Roman Catholic Diocese of Banská Bystrica
Diocese of Banská Bystrica Dioecesis Neosoliensis Banskobystrická Diecéza | |
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Coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| Country | Slovakia |
| Territory | Western part of Banská Bystrica, parts of Žilina, Nitra and Trenčín regions |
| Ecclesiastical province | Bratislava |
| Metropolitan | Bratislava |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 6,750 km2 (2,610 sq mi) |
Population
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| Parishes | 155 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 13 March 1776 |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier in Banská Bystrica |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Marián Chovanec |
| Map | |
Map of the Diocese | |
The Diocese of Banská Bystrica (Slovak: Banskobystrická diecéza, Latin: Dioecesis Neosoliensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in central Slovakia. Its seat is in Banská Bystrica. On Tuesday 20 November 2012, according to biographical information in a press release from the Holy See Press Office's Vatican Information Service (VIS), Pope Benedict XVI appointed Auxiliary Bishop Marián Chovanec of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nitra (based in Nitra, Slovakia), Titular Bishop of Massita, as Bishop-elect of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Banská Bystrica. Bishop Chovanec was born on 16 September 1957 in Trenčin, Slovakia, a part of the Diocese of Nitra. He was expelled from the Seminary in Bratislava, Slovakia, because he had refused to cooperate with the Government-backed Association "Pacem in Terris" (Peace on Earth). He then worked as a laborer. After seven years, he was able to conclude his theological studies and be ordained a priest in 1989; he became an Auxiliary Bishop of Nitra in 1999 and Vicar General in 2003 and is active in the Slovak Bishops' Conference.