The Immaculate Conception of Benghazi
The Catholic Church is still alive in Benghazi through the apostolic vicariate erected in 1927 and has always been entrusted to the Franciscans. The cult is maintained today in the church of the Immaculate Conception (Maria Immacolata), which serves a small community made up almost entirely of foreign workers, while the ancient Italian cathedral has been closed since 1970.
🌹 Wonders and anecdotes
- The apostolic vicariate was erected on 3 February 1927 as Vicariate of Cyrenaica and took the name of Benghazi in 1939; all his pastors have been Franciscan friars, faithful to this land in times of war and persecution.
- The church in use is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception (Maria Immacolata): a simple temple where a small community, coming from many nations, continues to celebrate the Eucharist in a country where Christians are a small minority.
- The monumental Italian cathedral, built between 1929 and 1936 and dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus, closed in 1970 and is now very damaged; it remains, on paper, the seat of the vicariate, a silent witness of another time.
- In 2023 Pope Francis appointed the Maltese Franciscan Vicar Sandro Overend Rigillo, continuing an uninterrupted chain of shepherds who have not abandoned the small flock of Cyrenaica.
Immaculate Conception
In Benghazi the Catholic faith persevers in the small: a Franciscan vicariate almost centenary and the church of the Immaculate Conception, where foreign workers from many countries gather around the altar. The Immaculate One keeps a tiny and faithful flock there.
In the Immaculate Conception of Mary, he loves Christians who live their faith in the lands of Libya.
Is the advocation of the Virgin Mary of your people missing?
Si no encuentras la advocación mariana de tu ciudad o pueblo, cuéntanosla: la investigaremos para ubicarla y darla a conocer en este mapa del amor de la Madre por el mundo.
Propose an apvocation →