Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Italian. (February 2011) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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Archdiocese of Owerri Archidioecesis Overriensis | |
|---|---|
 Assumpta Cathedral | |
| Location | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| Territory | Imo State |
| Ecclesiastical province | Owerri |
| Coordinates | 5°29′06″N 7°02′06″E / 5.48500°N 7.03500°E |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Cathedral | Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Archbishop | Most Rev. Anthony J. V. Obinna |
| Suffragans | Aba, Ahiara, Okigwe, Orlu, Umuahia |
| Auxiliary Bishops | Moses Chikwe |
| Map | |
 Imo State shown in red | |
| Website | |
| owarch.org.ng | |
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri (Latin: Archidioecesis Overriensis) is located in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
The Seat of Wisdom Seminary is in Owerri.
The archdiocese covers an area of 2,996 km². 670,986 of the 1.7 million people in the area are member of the Catholic Church.
History
The diocese dates back to the Vicariate Apostolic of Owerri, which was created on February 12, 1948 when the Vicariate Apostolic of Onitsha-Owerri was split. On April 18, 1950 it was elevated to a diocese. On March 26, 1994 it became an archdiocese.
Special churches
The seat of the archbishop is Assumpta Cathedral in Owerri.
Bishops
Ordinaries
- Vicar Apostolic of Owerri (Roman rite)
- Bishop Joseph Brendan Whelan, C.S.Sp. 1948.02.12 – 1950.04.18; see below
- Bishops of Owerri (Roman rite)
- Bishop Joseph Brendan Whelan, C.S.Sp. 1950.04.18 – 1970.06.25; see above
- Bishop Mark Onwuha Unegbu 1970.06.25 – 1993.07.01
- Bishop Anthony J.V. Obinna 1993.07.01 – 1994.03.26; see below
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Owerri (Roman rite)
- Archbishop Anthony John Valentine Obinna since 1994.03.26; see above
Auxiliary bishop
- Moses Chikwe (2019-)
Other priest of this diocese who became bishop
- Augustine Ndubueze Echema, appointed Bishop of Aba in 2019