic prefect, who became its first apostolic vicar,[2] when on 2 June 1840 the territory became an apostolic vicariate, a jurisdiction normally headed by a titular bishop. It became a fully fledged diocese on 27 December 1870, without being incorporated into any ecclesiastical province. On 23 April 1988, it was raised to the rank of archdiocese.[1]

The current Archbishop of Luxembourg, since 12 July 2011, is Jean-Claude Hollerich[3]

Situation

The archdiocese is not a metropolitan see, having no suffragans.

At the end of 2010, the archdiocese estimated its membership at 396,500, out of a total population of 502,000, and reported that it had 275 parishes, 151 diocesan priests, 56 religious priests, 6 permanent deacons, 70 religious brothers and 566 religious sisters.[4] However, the numbers of Catholics actually attending Mass is on the decline, as reflected by amalgamations of parishes and deconsecrations of churches.

Currently under discussion is the disestablishment of the Church in Luxembourg, whereby the State would cease to hold financial responsibility for the Church.

A 1996 survey (not a census) reported Catholics 88%, including the royal family; Protestants and similar 1%; other religions 1%; no religion 9%; no reply 1%.[1]

Ordinaries

Jean-Claude Hollerich, current Archbishop of Luxembourg.

Apostolic Vicars

Bishops

Archbishops

References

  1. 1 2 3 Histoire de l’Archevêché de Luxembourg
  2. ↑ Johann Theodor van der Noot
  3. ↑ http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/27815.php?index=27815&lang=en
  4. ↑ Annuario Pontificio 2012 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2012 ISBN 978-88-209-8722-0), p. 423

Coordinates: 49°36′34″N 6°07′52″E / 49.6094°N 6.1311°E / 49.6094; 6.1311

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