Western Sahara {Sahara Occiental} (Prefecture Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Mario León Dorado, O.M.I., Prefect

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Prefecture Apostolic
Name Changed: 2 May 1976
Prefecture
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Western Sahara
Square Kilometers: 266,000 (102,742 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Eglise Catholique de Laayoune, B.P. 31, 70000 Laayoune, Sahara Occidental
Telephone: (0808)55.26.56

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni}
- Latin Name: de Sahara Hispanico et Ifni
- Erected: 5 July 1954
- Country: Western Sahara
Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}
- Latin Name: de Sahara Hispanico
- Name Changed: 2 May 1970
- Country: Western Sahara

Past and Present Ordinaries

Félix Erviti Barcelona, O.M.I. † (19 Jul 1954 Appointed - 6 Jul 1994 Retired)
Acacio Valbuena Rodríguez, O.M.I. † (10 Jul 1994 Appointed - 25 Feb 2009 Retired)
Mario León Dorado, O.M.I. (24 Jun 2013 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni}
5 July 1954	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Ghardaïa nel Sahara (Sahara (subject to the Spaniards)) Vicariate Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos (Ifni)	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni} (erected)
2 May 1970	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni} (Ifni)	Archdiocese of Rabat
Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}
2 May 1970	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni}	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}
Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara {Sahara Occiental}
2 May 1976	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}	Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara {Sahara Occiental}

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

Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}

1969 22,512 70,000 32.2% 11 11 2,046 13 31 5 ap1971

Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara {Sahara Occiental}

1978 365 151,000 .2% 3 3 121 3 2 ap1981

1990 75 200,000 .0% 5 5 15 5 2 ap1991

1999 160 350,260 .0% 3 3 53 3 2 ap2000

2000 150 350,250 .0% 2 2 75 2 2 ap2001

2001 150 350,000 .0% 3 3 50 3 2 ap2002

2002 100 400,000 .0% 3 3 33 3 2 ap2003

2003 120 400,000 .0% 3 3 40 3 2 ap2004

2004 110 400,000 .0% 3 3 36 3 2 ap2005

2010 120 800,265 .0% 3 3 40 3 2 ap2011

2014 260 930,000 .0% 2 2 130 2 2 ap2015

2017 350 1,030,700 .0% 2 2 175 2 2 ap2018

2020 350 1,075,350 .0% 4 4 87 4 2 ap2021

2022 340 1,027,200 .0% 4 4 85 5 2 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}
1969	22,512	70,000	32.2%	11	11	2,046	13	31	5	ap1971
Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara {Sahara Occiental}
1978	365	151,000	.2%	3	3	121	3		2	ap1981
1990	75	200,000	.0%	5	5	15	5		2	ap1991
1999	160	350,260	.0%	3	3	53	3		2	ap2000
2000	150	350,250	.0%	2	2	75	2		2	ap2001
2001	150	350,000	.0%	3	3	50	3		2	ap2002
2002	100	400,000	.0%	3	3	33	3		2	ap2003
2003	120	400,000	.0%	3	3	40	3		2	ap2004
2004	110	400,000	.0%	3	3	36	3		2	ap2005
2010	120	800,265	.0%	3	3	40	3		2	ap2011
2014	260	930,000	.0%	2	2	130	2		2	ap2015
2017	350	1,030,700	.0%	2	2	175	2		2	ap2018
2020	350	1,075,350	.0%	4	4	87	4		2	ap2021
2022	340	1,027,200	.0%	4	4	85	5		2	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Mario León Dorado, O.M.I. (Prefect: 24 Jun 2013)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Félix Erviti Barcelona, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 19 Jul 1954 to 6 Jul 1994)
Acacio Valbuena Rodríguez, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 10 Jul 1994 to 25 Feb 2009)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 694, and Page 695
Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara {Sahara Español}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 62, Page 551, and Page 552

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Prefecture Apostolic of Western Sahara {Sahara Occiental}

Praefectura Apostolica de Sahara Occidentali