Apostolic Vicariate of

Benghazi

Libya

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: Benghazi / Berenicen(sis) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Neighbouring Dioceses: Tripoli (↙), Misurata (←), Derna (→), Khartoum (→), El Obeid (→), Alexandria of Egypt (↘), Mongo (↓), N’Djaména (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1927.02.03: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Cirenaica / Cyrenaicæ (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Libya)
1939.06.22: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Benghazi / Berenicen(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Derna)

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2023.07.16 – ...):

Bishop Sandro Overend Rigillo, O.F.M. (67)

Apostolic Administrator of Derna (Libya)

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Benghazi (Roman Rite)

Bishop Sandro Overend Rigillo, O.F.M. (67)
(2023.07.16 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Benghazi (Libya)
Apostolic Administrator of Derna (Libya)

Secundum verbum tuum

Born:	1959.01.31 (Sliema, Malta)
Ordained Priest:	1984.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.08.22

Apostolic Administrator of Benghazi (Libya) (2019.12.08 – 2023.07.16)

Apostolic Administrator of Derna (Libya) (2019.12.08 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Benghazi (Libya) (2023.07.16 – ...)

Fr. Sandro Overend Rigillo, O.F.M. (67) (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 2019.12.08 – 2023.07.16)

Bishop George Bugeja, O.F.M. (63)
(Apostolic Administrator 2016.02.14 – 2019.12.08)

Bishop Sylvester Carmel Magro, O.F.M.
(1997.03.10 – 2016.02.14)

Born:	1941.02.14 (Rabat, Malta)
Ordained Priest:	1966.03.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.05.11
Died:	2018.01.20 (Msida, Malta † 76)

Vicar Apostolic of Benghazi (Libya) (1997.03.10 – 2016.02.14)

Apostolic Administrator of Derna (Libya) (1997.03.10 – 2016.02.14)

Titular Bishop of Saldæ (1997.03.10 – 2018.01.20)

Bishop Giustino Giulio Pastorino, O.F.M.
(1965.01.11 – 1997.03.10)

Born:	1910.06.10 (Masone, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1934.05.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1965.03.21
Died:	2005.04.26 († 94)

Vicar Apostolic of Benghazi (Libya) (1965.01.11 – 1997.03.10)

Apostolic Administrator of Derna (Libya) (1965.01.11 – 1997.03.10)

Titular Bishop of Babra (1965.01.11 – 2005.04.26)

Bishop Ernesto Aurelio Ghiglione, O.F.M.
(1951.07.05 – 1964.06.08)

Born:	1884.10.23 (Genova, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1908.06.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1951.09.23
Died:	1964.06.08 († 79)

Titular Bishop of Gauriana (1951.07.05 – 1964.06.08)

Vicar Apostolic of Benghazi (Libya) (1951.07.05 – 1964.06.08)

Apostolic Administrator of Derna (Libya) (1951.07.05 – 1964.06.08)

Bishop Candido Domenico Moro, O.F.M.
(1939.06.22 – 1950)

Born:	1880.04.22 (Isolabona, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1902.01.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1931.09.21
Died:	1952.10.01 († 72)

Vicar Apostolic of Cirenaica (Libya) (1931.07.14 – 1939.06.22)

Titular Bishop of Uzita (1931.07.14 – 1952.10.01)

Vicar Apostolic of Benghazi (Libya) (1939.06.22 – 1950)

Vicars Apostolic of Cirenaica (Roman Rite)

Bishop Candido Domenico Moro, O.F.M.
(1931.07.14 – 1939.06.22)

(see above)

Bishop Bernardino Vitale Bigi, O.F.M.
(1927.01.27 – 1930.04.19)

Born:	1884.11.14 (Ficulla, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1908.06.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1927.05.08
Died:	1930.04.19 († 45)

Titular Bishop of Anthedon (1927.01.27 – 1930.04.19)

Vicar Apostolic of Cirenaica (Libya) (1927.01.27 – 1930.04.19)

Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu (Somalia) (1930.03 – 1930.04.19)

Special Churches

Former Cathedral (now secular): Former Cathedral, Benghazi

Churches by City (3)

Tripoli (↙), Misurata (←), Derna (→), Khartoum (→), El Obeid (→), Alexandria of Egypt (↘), Mongo (↓), N’Djaména (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 757,000 km²

Population: 535 Catholics (0.0% of 1,551,620 total)

Pastoral Centres: 3 parishes

Personnel: 5 priests (religious), 5 religious (5 brothers)

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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