Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi explained

Jurisdiction:	Diocese
Varanasi
Latin:	Dioecesis Varanasiensis
Local:	वाराणसी के सूबा
Country:	India
Metropolitan:	Agra
Province:	Agra
Rite:	Latin Rite
Cathedral:	St Mary's Cathedral in Varanasi
Area Km2:	21,395
Population:	20,328,000
Population As Of:	2010
Catholics:	18,259
Catholics Percent:	0.1
Bishop:	Eugene Joseph
Metro Archbishop:	Albert D'Souza
Emeritus Bishops:	Patrick Paul D'Souza
Website:	Website of the Diocese
Map:	Map of Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi.png

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi (Latin: Varanasien[sis]) is a Latin suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Agra in northern India's vast state Uttar Pradesh. Its cathedral episcopal see is St. Mary's Cathedral in the city of Varanasi.

History

Established on 11 July 1946 as Apostolic Prefecture of Gorakhpur, on territory split off from the Diocese of Allahabad, exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See
17 September 1958: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Benares-Gorakhpur
Promoted on 5 June 1970 as Diocese of Banaras (Benares), losing its exempt status by becoming a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agra
14 May 1971: Renamed as Diocese of Varanasi (as the city had changed its name).

(all Latin, Roman Rite)

Father Joseph Emil Malenfant, OFMCap (6 June 1947 – 17 September 1958 see below)

Patrick Paul D'Souza (see above 14 May 1971 – 24 February 2007), Vice-President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (1996 – 1998)
Raphy Manjaly (24 February 2007 – 2013.10.17), later Bishop of Allahabad (India, in the same province) (2013.10.17 – ...)
Eugene Joseph (2015.05.30 – ...)