Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamhung explained

Jurisdiction:Diocese
Hamhung
Latin:Dioecesis Hameungensis
Local:함흥 교구
Metropolitan:Seoul
Province:Seoul
Area Km2:49,375
Catholics:unknown
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Rite:Roman Rite
Established:August 5, 1920
Cathedral:Destroyed in Korean War
Bishop:Sede vacante
Metro Archbishop:Andrew Yeom Soo-jung
Apostolic Admin:Simon Kim Ju-young
Map:Diocese of Hamhung.svg

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamhung is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church in North Korea.

Originally erected as the Apostolic Vicariate of Wonsan in 1920, the name has been changed twice, once to Kankoensis o Hameungensis in 1940, and finally, as the Apostolic Vicariate of Hamhung in 1950. Like the Diocese of Pyongyang, the Vicariate was elevated to a full diocese in 1962. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Seoul.

Persecutions

In 1949, 166 priests and religious were martyred in the Communist revolution of Kim Il Sung. This left the diocese bereft of priests. Bishop Boniface Sauer, the abbot of Tokwon Abbey, had died in 1950, and no bishop had been re-appointed to the diocese. Finally, in 1962, Timotheus (Franz Xaver) Bitterli, was appointed in absentia as the bishop of the diocese, and was the apostolic administrator for 20 years until his resignation in 1981. Since then, the diocese has remained vacant, and it will likely remain so as long as the persecution of Christians in North Korea continues.

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Hamheung

Bishops of Hamhung

See also

External links

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