Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju

Roman Catholic archdiocese in South Korea

Archdiocese of Gwangju

Archidioecesis Kvangiuensis

광주대교구

Coat of arms

Location
Country|  South Korea
Territory| Gwangju, South Jeolla
Ecclesiastical province| Gwangju
Statistics
Area| 12,596 km2 (4,863 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics| (as of 2017)
3,360,194
365,649 (10.8%)
Parishes| 139
Information
Denomination| Catholic
Sui iuris church| Latin Church
Rite| Roman Rite
Established| April 13, 1937
(as Apostolic prefecture)
March 10, 1962
(as Archdiocese)
Cathedral| Im-dong Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Co-cathedral| Buk-dong Cathedral
Patron saint| Anselm of Canterbury
Current leadership
Pope| Francis
Archbishop| Simon Ok Hyun-jin
Bishops emeritus| Andreas Choi Chang-mou
Victorinus Youn Kong-hi
Hyginus Kim Hee-jong
Map
Website
gjcatholic.or.kr

The Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju (Latin: Archidioecesis Kvangiuensis, Hangul: 천주교 광주대교구) is a particular church of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, one of the three Metropolitan sees of the Catholic Church in Korea. The Archdiocese covers the city of Gwangju and entire South Jeolla Province.

## History[edit]

On 13 April 1937 Pope Pius XI established the Prefecture Apostolic of Kwoszu. Pope Pius XII changed its name to the Prefecture Apostolic of Kwangju on 12 July 1950. It was elevated to a Vicariate Apostolic on 21 January 1957. Pope John XXIII elevated the vicariate to an archdiocese on 10 March 1962.[1][2]

## Leadership[edit]

### Ordinaries[edit]

#### Apostolic Prefects of Kwangju[edit]

* Owen McPolin (1937–1942)
* Thomas Asagoro Wakida (1942–1945)
* Owen McPolin (1945–1947)
* Patrick Thomas Brennan (1949–1950)
* Harold William Henry (1954–1957)

#### Apostolic Vicars of Kwangju[edit]

* Harold William Henry (1957–1962)

#### Archbishops of Gwangju[edit]

* Harold William Henry (1962–1971), appointed Apostolic Administrator of Cheju
* Peter Han Kong-ryel (1971–1973)
* Victorinus Youn Kong-hi (1973–2000)
* Andreas Choi Chang-mou (2000–2010)
* Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (2010–2022)
* Simon Ok Hyun-jin (2022–present)[3]

### Coadjutor Archbishops[edit]

* Andreas Choi Chang-mou (1999–2000)
* Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (2009–2010)

### Auxiliary Bishops[edit]

* Andreas Choi Chang-mou (1994–1999)
* Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (2003–2009)
* Simon Ok Hyun-jin (2011–2022)[4]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Archdiocese of Kwangju". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
2. ^ "Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gwangju 광주". Giga Catholic. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
3. ^ Cho Hyun (2022-11-20). "천주교 광주대교구장에 옥현진 임명…대주교로 승품" (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
4. ^ Catholic Hierarchy: "Bishop Simon Ok Hyun-jjn" retrieved November 7, 2015

## External links[edit]

* Archdiocese of Gwangju

* v
* t
* e

Catholic dioceses in Korea

Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea

Province of Gwangju|

* Archdiocese of Gwangju
* Diocese of Jeju
* Diocese of Jeonju

Province of Seoul|

* Archdiocese of Seoul
* Diocese of Chunchon
* Diocese of Daejeon
* Diocese of Hamhŭng
* Diocese of Incheon
* Diocese of P’yŏngyang
* Diocese of Suwon
* Diocese of Uijeongbu
* Diocese of Wonju

Province of Daegu|

* Archdiocese of Daegu
* Diocese of Andong
* Diocese of Cheongju
* Diocese of Masan
* Diocese of Busan

Others|

* Military Ordinariate of Korea (South Korea)
* Territorial Abbey of Tŏkwon

* Catholicism portal
* Apostolic Nunciature
* Catholic Church in North Korea
* Catholic Church in South Korea

35°09′00″N 126°54′00″E﻿ / ﻿35.1500°N 126.9000°E﻿ / 35.1500; 126.9000
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template