Mutia, Africa

Africa Proconsularis.

Mutia was an Ancient city and former bishopric in Roman Africa and remains a Latin Catholic titular see.^[1]

History[]

Mutia was located at present Henchir-El-Gheria, Henchir-Furna, in the Sahel zone of modern Tunisia.

It was among the towns in the Roman province of Byzacena important enough to become a suffragan diocese in the papal sway, yet destined to fade (under the 7th century advent of Islam?).

Its only historically documented bishop was Latinus,^[2] participant at the Council of Cabarsussi, called in 393 by the dissident Maximianist sect of the Donatist heresy, and confirmed the synodal acts, with thanks to Saint Augustine.

Titular see[]

The diocese was nominally restored in 1933 as Latin Titular bishopric of Mutia (Latin) / Muzia (Curiate Italian) / Mutien(sis) (Latin adjective).

It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank :

• José Guerra Campos (1964.06.15 – 1973.04.13) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Madrid (Spain) (1964.06.15 – 1973.04.13), Secretary General of Episcopal Conference of Spain (1966 – 1972); later Bishop of Cuenca (Spain) (1973.04.13 – retired 1996.06.26), died 1997
• Rafael Bellido Caro (1973.11.29 – 1980.03.03) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Sevilla (Spain) (1973.11.29 – 1980.03.03); later Bishop of Jerez de la Frontera (Spain) (1980.03.03 – retired 2000.06.29), died 2204
• Alfredo Noriega Arce, Jesuits (S.J.) (1980.04.26 – death 1993.06.26) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Lima (Peru) (1980.04.26 – 1993.06.26)
• Jésus Rocha (1993.12.01 – 2004.10.20) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Brasília (Brazil) (1993.12.01 – 2004.10.20); later Bishop of Oliveira (Brazil) (2004.10.20 – 2006.07.13)
• Edson de Castro Homem (2005.02.16 – 2015.05.06) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) (2005.02.16 – 2015.05.06); later Bishop of Iguatu (Brazil) (2015.05.06 – ...)
• John Moon Hee-jong (2015.07.23 – ...), Auxiliary Bishop of Diocese of Suwon 수원 (South Korea) (2015.07.23 – ...).

Today, Muzia survives as a titular bishop's residence; the current titular bishop is John Moon Hee Jong, auxiliary bishop of Suwon

See also[]

• List of Catholic dioceses in Tunisia

Sources and external links[]

• J. Mesnage, L'Afrique chrétienne, Paris 1912, p. 71

References[]