{{short description|none}} {{Catholic Church by country}} [[File:St. Matthew's Catholic Cathedral (Khartoum) 001.jpg|thumb|St. Matthew's Catholic Cathedral, Khartoum]] [[Image:Sudan RC Church diocese district map 2007.svg|thumb|Overview over Catholic dioceses in Sudan (1–2) and South Sudan (3–9). <br>1. [[Roman Catholic Diocese of El Obeid|El Obeid]]<br>2. [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Khartoum|Archdiocese of Khartoum]]<br>3. [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Wau|Wau]]<br>4. [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Rumbek|Rumbek]]<br>5. [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Malakal|Malakal]]<br>6. [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio|Tombura–Yambio]]<br>7. [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Yei|Yei]]<br>8. [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Juba|Archdiocese of Juba]]<br>9. [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Torit|Torit]]]] The '''Catholic Church in Sudan''' is part of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]], under the spiritual leadership of the [[Pope]] in [[Rome]].
In 2020 there were approximately 1.1 million Catholics in Sudan, about 3.2% of the total population.<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/qview5.html Catholic Hierarchy]</ref><ref>[https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/sudan Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08]</ref> Sudan forms one ecclesiastical province, consisting of one archdiocese and one suffragan diocese.
==Sudanese Civil War== The [[Sudanese civil war (2023–present)|Sudanese civil war]], which started in 2023, had a deep effect on the small Catholic community in Sudan. Many foreign Catholics left the country, but some missionaries remained for over a year to minister to the communities they served. One example were the Salesian religious sisters at the Dar Mariam residence, in Shajara, seven kilometres outside of the capital, [[Khartoum]], assisted by Fr Jacob Thelekkadan, a [[Salesians of Don Bosco|Salesian]] priest originally from [[Kerala]], in [[India]]. The community was in territory controlled by the [[Sudanese Armed Forces]], but surrounded by the [[Rapid Support Forces]]. The religious cared for hundreds of residents from Shajara who sought refuge there, according to statements given by Fr Jacob to international charity [[Aid to the Church in Need]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=d'Avillez |first=Filipe |date=2024-06-06 |title=Through gunfire, malnutrition and constant danger, Sudanese Christians grow closer to God |url=https://acninternational.org/through-gunfire-malnutrition-and-constant-danger-sudanese-christians-grow-closer-to-god/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=ACN International |language=en-US}}</ref> The sisters' house was hit by artillery shells, but no casualties were recorded. A first evacuation attempt was made by a [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] convoy in December 2023, but came under fire and had to retreat. In August 2024 the entire community was evacuated safely by the Sudanese Armed Forces.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Redazione |date=2024-08-04 |title=The community of Khartoum is safe - Sudan • Istituto Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice |url=https://www.cgfmanet.org/en/humanitarian-emergencies-and-campaigns/the-community-of-khartoum-is-safe-sudan/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Istituto Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice |language=en-US}}</ref>
At the beginning of the [[Sudanese civil war (2023–present)|Sudanese Civil War]] El-Obeid remained under thecontrol of the [[Sudanese Armed Forces]], but was surrounded by the [[Rapid Support Forces]], who shelled the city. In an interview with international charity [[Aid to the Church in Need]], bishop Yunan Andali explained that since the Cathedral is located between a military barracks, a police station and a building that belongs to the security forces it was in the hot zone when the war began. He explained that several military sought refuge in the cathedral on the first days of shelling. He also explained that during the war he has continued to offer spiritual and material support to the 300 Catholic families in El-Obeid. The Catholic Church operates six kindergartens, six primary schools and one secondary school in El-Obeid, and these are the only educational institutions that remain open, according to Bishop Tombe, a fact that earned the Church compliments from the authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=d'Avillez |first=Filipe |date=2025-01-16 |title=Keeping Christ present in war-torn Sudan |url=https://acninternational.org/keeping-christ-present-in-war-torn-sudan/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=ACN International |language=en-US}}</ref>
In June 2025 news emerged of the death of Fr Luka Jomo, a Catholic priest in the city of [[Al-Fashir|El Fasher]]. The priest was killed by a stray fire during an attack by the Rapid Support Forces. The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of El Obeid|Diocese of El-Obeid]], which covers El Fasher, confirmed his death, but said in a statement that it did not believe he had been intentionally targeted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lozano |first=Maria |last2=Burgos |first2=Xavi |date=2025-06-14 |title=Priest Dies During Rebel Militia Attack in Sudan |url=https://acninternational.org/priest-dies-during-rebel-militia-attack-in-sudan/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=ACN International |language=en-US}}</ref>
In September 2025 the [[Nuncio|Apostolic Nuncio]] to [[South Sudan]] visited many of the Christian communities in Sudan. The 10-day visit began in [[Port Sudan]] and was facilitated by the [[Sudanese Armed Forces]]. Archbishop [[Séamus Patrick Horgan|Seamus Patrick Horgan]] also visited the outlying areas of [[Khartoum]], such as Mayo, Haj Yousif, Jabarona and Masalma in Omdurman, where he celebrated several masses, according to pontifical foundation [[Aid to the Church in Need]]. The nuncio also visited the cities of [[Shendi]], [[Omdurman]] and [[Atbara]] before ending his trip back in Port Sudan, where he met with high-level representatives of the Sudanese government as well as leading clerics from other Christian communities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lozano |first=Maria |date=2025-10-01 |title=Papal envoy carries solidarity to the Christians of war-torn Sudan |url=https://acninternational.org/papal-envoy-carries-solidarity-to-the-christians-of-war-torn-sudan/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=ACN International |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also== *[[List of saints from Africa]] *[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Khartoum|Archdiocese of Khartoum]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of El Obeid|El Obeid]] *[[Religion in Sudan]] *[[Christianity in Sudan]] *[[Orthodoxy in Sudan]] *[[Religion in South Sudan]]
==References== <!--- See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically --> {{Reflist|30em}}
==Sources== *[http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/data/countrySD.htm GCatholic.org] *[http://www.eglisesoudan.org/ Christian Churches in Sudan]
{{Demographics of Sudan}} {{Africa in topic|Catholic Church in|groupstyle=background-color:gold|titlestyle=background-color:gold}}
[[Category:Catholic Church in Sudan| ]] [[Category:Catholic Church by country|Sudan]] [[Category:Catholic Church in Africa|Sudan]]
{{Sudan-stub}} {{RC-country-stub}}