Catholic Church in Zambia

The Catholic Church in Zambia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.

The 2010 census found that 75.3% of Zambians were Protestant and 20.2% were other Christians (mainly Catholic); this amounted to over about three million Catholics in the country.^[1]^: 20 ^[2]

Figures in 2020 suggested that 85% of the country had a Christian background, with 34% following Protestantism and 32% following Catholicism.^[3] Other figures noted that there are almost 1,000 priests and over 2,000 serving almost 400 parishes.^[4]

History

The first missionaries to arrive in Zambia were the Portuguese Dominicans in 1730.^[5] Later on, the first Jesuits in the country crossed the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls in 1879. Jesuit missions were established among the Tonga in 1902 and at Broken Hill in 1927. The White Fathers, entering from the north in 1891, had greater success in what is now Northern and Luapula Province. Permanent Catholic stations on the Copperbelt were provided by Italian Franciscans in 1931. In May 1959 Lusaka became a diocese, and later Kasama also became one. Some media outlets, such as Radio Icengelo and the National Mirror, are linked to the church, which has championed social justice issues and the early pro-democracy movement of the 1980s.^[6] For further details see History of Church activities in Zambia.

Diocese

There are 2 Archdioceses and 9 dioceses in Zambia in 2023.^[7]

Kasama
- Mansa
- Mpika
Lusaka
- Chipata
- Kabwe
- Livingstone
- Mongu
- Monze
- Ndola
- Solwezi

References

^ "2010 Census of Population and Housing" (PDF). Central Statistical Office, Zambia. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2016.^: 19–20
^ "PEW Research Center: Christian Population as Percentages of Total Population by Country 2010". 19 December 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
^ World Religions Database at the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08
^ Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08
^ Hinfelaar, H. (2004). History of the Catholic Church in Zambia. Lusaka: Bookworld Publishers. p. 1.
^ Simon, David J.; Pletcher, James R.; Siegel, Brian V., eds. (2008). "Catholic Church". Historical Dictionary of Zambia. African Historical Dictionaries. Vol. 106 (3rd ed.). Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-8108-5305-8.
^ GCatholic website, Zambia page, retrieved 2023-08-08