Diocese of Kangding

Contents

The Diocese of Kangding (formerly spelled Kangting; Latin: Dioecesis Camtimensis; Chinese: 天主教康定教區) is a Latin Catholic diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan of Chongqing in western China, but still dependent on the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Established on March 27, 1846 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Lhasa for the Mission of Tibet, its episcopal see is located in the city of Kangding, Sichuanese Tibet, known to the Tibetans as Dartsedo or Tatsienlu. It has been vacant since 1962.

Territory

The diocese includes the western part of Sichuan province and theoretically the entire Tibet Autonomous Region. Specifically, it covers the two historical regions of Kham and Sikkim (the latter with its headquarters in Darjeeling, separated from the Apostolic Vicariate of Tibet in 1929); Western Sichuan such as the counties and cities of Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture: Batang, Dapba, Draggo, Garzê, Jagsam, Litang, Nyachukha, Nyagrong, Pelyül, Qagchêng, Rongzhag, Sêrxü, Tatsienlu, Tawu; two counties in Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture: Quqên and Tsanlha; Hanyuan County in Central Sichuan; counties in the former province of Hsikang: Dengke, Enda, Kemai, Ningjing, Taizhao; two counties and one city of Dêqên Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern Yunnan Province: Dêqên, Shangri-La and Weixi; and counties and cities of the Tibet Autonomous Region: Chagyab and Gonjo (Chamdo), Gonggar (Lhoka), and Lhari (Nagqu).[1]

The Diocese of Kangding is bordered by the Diocese of Chengdu and Diocese of Jiading to the east; Diocese of Jammu–Srinagar and Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh to the west; Apostolic Prefecture of Xining and Diocese of Qinzhou to the northeast; Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang-Urumqi to the northwest; Diocese of Ningyuan, Diocese of Dali and Diocese of Myitkyina to the southeast; Diocese of Darjeeling and Diocese of Itanagar to the south; and Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal and Eparchy of Bijnor to the southwest.

History

  • Established on March 27, 1846 as Apostolic Vicariate of Lhasa (after its Tibetan see, Lhasa), on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Szechwan and Apostolic Vicariate of Tibet-Hindustan
  • Renamed on July 28, 1868 as Apostolic Vicariate of Tibet (Vicariatus Apostolicus Thibetanus)
  • Renamed on December 3, 1924 as Apostolic Vicariate of Tatsienlu (Vicariatus Apostolicus de Tatsienlu)
  • Lost territory on 15 December 1929 to establish the then Mission sui iuris of Sikkim (now Diocese of Darjeeling)
  • Promoted on April 11, 1946 and renamed after its see as Diocese of Kangting (Dioecesis Camtimensis)

Ordinaries

All Roman Rite.

  • Joseph-Marie Chauveau, M.E.P. (1864.09.09 – death 1877.12.21), Titular Bishop of Sebastopolis (1846.03.27 – 1877.12.21), formerly Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Yunnan (1846.03.27 – 1864.09.09)
  • Félix Biet, M.E.P. (1878.08.27 – death 1901.09.09), Titular Bishop of Diana (1878.07.23 – 1901.09.09)
  • Pierre-Philippe Giraudeau, M.E.P. (1901.09.09 – 1924.12.03 see below), Titular Bishop of Daphnusia (1897.02.15 – 1941.11.13), succeeding as former Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Tibet (1897.02.15 – 1901.09.09)
  • Pierre-Philippe Giraudeau, M.E.P. (see above; 1924.12.03 – retired 1936.08.09)
  • Pierre-Sylvain Valentin, M.E.P. (1936.08.06 – 1946.04.11 see below), Titular Bishop of Zeugma in Syria (1926.11.16 – 1946.04.11), succeeding as former Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Tatsienlu (1926.11.11 – 1936.08.06)
  • Pierre-Sylvain Valentin, M.E.P. (see above; 1946.04.11 – death 1962.01.07)
  • "Diocese of Kangding". gcatholic.org. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  • "Diocese of Kangding [Kangting]". catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved October 24, 2023.

Kanding

References

  1. 1.Qin, Heping; Shen, Xiaohu, eds. (2008). 四川基督教资料辑要 [A Collection of Historical Documents on Christianity in Sichuan] (in Simplified Chinese). Chengdu: Bashu Publishing House. pp. 603–604. ISBN 978-7-80752-226-3.