Date | Country | Change |
| 1961 |  Egypt | Titular Archiepiscopal See of Damiata (Greek-Melkite Rite) was restored |
| 1961 |  Palestine | Titular Episcopal See of Cesarea in Palæstina (Greek-Melkite Rite) was promoted as Titular Metropolitan See of Cesarea in Palæstina |
| 1961 |  Syria | Titular Archiepiscopal See of Hierapolis in Syria (Greek-Melkite Rite) was established |
| 1961 |  Turkiye | Titular Metropolitan See of Edessa in Osrhoëne (Greek-Melkite Rite) was established |
| 1961.01.03 |  Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Amboina was promoted as Diocese of Amboina (became suffragan of Makassar) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Atambua was promoted as Diocese of Atambua (became suffragan of Endeh) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Bandjarmasin was promoted as Diocese of Bandjarmasin (became suffragan of Pontianak) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Bandung was promoted as Diocese of Bandung (became suffragan of Djakarta) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Prefecture of Sukabumi was promoted as Diocese of Bogor (became suffragan of Djakarta) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Prefecture of Denpasar was promoted as Diocese of Denpasar (became suffragan of Endeh) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Djakarta was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Djakarta (with suffragan sees Bandung and Bogor) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Endeh was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Endeh (with suffragan sees Atambua, Denpasar, Larantuka and Ruteng) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Prefecture of Ketapang was promoted as Diocese of Ketapang (became suffragan of Pontianak) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Larantuka was promoted as Diocese of Larantuka (became suffragan of Endeh) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Makassar was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Makassar (with suffragan sees Amboina and Manado) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Malang was promoted as Diocese of Malang (became suffragan of Semarang) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Manado was promoted as Diocese of Manado (became suffragan of Makassar) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Medan was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Medan (with suffragan sees Padang, Palembang, Pangkal-Pinang and Tandjung-Karang) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Prefecture of Padang was promoted as Diocese of Padang (became suffragan of Medan) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Palembang was promoted as Diocese of Palembang (became suffragan of Medan) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Pangkal-Pinang was promoted as Diocese of Pangkal-Pinang (became suffragan of Medan) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Pontianak was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Pontianak (with suffragan sees Bandjarmasin, Ketapang, Samarinda and Sintang) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Purwokerto was promoted as Diocese of Purwokerto (became suffragan of Semarang) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Ruteng was promoted as Diocese of Ruteng (became suffragan of Endeh) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Samarinda was promoted as Diocese of Samarinda (became suffragan of Pontianak) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Semarang was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Semarang (with suffragan sees Malang, Purwokerto and Surabaia) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Sintang was promoted as Diocese of Sintang (became suffragan of Pontianak) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Vicariate of Surabaia was promoted as Diocese of Surabaia (became suffragan of Semarang) |
| 1961.01.03 | Indonesia | Apostolic Prefecture of Tandjung-Karang was promoted as Diocese of Tandjung-Karang (became suffragan of Medan) |
| 1961.01.03 |  Lesotho | Diocese of Maseru was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Maseru (with suffragan sees Leribe and Qacha’s Nek and lost territory to establish Diocese of Qacha’s Nek) |
| 1961.01.03 | Lesotho | Diocese of Qacha’s Nek was established (from Diocese of Maseru and became suffragan of Maseru) |
| 1961.01.03 |  Zambia | Apostolic Prefecture of Fort Rosebery was promoted as Diocese of Fort Rosebery (became suffragan of Lusaka) |
| 1961.01.17 |  Malawi | Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Nyassa was promoted as Diocese of Mzuzu (became suffragan of Blantyre) |
| 1961.01.28 |  Brazil | Diocese of Iguatu was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fortaleza and Diocese of Crato and became suffragan of Fortaleza) |
| 1961.01.28 |  Mexico | Diocese of Autlán was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Guadalajara and Diocese of Colima and became suffragan of Guadalajara) |
| 1961.01.28 |  USA | Diocese of Allentown was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Philadelphia and became suffragan of Philadelphia) |
| 1961.02.07 |  Colombia | Apostolic Prefecture of Tumaco was promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Tumaco |
| 1961.02.20 |  Eritrea | Apostolic Exarchate of Asmara (Eritrean Rite) was promoted as Diocese of Asmara (became suffragan of Addis Abeba) |
| 1961.02.20 |  Ethiopia | Apostolic Exarchate of Addis Abeba (Ethiopic Rite) was promoted as Metropolitanate sui juris of Addis Abeba (with suffragan sees Adigrat and Asmara and gained territory from the suppressed Apostolic Prefecture of Dessiè, Apostolic Prefecture of Endeber and Apostolic Prefecture of Gondar) |
| 1961.02.20 | Ethiopia | Apostolic Prefecture of Tigray (Ethiopic Rite) was promoted as Diocese of Adigrat (became suffragan of Addis Abeba) |
| 1961.02.20 | Ethiopia | Apostolic Prefecture of Dessiè was suppressed (to Metropolitanate sui juris of Addis Abeba) |
| 1961.02.20 | Ethiopia | Apostolic Prefecture of Endeber was suppressed (to Metropolitanate sui juris of Addis Abeba) |
| 1961.02.20 | Ethiopia | Apostolic Prefecture of Gondar was suppressed (to Metropolitanate sui juris of Addis Abeba) |
| 1961.02.21 |  Myanmar | Apostolic Prefecture of Bhamo was promoted as Diocese of Myitkyina |
| 1961.02.21 | Myanmar | Apostolic Prefecture of Prome was promoted as Diocese of Prome |
| 1961.02.21 |  Uganda | Diocese of Fort Portal was established (from Diocese of Mbarara and became suffragan of Rubaga) |
| 1961.02.27 | Mexico | Diocese of Tula was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of México and Diocese of Tulancingo and became suffragan of México) |
| 1961.03.19 |  Bolivia | Military Vicariate of Bolivia was established |
| 1961.03.21 | Myanmar | Diocese of Taunggyi was established (from Diocese of Toungoo and became suffragan of Rangoon) |
| 1961.03.21 |  Niger | Apostolic Prefecture of Niamey was promoted as Diocese of Niamey (without ecclesiastical province) |
| 1961.03.21 |  Taiwan | Diocese of Hsinchu 新竹 was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Taipei 臺北 and became suffragan of Taipei 臺北) |
| 1961.03.21 | Taiwan | Apostolic Prefecture of Kaohsung 高雄 was promoted as Diocese of Kaohsiung 高雄 (lost territory to establish Diocese of Tainan 臺南) |
| 1961.03.21 | Taiwan | Diocese of Tainan 臺南 was established (from Apostolic Prefecture of Kaohsung 高雄 and became suffragan of Taipei 臺北) |
| 1961.04.10 |  Argentina | Diocese of Avellaneda was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of La Plata and Diocese of Lomas de Zamora and became suffragan of La Plata) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of Añatuya was established (from Diocese of Santiago del Estero and became suffragan of Tucumán) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of Concordia was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Paraná and became suffragan of Paraná) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of Corrientes was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Corrientes (with suffragan sees Goya, Posadas and Resistencia and lost territory to establish Diocese of Goya) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of Goya was established (from Diocese of Corrientes and became suffragan of Corrientes) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of Mendoza was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mendoza (with suffragan sees Neuquén and San Rafael and lost territory to establish Diocese of San Rafael) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of Neuquén was established (from Diocese of Viedma and became suffragan of Mendoza) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of Orán was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Salta and became suffragan of Salta) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of Rafaela was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santa Fe and Diocese of Reconquista and became suffragan of Santa Fe) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina,  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | Diocese of Río Gallegos was established (from Diocese of Comodoro Rivadavia and became suffragan of Bahía Blanca) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of San Francisco was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Córdoba and became suffragan of Córdoba) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of San Martín was established (from Diocese of Morón and Diocese of San Isidro and became suffragan of Buenos Aires) |
| 1961.04.10 | Argentina | Diocese of San Rafael was established (from Diocese of Mendoza and became suffragan of Mendoza) |
| 1961.04.28 | Syria | Titular Episcopal See of Laodicea in Syria (Greek-Melkite Rite) was suppressed (to establish Archdiocese of Latakia) |
| 1961.04.28 | Syria | Archdiocese of Latakia (Greek-Melkite Rite) was established (from Diocese of Tripoli, from the suppressed former Titular Episcopal See of Laodicea in Syria and without ecclesiastical province) |
| 1961.05.16 |  Nigeria | Diocese of Port Harcourt was established (from Diocese of Owerri and became suffragan of Onitsha) |
| 1961.05.22 | Brazil | Diocese of Frederico Westphalen was established (from Diocese of Passo Fundo and Diocese of Santa Maria and became suffragan of Porto Alegre) |
| 1961.05.22 | Brazil | Diocese of Santo Ângelo was established (from Diocese of Uruguaiana and became suffragan of Porto Alegre) |
| 1961.05.26 |  South Sudan | Apostolic Vicariate of Bahr el-Gebel was renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Juba |
| 1961.05.26 | South Sudan | Apostolic Vicariate of Bahr el-Ghazal was renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Wau |
| 1961.06.05 |  Philippines | Diocese of Laoag was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia and became suffragan of Nueva Segovia) |
| 1961.06.06 |  Burundi | Diocese of Bururi was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gitega and became suffragan of Gitega) |
| 1961.06.06 |  South Korea | Apostolic Vicariate of Incheon 인천 was established (from Apostolic Vicariate of Seul 서울) |
| 1961.06.24 |  Cameroon | Diocese of Mbalmayo was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Yaoundé and became suffragan of Yaoundé) |
| 1961.06.24 |  Congo-Kinshasa | Diocese of Popokabaka was established (from Diocese of Kisantu and became suffragan of Léopoldville) |
| 1961.06.26 | Brazil | Territorial Prelature of Humaitá was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Manaus and Territorial Prelature of Porto Velho and became suffragan of Manaus) |
| 1961.07.14 | USA | Diocese of Saint Nicholas of Chicago (Ukrainian Rite) was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Philadelphia and became suffragan of Philadelphia) |
| 1961.07.22 | Brazil | Diocese of Uberlândia was established (from Diocese of Uberaba and became suffragan of Belo Horizonte) |
| 1961.07.22 |  Costa Rica | Diocese of Tilarán was established (from Diocese of Alajuela and became suffragan of San José) |
| 1961.07.22 |  Guatemala | Territorial Prelature of Huehuetenango was established (from Diocese of San Marcos and became suffragan of Guatemala) |
| 1961.07.22 | USA | Diocese of Baton Rouge was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans and became suffragan of New Orleans) |
| 1961.09.10 |  Paraguay | Territorial Prelature of Coronel Oviedo was established (from Diocese of Concepción and became suffragan of Asunción) |
| 1961.09.11 | Congo-Kinshasa | Diocese of Ikela was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Coquilhatville and became suffragan of Coquilhatville) |
| 1961.09.11 |  Rwanda | Diocese of Astrida was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kabgayi and became suffragan of Kabgayi) |
| 1961.10.16 | Brazil | Territorial Prelature of Cândido Mendes was established (from Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro and became suffragan of São Luís do Maranhão) |
| 1961.10.16 | USA | Diocese of San Angelo was established (from Diocese of Amarillo, Diocese of Austin and Diocese of Dallas–Fort Worth and became suffragan of San Antonio) |
| 1961.11.07 |  Eswatini | Diocese of Bremersdorp was renamed as Diocese of Manzini |
| 1961.11.25 | Brazil | Territorial Prelature of Abaeté do Tocantins was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Belém do Pará and became suffragan of Belém do Pará) |
| 1961.11.25 | Brazil | Territorial Prelature of Chapada was renamed as Territorial Prelature of Rondonópolis |
| 1961.11.25 | Brazil | Territorial Prelature of São Luís de Montes Belos was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Goiânia, Diocese of Goiás and Diocese of Jataí and became suffragan of Goiânia) |
| 1961.11.25 | Philippines | Diocese of Imus was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Manila and Diocese of Lipa and became suffragan of Manila) |
| 1961.11.25 | Philippines | Diocese of Malolos was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Manila and became suffragan of Manila) |
| 1961.11.25 |  Uruguay | Diocese of Canelones was established (from Diocese of San José de Mayo and became suffragan of Montevideo) |
| 1961.12.04 |  Peru | Territorial Prelature of Huamachuco was established (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Trujillo and became suffragan of Trujillo) |
| 1961.12.09 |  Belgium | Diocese of Antwerpen was restored (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mechelen and became suffragan of Mechelen–Brussel) |
| 1961.12.09 | Belgium | Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mechelen was renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mechelen–Brussel (lost territory to establish Diocese of Antwerpen, lost suffragan see Gent and gained suffragan sees Antwerpen and Gent) |
| 1961.12.11 | Bolivia | Territorial Prelature of Aiquile was established (from Diocese of Cochabamba and became suffragan of Sucre) |
| 1961.12.20 | Paraguay | Military Vicariate of Paraguay was established |
| 1961.12.22 |  Chad | Diocese of Fort-Archambault was established (from Diocese of Fort-Lamy and became suffragan of Fort-Lamy) |
| 1961.12.22 | Chad | Diocese of Fort-Lamy was promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fort-Lamy (with suffragan sees Fort-Archambault and Moundou and lost territory to establish Diocese of Fort-Archambault) |
| 1961.12.22 |  Japan | Apostolic Prefecture of Miyazaki 宮崎 was promoted as Diocese of Oita 大分 |
| 1961.12.22 |  Slovenia | Diocese of Ljubljana was promoted as Archdiocese of Ljubljana |
