Diocese of Beja Dioecesis Beiensis Diocese de Beja | |
|---|---|
 The Cathedral of St. James the Greater in Beja | |
| Location | |
| Country |  Portugal |
| Ecclesiastical province | Evora |
| Metropolitan | Archdiocese of Evora |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 12,300 km2 (4,700 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2012) 223,200 186,100 (83.4%) |
| Parishes | 119 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 10 July 1770 |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of St. James the Greater in Beja |
| Patron saint | Saint Joseph |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | António Vitalino Fernandes Dantas, O.Carm. |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | José Francisco Sanches Alves |
| Coadjutor | José Marcos dos Santos (Coadjutor Bishop-elect)[1] |
| Map | |
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| Website | |
| Website of the Diocese | |
The Diocese of Beja (Latin: Dioecesis Beiensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic church in Portugal. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Évora.[2]
Beja lies on the site of Pax Julia, or Paca, of the Romans, and is still surrounded by remains of old Roman walls, partly restored. The diocese was created 10 June 1770. Beja was taken from its Islamic rulers in 1162 by Afonso I of Portugal. Beja Cathedral is an old church, much modernized, of uncertain date.[3]
The chronicler Isidorus Pacensis, of the eighth century, was traditionally said to have been bishop of Beja; but this is now disputed.[4]
