Syria's communities and civilizations – history, sites and heritage
Latin Catholics
اللاتين (الكاثوليك اللاتين)
Religious communities
Latin-rite Catholics in Syria form a small community under the Apostolic Vicariate of Aleppo, erected in 1762 and long led by Franciscans. Its earlier seat was the Cathedral of St Francis of Assisi in Aleppo.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Aleppo was properly erected on 27 June 1762; until 2013 its ordinaries were mostly Europeans or members of missionary congregations, chiefly Franciscans.
Sources and details
The Cathedral of St Francis of Assisi in Aleppo was the vicariate's former seat; the Cathedral of the Child Jesus opened in 2011. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa in Tartus, a town held by the Crusader County of Tripoli, is now a museum.
The vicariate reported about 13,000 Catholics in 10 parishes in 2014 (estimate).
Sites connected with this community 2
- Saint Francis of Assisi CathedralAleppo · Churches & monasteries
Former seat of the Apostolic Vicariate of Aleppo.
- Cathedral of Our Lady of TortosaTartus · Churches & monasteries
Cathedral of Tortosa in Tartus, captured by the Crusaders; now Tartus Museum.
These categories describe history, language and faith – not exclusive identities. Many Syrians belong to several, and some names refer to civilizations of the past.