Catholic Church in Morocco

The Catholic Church in Morocco is part of the worldwide Catholic Church (particularly the Latin Church), under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Catholics account less than 1% of the overall population of over 31 million. The country is divided into two archdioceses; Rabat and Tangier.

St. Peter's Cathedral, Rabat

During the era of the Spanish protectorate and the French protectorate over Morocco, the conditions of the Catholic Church have flourished, and Catholic churches, schools, and hospitals were built throughout the country, and until 1961, Sunday mass festivities were broadcast on radio and television networks.[1]

During the era of the Spanish protectorate and the French protectorate over Morocco, Morocco had significant populations of European Catholic settlers: on the eve of independence, an estimated 470,000 Catholics resided in Morocco.[2] Since independence in 1956, the European Catholic population has decreased substantially, and many Catholics left to France or Spain. Prior to independence, the European Catholic settlers had historic legacy and powerful presence.[2]

Demographics

Prior to independence, the numbers of the Catholics in French Morocco reached about 360,000 or about 4.1% of the population,[3] Catholics in French Morocco were mostly of French descent, and to a lesser extent of Spanish and Italian ancestry.[4] Some Moroccans of Berber or Arab descent converted to Christianity during the French colonialism.[5] Since independence in 1956, the European population has decreased substantially, and many Catholics left to France or Spain.[6] In 1950, Catholics in Spanish protectorate in Morocco and Tangier constitute 14.5% of the population, and the Spanish Morocco was home to 113,000 Catholic settlers.[7] Catholics in Spanish protectorate in Morocco and Tangier were mostly of Spanish descent, and to a lesser extent of Portuguese, French and Italian ancestry.[8]

Icon of Our Lady of Morocco.

In the years leading up to the First World War, European Christians formed almost a quarter the population of Tangier.[9][10] During the French protectorate in Morocco, European Christians formed almost half the population of the city of Casablanca.[11] Independence prompted a mass exodus of the European Catholic settlers; after 1956 more than 75% of Catholic settlers left the country.[2]

In 2020, there are aporoximately 24,000 Catholics in Morocco; this included 53 priests and 155 nuns.[12] Most Catholics were 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.

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.[13]

There are also between 3,000 and 10,000 Protestants in the country, most of them from sub-Saharan Africa.[14][15]

List of cathedrals and churches
Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Casablanca
Our Lady of the Assumption, Essaouira
Church of the Holy Martyrs, Marrakech
Church of Saint Bartholomew, Arzila
Former Catholic church, El Jadida

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

Tangier

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
Main article: Roman Catholic 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)
  • 1234 Marrakech (in part continuation of the Fez diocese)
  • 1469 Tanger / Tangier (detached from Ceuta, and from Marrakech)
  • 1487 Safim (detached from Marrakech before 1487) - (Algarve behind the sea)
  • 1542 Safim (incorporated in Tanger) - (Algarve behind the sea)
  • 1566 Marrakech (suppressed)
  • 1570 Tanger (suppressed) - (Algarve behind the sea)
  • 1630 Marocco / Marruecos (AP, See in Tanger) - (State of Fez, State of Morocco)
  • 1908 Marocco / Marueccos (AV) - (Spanish Morocco, French Morocco)
  • 1923 Rabat (AV, detached from Marocco) - (French Morocco)
  • 1955 Rabat (AD)
  • 1956 Tanger (AD, and new name, previously Marocco)
  • Reference Chronology of Catholic Dioceses: Morocco

See also

References
  1. F. Nyrop, Richard (1972). Area Handbook for Morocc. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. p. 97. ISBN 9780810884939.
  2. Greenberg, Udi; A. Foster, Elizabeth (2023). Decolonization and the Remaking of Christianity. Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 105. ISBN 9781512824971.
  3. F. Nyrop, Richard (1972). Area Handbook for Morocc. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. p. 97. ISBN 9780810884939.
  4. F. Nyrop, Richard (1972). Area Handbook for Morocc. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. p. 97. ISBN 9780810884939.
  5. Fahlbusch, Erwin; Bromiley, Geoffrey William; Lochman, Jan Milic; Mbiti, John; Pelikan, Jaroslav; Vischer, Lukas; Barrett, David B. (2003). The Encyclopedia of Christianity: J-O. ISBN 978-0-8028-2415-8. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  6. F. Nyrop, Richard (1972). Area Handbook for Morocc. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. p. 97. ISBN 9780810884939.
  7. F. Nyrop, Richard (1972). Area Handbook for Morocc. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. p. 97. ISBN 9780810884939.
  8. F. Nyrop, Richard (1972). Area Handbook for Morocc. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. p. 97. ISBN 9780810884939.
  9. Pétridés, Sophron (1913), "Tingis", Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. XIV, New York: Encyclopedia Press.
  10. "Tangier" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 397–398.
  11. Albert Habib Hourani, Malise Ruthven (2002). "A history of the Arab peoples." Harvard University Press. p.323. ISBN 0-674-01017-5
  12. Catholics And Culture website
  13. "Pope in Morocco: 'Ecumenism of charity' allows religious to be neighbours to all - Vatican News". 31 March 2019.
  14. US State Dept 2021 report
  15. Middle East Online website

Other

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