Diocese of Šibenik
The Diocese of Šibenik was founded by virtue of the bull of Pope Boniface VIII, which bears the date of 01 May 1298. The act of foundation itself was performed in Šibenik on 28 June of the same year, the Papal bull was proclaimed, the first bishop – fra Martin Rabljanin, abbot of the Monastery of St Francis – was consecrated, and the borders of the diocese and the possessions that the city of Šibenik had donated for the needs of the bishop, chapter and cathedral were established. The Church of St James the Apostle was chosen as the cathedral, but it was devastated by a fire in 1380. Very soon, the idea of constructing a new, larger cathedral arose. Its construction finally began in 1431, and the magnificent cathedral that you can see today was completed in 1536. It was consecrated in 1555.
Ottoman conquests ate away at the territory of the diocese. After the Morean War and the peace treaty signed in Srijemski Karlovci on 26 January 1699, the original territory of the Diocese of Šibenik was restored, and it was also expanded with the part of the old Diocese of Knin that had remained on this side of the border with the Ottoman Empire. The border established then still marks the dividing line between Croatia and Bosnia, as well as the border between the dioceses of Šibenik and Banja Luka.
By virtue of the bull of Pope Leon XII ”Locum beati Petri”, the dioceses of Skradin and Trogir were, among others, abolished in 1828. The entire area of the Diocese of Skradin was added to the Diocese of Šibenik, together with the hinterland part of the Diocese of Trogir and the parish of Marina on the coast. Since then, the Diocese of Šibenik encompasses Catholics on an area of 3,300 km2. According to the census of 1991, the population of this area was approximately 160,000, of which 120,000 were Catholics. Today, after the havoc and devastation of the war, we still do not have precise information on the population and number of Catholics living on the territory of the diocese.
The diocese is organised into 74 parishes, divided into nine deaneries. Monks are active in 42 parishes, largely Franciscans of the Province of the Most Holy Redeemer (40 parishes), followed by Franciscans of the Province of St Jerome (1 parish) and Conventual Franciscans (1 parish). Diocesan priests are active in 32 parishes.