| History |
In 1888 the Vicariate Apostolic of Central Japan was established
when the three regions of Kinki, Chugoku, and Shikoku were
separated from the Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Japan and
entrusted to the Paris Foreign Mission Society.
On June 15, 1891, the Vicariate Apostolic of Central Japan
was raised to the status of a Diocese and constituted the
Diocese of Osaka. The vicar apostolic, Monsignor Felix Nicolas
Midon, M.E.P., was consecrated bishop. On January 27, 1904,
with the establishment of the Prefecture Apostolic of Shikoku,
all of Shikoku was entrusted to Spanish Dominicans, and on
May 4, 1923, with the establishment of the Vicariate Apostolic
of Hiroshima, the five prefectures of Okayama, Hiroshima,
Yamaguchi, Shimane, and Tottori were entrusted to German Jesuits.
On June 17, 1937, when the Prefecture Apostolic of Kyoto
was established, the four prefectures of Kyoto, Nara, Mie,
and Shiga were entrusted to the Maryknoll Fathers, and the
present jurisdiction consisting of the Hyogo, Osaka, and Wakayama
regions was established. In 1940, upon the resignation of
Bishop Jean-Baptiste Castanier, M.E.P., Father Taguchi Yoshigoro
was appointed to succeed him and was consecrated bishop on
December 14, 1941.
On June 24, 1969, the Osaka Diocese was raised to the rank
of Archdiocese and Bishop Taguchi was appointed the first
Archbishop of Osaka.
On February 5, 1970, Father Yasuda Hisao was appointed Auxiliary
Bishop and was consecrated on March 21.
On March 3, 1973, Archbishop Taguchi was elevated to the
cardinalate. On February 23, 1978, Cardinal Taguchi died,
and on November 15 of the same year Bishop Yasuda was appointed
Archbishop of Osaka.
Father Ikenaga Jun, S.J. was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop
of Osaka on December 21, 1995. He was consecrated bishop on
March 20, 1996.
Archbishop Yasuda resigned on May 10, 1997, and Archbishop
Ikenaga was installed on June 22, 1997.
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