Manzini (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

José Luís Gerardo Ponce de León, I.M.C., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 7 November 1961
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Johannesburg
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: eSwatini
Square Kilometers: 17,000 (6,566 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.dioceseofmanzini.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 19, Sandlane St., Manzini M200, eSwatini
Telephone: 355.00.784
Fax: 250.54.876

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Swaziland
- Latin Name: de Swaziland
- Erected: 19 April 1923
- Country: eSwatini
Vicariate Apostolic of Swaziland
- Latin Name: de Swaziland
- Elevated: 15 March 1939
- Vicariate
- Country: eSwatini
Diocese of Bremersdorp
- Latin Name: Bremersdorpensis
- Elevated: 11 January 1951
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Pretoria
- Country: eSwatini

Past and Present Ordinaries

Pellegrino Bellezze, O.S.M. † (15 Mar 1923 Appointed - May 1933 Resigned)
Romualdo M. Migliorini, O.S.M. † (8 Jul 1933 Appointed - 1939 Resigned)
Costantino Maria Attilio Barneschi, O.S.M. † (15 Mar 1939 Appointed - 21 May 1965 Died)
Girolamo Maria Casalini, O.S.M. † (18 Dec 1965 Appointed - 24 Jan 1976 Resigned)
Aloysius Isaac Mandlenkhosi Zwane † (24 Jan 1976 Appointed - 10 Aug 1980 Died)
Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu, O.S.M. † (1 Jul 1985 Appointed - 27 Aug 2012 Died)
José Luís Gerardo Ponce de León, I.M.C. (29 Nov 2013 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Swaziland
19 April 1923	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Natal (Swaziland)	Prefecture Apostolic of Swaziland (erected)
13 July 1938	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Eshowe (Tongaland) Prefecture Apostolic of Lydenburg (Piet Retief)	Prefecture Apostolic of Swaziland
Vicariate Apostolic of Swaziland
15 March 1939	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Swaziland	Vicariate Apostolic of Swaziland
Diocese of Bremersdorp
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Swaziland	Diocese of Bremersdorp
23 June 1958	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bremersdorp (Piet Retief) Archdiocese of Durban (Newcastle, Utrecht, Dundee, Klip Eivier, Helpmekaar, and parts of Msinga, Weenan, and Bergville north of Tugela river) Diocese of Lydenburg (Ermelo, Bethal, Standerton, Volksrust, Amersfoort, and Wakkerstroom)	Prefecture Apostolic of Volksrust (erected)
Diocese of Manzini
7 November 1961	Name Changed	Diocese of Bremersdorp	Diocese of Manzini
12 November 1962	Territory Lost	Diocese of Eshowe (Hlabisa and Portions of Ubombo) Diocese of Manzini (Ingwavuma and Portions of Ubombo)	Prefecture Apostolic of Ingwavuma (erected)
5 June 2007	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Manzini (from Pretoria)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Swaziland

1950 10,434 263,000 4.0% 15 15 695 30 67 11 ap1951

Diocese of Bremersdorp

1959 21,447 320,000 6.7% 30 30 714 94 11 ap1960

Diocese of Manzini

1969 31,959 395,264 8.1% 2 27 29 1,102 46 112 10 ap1971

1980 36,000 540,000 6.7% 4 33 37 972 47 133 ap1981

1990 42,300 740,000 5.7% 6 32 38 1,113 36 87 2 ap1991

1999 50,160 980,000 5.1% 9 22 31 1,618 42 58 15 ap2000

2000 52,640 990,000 5.3% 9 23 32 1,645 37 58 15 ap2001

2001 53,104 990,000 5.4% 9 19 28 1,896 25 57 15 ap2002

2002 53,866 990,000 5.4% 12 19 31 1,737 26 55 15 ap2003

2003 54,711 990,000 5.5% 11 17 28 1,953 24 57 15 ap2004

2004 55,130 990,000 5.6% 11 15 26 2,120 23 58 15 ap2005

2013 58,600 1,130,000 5.2% 14 9 23 2,547 12 45 17 ap2014

2016 56,000 1,119,155 5.0% 14 12 26 2,153 15 43 15 ap2017

2019 57,400 1,161,170 4.9% 19 14 33 1,739 20 38 17 ap2020

2021 56,800 1,061,000 5.4% 19 13 32 1,775 19 39 17 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Swaziland
1950	10,434	263,000	4.0%		15	15	695	30	67	11	ap1951
Diocese of Bremersdorp
1959	21,447	320,000	6.7%		30	30	714		94	11	ap1960
Diocese of Manzini
1969	31,959	395,264	8.1%	2	27	29	1,102	46	112	10	ap1971
1980	36,000	540,000	6.7%	4	33	37	972	47	133		ap1981
1990	42,300	740,000	5.7%	6	32	38	1,113	36	87	2	ap1991
1999	50,160	980,000	5.1%	9	22	31	1,618	42	58	15	ap2000
2000	52,640	990,000	5.3%	9	23	32	1,645	37	58	15	ap2001
2001	53,104	990,000	5.4%	9	19	28	1,896	25	57	15	ap2002
2002	53,866	990,000	5.4%	12	19	31	1,737	26	55	15	ap2003
2003	54,711	990,000	5.5%	11	17	28	1,953	24	57	15	ap2004
2004	55,130	990,000	5.6%	11	15	26	2,120	23	58	15	ap2005
2013	58,600	1,130,000	5.2%	14	9	23	2,547	12	45	17	ap2014
2016	56,000	1,119,155	5.0%	14	12	26	2,153	15	43	15	ap2017
2019	57,400	1,161,170	4.9%	19	14	33	1,739	20	38	17	ap2020
2021	56,800	1,061,000	5.4%	19	13	32	1,775	19	39	17	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Costantino Maria Attilio Barneschi, O.S.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Mar 1939; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 21 May 1965)
Pellegrino Bellezze, O.S.M. † (Prefect: 15 Mar 1923 to May 1933)
Girolamo Maria Casalini, O.S.M. † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1965 to 24 Jan 1976)
Romualdo M. Migliorini, O.S.M. † (Prefect: 8 Jul 1933 to 1939)
Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu, O.S.M. † (Bishop: 1 Jul 1985 to 27 Aug 2012)
Aloysius Isaac Mandlenkhosi Zwane † (Priest: 12 Jul 1964; Bishop: 24 Jan 1976 to 10 Aug 1980)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Swaziland
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 15, Page 201, and Page 202
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 30, Page 348, and Page 349
Vicariate Apostolic of Swaziland
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 31, Page 216, and Page 217
Diocese of Bremersdorp
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263
Diocese of Manzini
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 53, Page 739
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 99, Page 582, and Page 583

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

✠

Diocese of Manzini

Dioecesis Manziniensis