Roman Catholic Diocese of Leavenworth

The Diocese of Leavenworth (Dioecesis Leavenworthensis) was a Latin Church former diocese and present titular see originally in and around Kansas, in the midwestern United States.

History

 * The future diocese was created on 19 July 1850 as Apostolic Vicariate of Indian Territory East of the Rocky Mountains, by Pope Pius IX.
 * On 1857.01.06, it lost territory to establish the then Apostolic Vicariate of Nebraska, and the remainder was renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Kansas.
 * On 22 May 1877, it was promoted as Diocese of Leavenworth, ceasing to be missionary and exempt.
 * On 2 August 1887, it lost territories to establish the Dioceses of Wichita and the Concordia.
 * On 29 May 1891, it was renamed as Diocese of Kansas City, Kansas / Civitatis Kansas (Latin).
 * On 5 March 1897, it was finally renamed as Diocese of Leavenworth.
 * On May 10, 1947, the diocese was suppressed and its territory used to establish the then Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

Ordinaries

 * Apostolic Vicar of Indian Territory East of the Rocky Mountains
 * John Baptiste Miège, Jesuits (S.J.) (born France) (1850.07.23 – 1857 see below), Titular Bishop of Messene (1850.07.23 – death 1884.07.21)


 * Apostolic Vicars of Kansas
 * John Baptiste Miège, Jesuits (S.J.) (see above 1857 – retired 1874.11.18), died 1884
 * Louis Mary Fink, Benedictine Order (O.S.B.) (born Germany) (1874.11.18 – 1877.05.22 see below), Titular Bishop of Eucarpia (1871.03.01 – 1877.05.22), succeeding as former Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Kansas (1871.03.01 – 1874.11.18)


 * Suffragan Bishop of Leavenworth (first time)
 * Louis Mary Fink, (O.S.B.) (see above 1877.05.22 – 1891.05.29 see below)


 * Suffragan Bishop of Kansas City, Kansas
 * Louis Mary Fink, (O.S.B.) (see above 1891.05.29 – 1897.03.05 see below)


 * Suffragan Bishops of Leavenworth (again)
 * Louis Mary Fink, (O.S.B.) (see above 1897.03.05 – 1904.03.17 death)
 * Thomas Francis Lillis (first native incumbent) (1904.10.24 – 1910.03.14), later Titular Bishop of Cibyra Magna (1910.03.14 – 1913.02.21), Coadjutor Bishop (1910.03.14 – 1913.02.21) and next Bishop of Kansas City (USA) (1913.02.21 – death 1938.12.29)
 * John Chamberlain Ward (1910.11.25 – 1929.04.20)
 * Francis Johannes (1929.04.20 – 1937.03.13), previously Titular Bishop of Thasus & Coadjutor Bishop of Leavenworth (1927.12.19 – death 1929.04.20)
 * Paul Clarence Schulte (1937.05.29 – 1946.07.20); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Indianapolis (1946.07.20 – retired 1970.01.03) and emeritate as Titular Archbishop of Elicroca (1970.01.03 – death 1984.02.17)
 * George Joseph Donnelly (1946.11.09 – 1947.05.10), previously Titular Bishop of Cœla & Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Louis (USA) (1940.03.19 – 1946.11.09); later first Bishop of successor diocese Kansas City (1947.05.10 – death 1950.12.13) (now Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas)

Titular see
In 1995, the Diocese was nominally restored as a Latin rite titular bishopric of Leavenworth.

It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank:
 * Marion Francis Forst (1995.09.23 – death 2007.06.02) as emeritate; previously Bishop of Dodge City (USA) (1960.01.02 – 1976.10.16), Titular Bishop of Scala (1976.10.16 – 1986.12.23) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Kansas City (USA) (1976.10.16 – 1986.12.23)
 * Barry Christopher Knestout (2008.11.18 – 2018.01.12) as Auxiliary Bishop of Washington (D.C., USA); next Bishop of Richmond (USA) (2017.12.05 – ...)
 * Joel M. Konzen, S.M. (2018.04.03 – ...), Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta, USA.

Sources and external links

 * GCatholic - data for all sections, with incumbent biography links and Google satellite HQ photo