Established on 15 October 1696 as an
apostolic vicariate, its episcopal see is the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as Ping'anqiao Church) located in the city of
Chengdu. The Diocese of Chengdu is the first bishopric of the
Catholic Church in Sichuan (Szechwan), since the separation of the mission's eastern territory in 1856, it was designated Western Szechwan Mission.
Extent
Map of Western Szechwan Mission, prepared by
Adrien Launay [
fr], 1889.
Genealogy of
MEP ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Sichuan (Szechwan), with its three attachments:
Tibet,
Yunnan and
Guizhou (Kweichow).
The diocese, based in
Chengdu, covers 4 cities, namely, Chengdu (Tchen-tou-fou),
Deyang (Te-yang-hien),
Guangyuan (Koang-yuen-hien) and
Mianyang (Mien-tcheou-hien), and 37 districts and counties, totaling an area of 54,900 square kilometers.[1]
Established on 15 October 1696 as Apostolic Vicariate of Szechwan (Vicariatus Apostolicus Seciuensis), on territory split off from the
Apostolic Vicariate of Fokien
Lost territories repeatedly: on 28 August 1840 to re-establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Yunnan and on 27 March 1846 to re-establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Kweichow and establish the
Apostolic Vicariate of Lhasa
Renamed on 2 April 1856 as Apostolic Vicariate of Northwestern Szechwan (Vicariatus Apostolicus Seciuensis Septentrionalis-Occidentalis), having lost territory to establish
Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Szechwan)
Luigi Maria Maggi,
gallicized as Louis Marie Maggi (
Dominican Order, abbreviated O.P.) (born in Italy) (December 17, 1742 - August 20, 1743), Titular Bishop of
Baris in Hellesponto (1738.10.08 – 1743.08.20), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Szechwan (1738.10.08 – 1742.12.17)
Joachim-Enjobert de Martiliat, M.E.P. (born in France) (August 20, 1743 - death 24 August 1755), Titular Bishop of
Echinus (1739.10.02 – 1755.08.24), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Yunnan (1739.10.02 – 1743.08.20)
Pierre-Jean Kerhervé, M.E.P. (born in France) (1762.07.27 – death 1766.01.22 not possessed), Titular Bishop of
Gortyna (1762.07.27 – 1766.01.22)
François Pottier [
fr], M.E.P. (born in France) (24 January 1767 – death 28 September 1792), Titular Bishop of
Agathopolis (1767.01.24 – 1792.09.28)
SaintGabriel-Taurin Dufresse, M.E.P. (born in France) (15 November 1801 – death 14 September 1815), Titular Bishop of
Tabraca (1798.07.24 – 1815.09.14), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Szechwan (1798.07.24 – 1801.11.15)
Jacques-Léonard Pérocheau, M.E.P. (born in France) (11 July 1838 – 2 April 1856 see below), Titular Bishop of
Maxula (1817.09.30 – 1861.05.06), initially as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Szechwan (1817.09.30 – 1838.07.11)
Annet-Théophile Pinchon [
fr], M.E.P. (born in France) (6 May 1861 – death 26 October 1891),
Titular Bishop of Polemonium [
it] (1859.04.23 – 1891.10.26), initially as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Northwestern Szechwan (1859.04.23 – 1861.05.06)
Marie-Julien Dunand, M.E.P. (born in France) (21 April 1893 – death 4 August 1915), Titular Bishop of
Calœ (1893.08.21 – 1915.08.04)