Catholic Church in Morocco

The Catholic Church in Morocco is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Catholics account for only about .07% of the overall population of over 31 million. The country is divided into two archdioceses; Rabat and Tangier.

Demographics[]

There are around 50,000 Catholics in Morocco; most of them are European expatriates, with a big majority of French and Spanish from colonization and post-independence. The second group is composed of Sub-Saharan immigrants, mainly students. Aside from Arabic, all of the Europeans can speak Spanish and French, which are also spoken by Catholic Arabs, Berbers, and Moors, and these languages are used in the celebration of Mass, in prayer meetings, and in education.^{[citation needed]}

There are also converts from Islam, the dominant religion and when they exist, they keep their faith secret. On March 31, 2019, Pope Francis openly acknowledged that there are few Catholics, as well as few Catholic church workers, in the country.^[1]

List of cathedrals and churches[]

Casablanca

• Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
• Church of Anfa-Maarif
• Church of Carmel Saint Joseph
• Church of Christ the King
• Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
• Sacré-Cœur Cathedral
• Church of Saint James

Rabat

• St. Peter's Cathedral
• Church of Saint Pius X
• Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
• Our Lady of Peace

Tangier

• Holy Spirit (Parroquia del Espíritu Santo)
• Our Lady of the Assumption
• Church of the Immaculate Conception

Agadir

• Church of Saint Anne

Marrakech

• Church of the Holy Martyrs

Meknes

• Notre Dame des Oliviers

Fes

• Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

El Jadida

• Church of Saint Bernard

Tetouan

• Church of Nuestra Señora de las Victorias

Archdiocese of Rabat[]

The Archdiocese of Rabat is divided into 4 regions:

• Region of Rabat
• Region of Casablanca
• Region East
• Region South

Archdiocese of Tangier[]

Chronology of Catholic Dioceses[]

• 40-100 Toledo - Spain (Tamazgha, Morocco)
• 300-400 Toledo (Metr.) - Spain (Tamazgha, Morocco)
• 1226 Fez (established from Toledo) - Morocco
• 1234 Marrakech (in part continuation of the Fez diocese) - Morocco
• 1417 Ceuta (detached from Marrakech) - (Portuguese Morocco) Spain
• 1469 Tanger / Tangier (detached from Ceuta, and from Marrakech) - Morocco
• 1487 Safim (detached from Marrakech before 1487) - (Portuguese Morocco) Morocco
• 1542 Safim (incorporated in Tanger) - (Portuguese Morocco) Morocco
• 1566 Marrakech (suppressed) - Morocco
• 1570 Tanger (suppressed) - (Portuguese Morocco) Morocco
• 1630 Marocco / Marueccos (AP, See in Tanger) - (State of Fez, State of Morocco)
• 1645 Ceuta (vacant) - Spain (for further history: see Spain)
• 1908 Marocco / Marueccos (AV) - (Spanish Morocco, French Morocco) Morocco
• 1923 Rabat (AV, detached from Marocco) - (French Morocco) Morocco
• 1955 Rabat (AD) - Morocco
• 1956 Tanger (AD, and new name, previously Marocco) - Morocco
• Reference Chronology of Catholic Dioceses: Morocco

References[]

External links[]

• Catholic Church in Morocco
• Archdiocese of Rabat
• Archdiocese of Tangier
• Moroccan Conference of Catholic Bishops

Other

• Catholic Campus Ministry in Morocco

(AECAM: Aumônerie des Etudiants Catholiques au Maroc)

• Catholic Teaching in Morocco : Catholic Schools

(Enseignement Catholique au Maroc)

• Church Directory of Morocco
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Morocco" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• Church of Saint Andrew, Tangier (Anglican Church of Morocco)