The Catholic Church in Turkmenistan is part of the worldwide
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...
, under the spiritual leadership of the
Pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus ( legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
.
History
All Catholic infrastructure in the country was destroyed by Soviet revolutionaries in the 1920s.
In 1997 a request was made to recognize the local Catholic community, but was refused since the local church was not headed by a
Turkmen.
As of 2010, the church had approximately 100 members and 30
catechumens
Catechesis (; from Greek: , "instruction by word of mouth", generally "instruction") is basic Christian religious education of children and adults, often from a catechism book. It started as education of converts to Christianity, but as the ...
.
In July 2010, the Catholic Mission received official government recognition.
Plans are underway to ask permission to build a Catholic church, and to reclaim a Catholic Armenian church in
Turkmenbasy that still stands in the west of the country, as well as a church building in
Sendar.
There are currently two priests and a deacon serving the Catholic population.
Mass is celebrated at the Papal embassy in the capital and at parishioners' homes.
See also
*
Religion in Turkmenistan
The Turkmen of Turkmenistan, like their kin in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran are predominantly Muslims. According the U.S. Department of State's ''International Religious Freedom Report'' for 2019,According to U.S. government estimates, the ...
*
Christianity in Turkmenistan
Christians, most of whom are ethnic Russians, constitute less than 9% of the population in Turkmenistan. Eastern Orthodoxy in Turkmenistan is the main form of Christianity.
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church is officially ...
*
Chapel of the Transfiguration, Ashgabat
The Chapel of the Transfiguration or the Chapel of the Transfiguration of the Lord, is a religious building that is part of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in the city of Ashkhabad, the capital of the Asian country of Turkmenistan.
The ...
*
Mission sui iuris of Turkmenistan
The Roman Catholic Mission Sui Iuris of Turkmenistan is a Roman Catholic (Latin Church) Mission sui iuris (pre-diocesan jurisdiction) for the Catholics of Turkmenistan.
It is exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See (not part of any ecclesias ...
References
External links
Profile of Catholic Church in Turkmenistan
{{Asia topic, Christianity in
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the s ...
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the s ...