Roman Catholic Diocese of Dali

Roman Catholic diocese in China

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dali/Tali (Latin: Talian(us), Chinese: 大理) is a diocese located in the city of Dali in the ecclesiastical province of Kunming in southwestern China.

In 2000, the Vatican appointed Lawrence Zhang Wen-Chang as Apostolic Administrator of Dali. He served until his death in 2012.^[1]

History

• November 22, 1929: Established as Mission “sui iuris” of Dali/Taly-fou 大理 from the Apostolic Vicariate of Yunnanfu 雲南府
• December 13, 1931: Promoted as Apostolic Prefecture of Dali 大理
• 1938: The cathedral was built by French missionaries.^[2]
• December 9, 1948: Promoted as Diocese of Dali 大理
• 1984: The cathedral was rebuilt after suffering damage during the Cultural Revolution.^[2]

Architecture

The Cathedral heavily incorporates elements of traditional Chinese architecture. It has a large crucifix on the exterior to identify itself as a church. The cathedral's exterior and interior design provides visual associations with Daoist and Buddhist buildings found throughout China.^[2]

Leadership

• Bishops of Dali 大理 (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Lucien Bernard Lacoste (December 9, 1948 – 1983)
• Prefects Apostolic of Dali 大理 (Roman Rite)
  • Fr. Giovanni Battista Magenties (December 13, 1935 – 1947)

References

1. "'Underground' administrator dies". Union of Catholic Asian News. 2012-02-07. Archived from the original on 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
2. Steinhardt, Nancy Shatzman (2015). "Mosque, Synagogue, Church: Architecture of Monotheism in China". China's Early Mosques. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 280–281. ISBN 978-0-7486-7041-3.

External links

• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Diocese website (Chinese) Archived 2008-06-23 at the Wayback Machine

25°42′00″N 100°09′00″E / 25.7000°N 100.1500°E / 25.7000; 100.1500