Apostolic Exarchate of Argentina (Melkite Greek) | |
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Location | |
Country | Argentina |
Statistics | |
Population - Catholics | (as of 2009) 3000 |
Parishes | 3 |
Information | |
Denomination | Melkite Greek Catholic Church |
Rite | Byzantine Rite |
Established | 21 March 2002 |
Cathedral | Saint George Cathedral |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Patriarch | Youssef Absi |
Apostolic Exarch | Ibrahim Salameh |
Melkite Greek Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Argentina is an Apostolic Exarchate (missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction) of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church covering all of Argentina for its Byzantine Rite.
It is immediately subject to the Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch. It is currently governed by Bishop Ibrahim Salameh, SMSP.
Apostolic Exarchate to the Melkites has jurisdiction over all the faithful of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Argentina. Its cathedral episcopal see is the Cathedral of Saint George in the city of Córdoba, Argentina. In 2010 there were 3000 baptized.
The territory is divided into three parishes:
In the late of the 19th century began the first Melkite Christians' immigration to Argentina. Two major waves of immigration took place between 1910 and 1930 and from 1949 to 1950. The majority of immigrants came from Lebanon and Syria and settled mostly in Rosario, Buenos Aires and Córdoba.
The Apostolic Exarchate was erected on 21 March 2002 with the papal bull Quandoquidem saeculorum[1] of Pope John Paul II.