Roman Catholic Diocese of Bethlehem in the Holy Land Facts for Kids

The Diocese of Bethlehem was a special church area in the Catholic Church during a time called the Crusades. Today, it's known as a titular see, which means it's a title for a bishop, but there isn't a real church area for it anymore. It was connected to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nevers in France.

History of the Diocese
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History of the Diocese

The Diocese in Bethlehem

In 1099, during the First Crusade, Christian forces took control of Bethlehem. They built new church buildings and a monastery. The Greek Orthodox priests, who had been there, were replaced by Catholic priests.

In 1100, Baldwin I of Jerusalem was crowned King of Jerusalem in Bethlehem. That same year, Pope Paschal II created the Catholic bishopric of Bethlehem. This meant Bethlehem now had its own bishop, under the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

However, in 1187, the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin took Bethlehem back. The Catholic priests had to leave, and the Greek Orthodox clergy returned. Later, in 1192, Saladin allowed two Catholic priests and two deacons to come back. But fewer pilgrims visited, which hurt Bethlehem's economy.

Moving the Diocese: Exile in France

By 1223, it became too dangerous for the bishop to live in Bethlehem. So, the bishopric was moved to France. It wasn't just a title; it was a real bishopric with a small area in Burgundy, France. This was very unusual!

In 1229, Bethlehem briefly returned to Christian control under a treaty. But it was taken back by Muslims in 1244. By 1250, the Mamluks were in power, and Christians faced more challenges. Catholic clergy left Bethlehem, and the city walls were torn down in 1263.

Catholics returned to Bethlehem in the 1300s. They settled near the Church of the Nativity. The Greek Orthodox Church took control of the Church of the Nativity. They shared control of the Milk Grotto with Catholics and Armenians.

Bishops in Bethlehem

Here are some of the bishops who served in Bethlehem before the diocese moved:

Aschetino (1110 – after 1123)
Anselmo (before 1132 – after 1142)
Giraldo (before 1147 – after 1152)
Raul (1155 – 1173)
Albert (1177 - 1181)
Rodolfo (?–1191)
Piero (before 1204 – killed in 1205)
Tommaso (before 1207–?)
Rainierio (before 1210–1233)
Tommaso Agni (1258–1263)

The Diocese in Burgundy

William IV, Count of Nevers, a crusader, died in the Holy Land in 1168. He had given a building and some land in Clamecy, France, to the Bishops of Bethlehem. This was in case Bethlehem fell under Muslim control.

So, in 1223, the Bishop of Bethlehem moved to this property in Burgundy. This place became the home of the Bishops of Bethlehem for nearly 600 years! This lasted until the French Revolution in 1789.

From 1223, the 'exiled' Bishops of Bethlehem had authority over this property. The Counts, and later Dukes, of Nevers chose the new bishops. The Pope and the King also had to approve. Other French bishops sometimes argued about their right to be a diocese. In 1413, Charles VI of France tried to give them the same rights as other French bishops. But other French clergy disagreed. So, they were still seen as bishops in partibus infidelium, meaning "in the lands of unbelievers." In 1635, they were given a yearly payment.

After the French Revolution, the property linked to the Bethlehem bishopric was lost. It then became like any other titular see.

What is a Titular See?

A titular see is a title given to a bishop. It means they are a bishop of a place that no longer has a functioning diocese. It's like a historical title.

Around 1462, the title of the Bethlehem diocese was brought back by Rome. It was now a regular Latin Titular bishopric. It was suppressed around 1603.

But in 1840, the title was restored again. This time, it was connected to the former 'exiled' Diocese of Bethlehem in Burgundy. From 1840 to 1970, the Abbots of the Territorial Abbacy of Saint-Maurice d’Agaune held the title of Bethlehem. The title has been vacant since 1987.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Bethlehem in the Holy Land facts for kids

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