Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Bulawayo

Zimbabwe

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Bulawayo / Bulauaien(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Gweru, Hwange, Masvingo

Neighbouring Dioceses: Francistown (↙), Hwange (↖), Gokwe (↑), Gweru (↗), Masvingo (→), Tzaneen (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Immaculate Heart of Mary (moveable)

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1931.01.04: Established as Mission sui juris of Bulawayo / Bulauaien(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Prefecture of Salisbury)
1932.07.13: Promoted as Apostolic Prefecture of Bulawayo / Bulauaien(sis) (Latin)
1937.04.13: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Bulawayo / Bulauaien(sis) (Latin)
1953.06.29: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Wankie
1955.01.01: Promoted as Diocese of Bulawayo / Bulauaien(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Salisbury)
1959.04.02: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Bechuanaland
1994.06.10: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bulawayo / Bulauaien(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Gweru and Hwange)
1999.02.09: Gained suffragan see Masvingo

Contact Info

Address: Archbishop’s House, 9th Ave., Lobengula Street, P.O. Box 837, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Phone: (09) 63590

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1988.09)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2009.06.20 – ...):

Archbishop Alex Thomas Kaliyanil, S.V.D. (65)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Bulawayo (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Alex Thomas Kaliyanil, S.V.D. (65)
(2009.06.20 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe)

Born:	1960.05.27 (Vallamchira, India)
Ordained Priest:	1988.05.07
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.09.12

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (2009.06.20 – ...)

Vice-President of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2018.05 – 2022?)

Fr. Martin Schupp, C.M.M.
(Apostolic Administrator 2007.09.11 – 2009.06.20)

Archbishop Pius Alick Mvundla Ncube (79)
(1997.10.24 – 2007.09.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe)

Born:	1946.12.31 (Filabusi, Zimbabwe)
Ordained Priest:	1973.08.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.01.25

Priest of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (1973.08.26 – 1997.10.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (1997.10.24 – 2007.09.11)

Archbishop Ernst Heinrich Karlen, C.M.M.
(1994.06.10 – 1997.10.24)

Born:	1922.02.01 (Törbel, Switzerland)
Ordained Priest:	1947.06.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.12.03
Died:	2012.10.28 (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe † 90)

Bishop of Mthatha (South Africa) (1968.09.26 – 1974.05.09)

Bishop of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (1974.05.09 – 1994.06.10)

President of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1975 – 1977)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (1994.06.10 – 1997.10.24)

Bishops of Bulawayo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Ernst Heinrich Karlen, C.M.M. (later Archbishop)
(1974.05.09 – 1994.06.10)

(see above)

Bishop Adolph Gregory Schmitt, C.M.M.
(1955.01.01 – 1974)

Born:	1905.04.20 (Rimpar, Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1931.03.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1951.04.02
Died:	1976.12.05 (Lupane, Zimbabwe † 71)

Titular Bishop of Nasai (1950.12.23 – 1955.01.01)

Vicar Apostolic of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (1950.12.23 – 1955.01.01)

Bishop of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (1955.01.01 – 1974)

Vicars Apostolic of Bulawayo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Adolph Gregory Schmitt, C.M.M.
(1950.12.23 – 1955.01.01)

(see above)

Bishop Ignazio Arnoz, M.H.M.
(1937.04.13 – 1950.02.26)

Born:	1885.04.01 (Bodenbach, Czechia)
Ordained Priest:	1910.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1937.05.30
Died:	1950.02.26 († 64)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (1931 – 1932.07.13)

Prefect Apostolic of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (1932.07.13 – 1937.04.13)

Titular Bishop of Busiris (1937.04.13 – 1950.02.26)

Vicar Apostolic of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (1937.04.13 – 1950.02.26)

Prefects Apostolic of Bulawayo (Roman Rite)

Fr. Ignazio Arnoz, M.H.M. (later Bishop)
(1932.07.13 – 1937.04.13)

(see above)

Ecclesiastical Superiors of Bulawayo (Roman Rite)

Fr. Ignazio Arnoz, M.H.M. (later Bishop)
(1931 – 1932.07.13)

(see above)

Fr. Giovanni Matteo Konings, O.S.C.
(1926 – 1929)

Died:

1929

Ecclesiastical Superior of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) (1926 – 1929)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica: Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Bulawayo, Bulawayo

Francistown (↙), Hwange (↖), Gokwe (↑), Gweru (↗), Masvingo (→), Tzaneen (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 69,549 km²

Population: 72,000 Catholics (2.8% of 2,569,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 54 parishes, 272 missions

Personnel: 101 priests (50 diocesan, 51 religious), 16 deacons, 289 religious (117 brothers, 172 sisters), 13 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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