Roman Catholic Diocese of Oca facts for kids
Oca (pronounced Oh-kah) was once an important bishopric (a church area led by a bishop) in northern Spain. It was located in a region called Castile and León, specifically in the province of Burgos. Think of it as an early version of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Burgos. Today, Oca is no longer a real place with a bishop, but it's a special title called a titular see used by the Catholic Church. Its Latin name is Auca.
The Ancient Bishopric of Oca
The bishopric of Oca was first set up in a place now known as Villafranca Montes de Oca. This happened by the year 589 AD. We know this because a bishop from Oca, named Asterius, attended an important church meeting called the Third Council of Toledo that year. Some records even suggest it might have existed as early as the 3rd century. During the time of the Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo (from the 6th to 8th centuries), many monasteries (places where monks live) were built there.
However, in the 8th century, invaders from Arab Muslim groups attacked and destroyed Oca. Because of this, the bishops of Oca had to move around to different towns like Amaya and Oña. Eventually, in 1075, the bishopric of Oca was officially closed down. Its role was taken over by the Diocese of Burgos, which was confirmed by Pope Urban II in 1095.
A few bishops led the Oca area during its early history:
- Asterius (around 589–597)
- Amanungus (around 633–646)
- Litorius (around 649–656)
- Stercorius (around 675–688)
- Constantine (around 693)
Oca as a Titular See
In 1969, the old bishopric of Oca was brought back, but only as a "titular bishopric" called Auca. This means it's a title given to a bishop, but there isn't a real church area or people for them to lead in Oca anymore. It's more like an honorary title.
Several bishops have held the title of Auca. One of the most well-known people to hold this title was Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He was an auxiliary bishop (a helper bishop) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 1992 to 1997. Later, he became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and then, in 2013, he was elected as Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church.
Other bishops who have held this title include:
- Daniel Llorente y Federico (1969–1971)
- Hernando Rojas Ramirez (1972–1974)
- Theodor Hubrich (1975–1992)
- Mieczysław Cisło (1997 – present)
See also
In Spanish: Diócesis de Oca para niños
- List of Catholic dioceses in Spain, Andorra, Ceuta and Gibraltar
