Roman Catholic Diocese of Polokwane

Roman Catholic diocese in South Africa

Diocese of Polokwane Dioecesis Polokwanensis

Location
Country	South Africa
Metropolitan	Pretoria
Statistics
Area	69,533 km² (26,847 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2004) 2,500,000 86,268 (3.5%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Cathedral	Sacred heart cathedral
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Jeremiah Madimetja Masela
Vicar General	Selemela Clement

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Polokwane (Latin: Polokwanen(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Polokwane in the ecclesiastical province of Pretoria in South Africa.

History

December 22, 1910: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Transvaal from the Apostolic Vicariate of Transvaal
June 13, 1939: Promoted as Territorial Prelature of Pietersburg
December 15, 1988: Promoted as Diocese of Pietersburg
September 4, 2009: Name changed - Diocese of Polokwane

Special churches

The sacred heart cathedral in biccard street is the seat of the Bishop

Leadership

Prefects Apostolic of Northern Transvaal (Roman rite)
- Fr. Ildefonso Lanslots, O.S.B. (1911 – 1922)
- Fr. Salvatore van Nuffel, O.S.B. (1922.03.21 – 1939)
Prelates of Pietersburg (Roman rite)
- Bishop Frederic Osterrath, O.S.B. (1939.11.14 – 1952)
- Bishop Francis Clement van Hoeck, O.S.B. (1954.01.06 – 1975)
- Bishop Fulgence Werner Le Roy, O.S.B. (1975.07.10 – 1988.12.15 see below)
Bishops of Pietersburg (Roman rite)
- Bishop Fulgence Werner Le Roy, O.S.B. (see above 1988.12.15 – 2000.02.17)
- Bishop Mogale Paul Nkhumishe (2000.02.17 - 2009.09.04 see below)
Bishops of Polokwane (Roman rite)
- Bishop Mogale Paul Nkhumishe (see above 2009.09.04 - 2011.12.09)
- Bishop Jeremiah Madimetja Masela (2013.06.10 - present)