The Diocese of Suifu (; ), also known as Diocese of Yibin, is a Latin Catholic diocese located in the city of Yibin (formerly known as Suifu) in the ecclesiastical province of Chongqing in western China. It was established on January 24, 1860 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Szechwan for the Mission of Sichuan (Szechwan). The area lies in the southern part of the mission territory, hence the designation of Southern Szechwan Mission.
Territory The Diocese of Suifu covers Luzhou (), Neijiang (), Yibin () and Zigong (), totaling approximately 50,000 square kilometers. It is bordered by the Diocese of Jiading and Diocese of Ningyuan to the west, Archdiocese of Chongqing to the east, Diocese of Shunqing to the north, and Archdiocese of Kunming and Archdiocese of Guiyang to the south.
History
January 24, 1860: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Szechwan () from the Apostolic Vicariate of Northwestern Szechwan December 3, 1924: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Suifu (; ) April 11, 1946: Promoted as Diocese of Suifu ()
Bishops Vicars Apostolic of Southern Szechwan
, M.E.P. (January 24, 1860 – March 12, 1871) Jules Lepley, M.E.P. (December 22, 1871 – March 6, 1886) Marc Chatagnon, M.E.P. (January 25, 1887 – November 26, 1920)
Vicars Apostolic of Suifu Jean-Pierre-Marie Fayolle, M.E.P. (November 26, 1920 – October 19, 1931) Louis-Nestor Renault, M.E.P. (October 19, 1931 – October 28, 1943) , M.E.P. (January 10, 1946 – April 11, 1946)
Bishops of Suifu René-Désiré-Romain Boisguérin, M.E.P. (April 11, 1946 – February 13, 1983) John Chen Shi-zhong (1985 – 2012) Peter Luo Xuegang (December 16, 2012 – present)
See also Anglican Diocese of Szechwan
References