Pope Francis on December 22 announced the establishment of Ha Tinh diocese from part of Vinh diocese and the appointment of Bishop Paul Nguyễn Thái Hợp and Bishop Alfonso Nguyễn Hữu Long prelates of Ha Tinh and Vinh dioceses.
Before the separation, Vinh diocese covers three provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh in Vietnam Central with 189 parishes and 532,000 followers.
The new diocese of Ha Tinh now covers two provinces of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh with 96 parishes and 241,000 followers.
From now on, the Vietnam Catholic Church has a total of 27 dioceses with three archdioceses of Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh city.
PH
