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'{{Infobox religious building | building_name=Mogadishu Cathedral | image=Mogadischu Cathedral.jpg | image_size= | caption= | location=[[Mogadishu]], [[Somalia]] | geo={{coord|2.035736|45.341614|type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | religious_affiliation=[[Roman Catholic]] | district= | consecration_year=1928 | status=[[Cathedral]] | leadership= | website= | architect= | architecture_style=[[Norman architecture|Norman]] [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic]] | groundbreaking = | year_completed=1928 | specifications= | capacity= }} The '''Mogadishu Cathedral''' is a [[Roman Catholic]] cathedral located in [[Mogadishu]], [[Somalia]]. When still operational, it served as the seat of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mogadiscio]]. Built in 1928 by Italian colonial authorities, the much of the building was destroyed in 2008 by Islamic radicals. In 2013, the diocese announced plans to refurbish the building. ==History== The Mogadishu Cathedral was built in 1928 by the Italian authorities in the former [[Italian Somaliland]].<ref name="sszedr">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?ei=8LVAU9nDEYqmsASVs4HQAQ&id=ulXZAAAAMAAJ |title=Consolata Missionaries in the World (1901-2001) |author= Giovanni Tebaldi |page=127 |date= |accessdate=2014-04-06}}</ref> Known as the '''Cattedrale di Mogadiscio''', it was constructed in a [[Norman architecture|Norman]] [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic]] style, based on the [[Cefalù Cathedral]] in [[Cefalù]], [[Sicily]]. It was built in nearly six years by the Italian authorities in their former [[Italian Somaliland]], in a central area of the capital not far from the [[Governor's Palace of Mogadishu|Governor's Palace]]. Indeed the Cathedral was built as the biggest in eastern Africa by order of [[Cesare Maria De Vecchi]], a catholic governor of "Somalia italiana" who promoted the "Missionari della Consolata" christianization of Somalian people.<ref>[http://www.asei.eu/it/2011/11/le-missioni-cattoliche-italiane-allestero-il-caso-della-consolata-nella-somalia-di-cesare-maria-de-vecchi-1924-1928/ The catholic missionaries of "Consolata" promoted by governor De Vecchi (in Italian)]</ref> It was built between 1923 and 1928 and was used as a model the "Cathedral of Cefalu" (in northern [[Sicily]]), created to commemorate the Christian reconquest of Sicily from the Arabs in the X century. The Cathedral was done in "Norman" [[Gothic style]], designed by architect Antonio Vandone. The facade, with an impressive appearance, was delimited to the sides by two towers, each 37.50 meters high. The plan of the building was a Latin cross; inside was divided into three naves separated by piers with pointed arches.<ref>[http://senato.archivioluce.it/senato-luce/scheda/foto/IL0600007567/8/Celebrazione-religiosa-nella-cattedrale-di-Mogadiscio.html Religious ceremony inside the naves]</ref> The church was entrusted to the "Consolata" missionaries, then replaced by the Franciscans (Friars Minor). The altar had a huge statue -done by sculptor Cesare Biscarra- of the Virgin Mary of Consolata,<ref>[http://www.internetculturale.it/opencms/opencms/it/viewItemMag.jsp?case=&id=oai%3Awww.internetculturale.sbn.it%2FTeca%3A20%3ANT0000%3ARM0255_DIG_1160 Statue & decorations inside the Mogadiscio Cathedral]</ref> that looked at the parishioners in an impressive way like a statue of Roman Gods inside an ancient imperial temple.<ref>[http://www.internetculturale.it/jmms/iccuviewer/iccu.jsp?id=oai%3Awww.internetculturale.sbn.it%2FTeca%3A20%3ANT0000%3ARM0255_DIG_1159&mode=all&teca=MagTeca+-+ICCU Image of the Virgin Mary over the Altar]</ref> In 1989, on the eve of the outbreak of the [[Somali Civil War|civil war]] in Somalia, the last Bishop of Mogadishu, [[Salvatore Colombo]], was killed by armed insurgents while celebrating Mass in the cathedral.<ref>[http://www.atma-o-jibon.org/italiano4/rit_albanese61.htm La fede negata, aricolo dell'"Avvenire"]</ref> ==Actual situation== After 1991, the cathedral was no longer regularly used.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HL0jDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT3&lpg=PT3&dq=Mogadishu+Cathedral+interior&source=bl&ots=5G3EYyZvQY&sig=IzJBgy5pjLabhQppDrTgeRWiPYU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiZ8OSDm6zVAhWEVz4KHT63AlEQ6AEIeDAN#v=onepage&q=Mogadishu%20Cathedral%20interior&f=false|title=Vacation Goose Travel Guide Mogadishu Somalia|last=Morgan|first=Francis|publisher=Soffer Publishing|language=en}}</ref> [[File:Pictures from an armed convoy trip in Mogadishu.jpg|thumb|left|200px|What remained of the Catholic Cathedral in 2011]] In late 2008, much of the catholic cathedral was destroyed by Islamic radicals.<ref>[http://www.ilgiornale.it/a.pic1?ID=295172 Articolo del Giornale, 3 ottobre 2008]</ref> A [[BBC]] correspondent later visited the site in 2012 and reported that some internally displaced people had formed tent settlements on the cathedral grounds. This was in stark contrast to the many new shops that had opened outside, where merchants, optimistic about the city's relative stability since the ouster of the insurgents, had begun to publicly advertise their wares again. The correspondent also mentioned that although the cathedral had structurally incurred considerable damage by having its roof blown off among other things, its walls were still erect, its elegant stone arches still in place, and the general atmosphere was one of serenity.<ref name="Bsgogabb">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19110975 Somalia's Graveyard of Grand and Beautiful Buildings]</ref> In April 2013, after a visit to the site to inspect its condition, the Diocese of Mogadiscio announced plans to rebuild the cathedral in the future.<ref name="Afasifsoh">{{cite web|title=AFRICA/SOMALIA - "I found signs of hope," said Bishop Bertin who has just returned from Mogadishu|url=http://www.fides.org/en/news/pdf/33502|publisher=Agenzia Fides|accessdate=24 January 2014}}</ref> Actually the destroyed building it is also used to give food and medicines to the poorest people in Mogadishu<ref>[http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/01/18/bishop-sees-signs-of-hope-as-elections-approach-in-somalia/ Bishop sees signs of hope in Somalia]</ref> ==Bibliography== * Guida d'Italia del Touring Club Italiano. - Possedimenti e Colonie, Milano 1929, p.&nbsp;757. * D. Paladini. ''Omicidio a Mogadiscio - L'ultimo vescovo al crepuscolo della Somalia'' Paoline Editoriale Libri. Roma,2006 ==External Links== * [http://www.internetculturale.it/opencms/viewItemMag.jsp?case=&id=oai%3Awww.internetculturale.sbn.it%2FTeca%3A20%3ANT0000%3ARM0255_DIG_1159 Photos of the Cathedral's interior] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SSXjRf2wVk Video of 2014 Cathedral's ruins] ==See also== *[[Roman Catholicism in Somalia]] *[[Christianity in Somalia]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{Africa in topic|Roman Catholicism in}} {{Italian colonial empire}} [[Category:Mogadishu]] [[Category:Catholic Church in Africa]] [[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1928]] [[Category:Catholic Church in Somalia]] [[Category:1928 establishments in Italian Somaliland]] [[Category:Roman Catholic cathedrals in Somalia]]'