{{Short description|none}} {{Catholic Church by country}} [[File:St. Peter & Paul C.jpg|thumb|Gothic-style church in [[Famagusta]] (1360)]] [[File:Holy Cross cathedral.jpg|thumb|The Holy Cross Cathedral in [[Nicosia]] in the early 20th century]]
The '''Catholic Church in Cyprus''' is part of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]], under the spiritual leadership of the [[Pope]] in [[Holy See|Rome]].
==Description== There are around 10,000 Catholic faithful in Cyprus, corresponding to just over 1% of the total population. Most Catholic worshippers are either [[Maronite Cypriots]], under the pastoral care of [[Joseph Soueif]], Archeparch of the [[Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Cyprus]], or [[Latin Church|Latins]], under the pastoral care of the [[Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem]], with a Patriarchal Vicar General. The Maronite Catholic community and the Roman Catholic community of [[Republic of Cyprus|Cyprus]] (''Latinoi, Λατίνοι'') are two of the three recognised religious minorities of Cyprus, together with the [[Armenians]], according to the 1960 constitution,<ref>{{Cite web|title=ΓΕΝΙΚΟ ΠΡΟΞΕΝΕΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗΣ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΓΙΑ ΠΕΤΡΟΥΠΟΛΗ - Γενικές Πληροφορίες|url=http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/consulate/consulate_spb.nsf/cgsp18_gr/cgsp18_gr?OpenDocument|access-date=2021-05-28|website=www.mfa.gov.cy}}</ref> and are represented in the Cypriot parliament.
The [[Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Cyprus| Maronite Archbishopric]] has 12 parishes in Cyprus:
* Parish of Our Lady of Grace in Nicosia * Parish of Saint George in Kormakitis * Parish of Saint Michael the Archangel in Αsomatos * Parish of Saint Croix in Karpasha * Parish of Saint Marina in Saint Marina * Parish of Saint-Maron at Anthoupolis * Parish of Saint-Marina of Kotsiatis * Parish of Saint-Charbel in Limassol * Parish of Saint Marina in Polemidia * Parish of Saint Joseph in Larnaca * Parish of Saint Kyriaki in Pafos
The Latin Patriarchal Vicariate for Cyprus has four parishes:
* The [[Church of the Holy Cross, Nicosia|Holy Cross church]] in [[Nicosia]], with a dependent mission at the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in [[Kyrenia]], [[Northern Cyprus]]. * The St. Mary of Graces Church in [[Larnaca]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cypruscatholicchurch.org/larnaca|title=St Mary of Graces Catholic Church, Larnaca, Cyprus|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> * The [[St. Catherine's Church, Limassol|St. Catherine Catholic Church]] in [[Limassol]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cypruscatholicchurch.org/limassol|title=St Catherine Catholic Church, Limassol|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> * The St. Paul Catholic Church in [[Paphos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stpauls-catholic-parish-paphos.com/|title=St. Paul's Catholic Parish Paphos|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> The Sisters of St. Bruno and Bethlehem have a small convent at [[Mesa Chorio]] served by the parish priest of Paphos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paphoscatholic-churches.com/|title=The Latin Catholic Parish of Paphos (the Church by St. Paul's Pillar)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310221723/http://www.paphoscatholic-churches.com/|access-date=9 April 2018|archive-date=2007-03-10}}</ref> A recently constructed hospice provides palliative care, regardless of nationality or religious persuasion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archangel-michael-hospice.com/|title=Archangel Michael Hospice|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref>
There is also a Catholic presence through chapels and chaplains serving British military personnel, staff and dependents in the [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia|Sovereign Base Areas]] of the island that were established in 1960.
On March 16, 2024, in Nicosia, Cardinal [[Pierbattista Pizzaballa]] consecrated Msgr. Bruno Varriano, OFM, as Bishop, the first Catholic bishop in [[Cyprus]] in 340 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lpj.org/en/news/after-340-years-msgr-bruno-varriano-bishop-to-the-island-of |title=After 340 years... Msgr. Bruno Varriano, Bishop to the Island of Cyprus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319215013/https://www.lpj.org/en/news/after-340-years-msgr-bruno-varriano-bishop-to-the-island-of |access-date=24 November 2024 |archive-date=2024-03-19}}</ref>
==Sacred sites in Cyprus== [[File:Агиа Кириаки. Пафос. 09.2013.JPG|thumb|The Catholic Chrysopolitissa Church, [[Paphos]]]]
Many of the religious sites in Cyprus can be traced to early Byzantine foundations,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paphoscatholic-churches.com/overview.htm|title=The Latin Catholic Church of Pahpos|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313153740/http://www.paphoscatholic-churches.com/overview.htm|access-date=9 April 2018|archive-date=2007-03-13}}</ref> built before the [[East-West Schism]] between Rome and Constantinople in the 11th century. Their architecture and iconography reveal a profound influence on ecclesial building traditions still in use in the [[Cypriot Orthodox Church#Religious sites in Cyprus|Cypriot Orthodox Church]]. In the Middle Ages, Cyprus was ruled by a Frankish aristocracy, the [[Lusignan]] dynasty. They favoured the Gothic style when establishing cathedrals and monasteries. The former Catholic Augustinian Cloister of [[Bellapais]] near Kyrenia was transferred to Orthodox Church authorities when the Ottomans conquered Cyprus at the end of the 16th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/city/kyrenia/bellapais/abbey.htm|title=Bellapais Abbey|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> Other Gothic churches were converted to mosques, for example Saint Sophia Cathedral, now [[Selimiye Mosque (Nicosia)]], and Saint Nicholas Cathedral in [[Famagusta]], now the [[Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque]].
==See also== *[[Religion in Cyprus]] *[[Christianity in Cyprus]] *[[Catholic Church in Greece]] ==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.cypruscatholicchurch.org/ The Latin Catholic Church of Cyprus] * [http://maroniteparchy.org.cy/en/ The Maronite Eparchy of Cyprus] * [http://holy-cross-nicosia.com/ The Holy Cross Church in Nicosia]
{{Catholic Church in Cyprus}} {{Catholic Church in Europe}} {{Asia topic|Catholic Church in|groupstyle=background-color:gold|titlestyle=background-color:gold}}
[[Category:Catholic Church in Cyprus| ]] [[Category:Catholic Church by country|Cyprus]] [[Category:Catholic Church in Europe|Cyprus]]