Diocese of Metz
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Country: | France |
| Metropolitan: | Immediately Subject to the Holy See |
| Rite: | Latin |
| Area: | 6,226 km² |
| Population: Total: Catholics: |
1,023,447 (2004) 829,000 (81%) |
| Bishop: | Pierre René Ferdinand Raffin, O.P. |
| Cathedral: | Metz Cathedral |
| Patron saint: | Patiens of Metz |
The (Roman Catholic) Diocese of Metz is a territorial subdivision of the Catholic church in France.
Contents |
[edit] History
Originally the diocese was under metropolitan of Trier. After the French Revolution, the last prince bishop, Cardinal Louis de Montmorency-Laval (1761-1802) fled and the old organization of the diocese was broken up. With the Concordat of 1801 the diocese was re-established covering the departments of Moselle, Ardennes, and Forêts, and was put under the Archdiocese of Besançon. In 1817 the parts of the diocese which became Prussian territory were slip off. In 1871 the whole diocese became part of Germany, and in 1874 became Immediately Subject to the Holy See. After World War I it was returned to France. The bishop of this see is appointed by the French president.
[edit] Bishops
According to the traditional list of bishops, the current bishop Pierre René Ferdinand Raffin is already the 105th bishop of Metz. According to this list, the first bishop was Saint Clement, allegedly sent by Petrus himself to Metz. The first fully authenticated bishop however is Sperus or Hesperus, who was bishop in 535. Many of the bishops were declared holy or blessed, like Saint Arnulf (611-627), Saint Chrodegang (742-766) or Saint Agilram (768-791). Adelbero was bishop of Metz in 933 AD.
[edit] Bishops since 1900
- Willibrord Benzler, O.S.B., 1901-1919
- Jean-Baptiste Pelt, 1919-1937
- Joseph-Jean Heintz, 1038-1958
- Paul Joseph Schmitt, 1958-1987
- Pierre René Ferdinand Raffin, O.P., since 1987
