Roman Catholic Diocese Of Banja Luka
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Banja Luka (Serbian, Croatian: Banjalučka biskupija, Lat:Dioecesis Bania Lucensisis) a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in western Bosnia. The diocese is centred in the city of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Erected on July 5, 1881, the diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna, as the Diocese of Banjaluka. In 1985, the name of the diocese was split to the current diocese of Banja Luka.
The original Cathedral of Saint Bonaventure in the city was built in 1887. However, an earthquake in 1969 levelled the church. Banja Luka's current cathedral was built in 1974. Currently, Bishop Franjo Komarica is head of the diocese. On Thursday, July 15, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Father Marko Semren, O.F.M., guardian of the Franciscan convent of Gorica-Livno and professor of the Franciscan Theological Institute of Sarajevo, as auxiliary bishop of Banja Luka to Bishop Komarica.
The city of Banja Luka, and much of the territory that the diocese covers contains an Orthodox Serb majority. The Bosnian War greatly affected the diocese. Virtually all of the churches in the bishopric sustained some damage, and many were destroyed. Many Croats were expelled from the region or fled, leaving only a fraction of the original Catholic population remaining. Bishop Komarica has been urging people to return, to mixed results.
Read more about Roman Catholic Diocese Of Banja Luka: Deaneries, Religious Orders, Saints, Blesseds & Venerables of Banja Luka
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