Apostolic Prefecture of

Western Sahara

Western Sahara

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Prefecture

Name: Western Sahara (English) / Sahara Occidental (Italiano) / de Sahara Occidentali (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Neighbouring Dioceses: Islas Canarias (←), Rabat (↗), Nouakchott (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1954.07.05: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Sahara Español e Ifni / Spanish Sahara and Ifni (English) / de Sahara Hispanico et Ifni (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Ghardaïa nel Sahara and Apostolic Vicariate of Marruecos)
1970.05.02: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Sahara Español / Spanish Sahara (English) / de Sahara Hispanico (Latin)
1976.05.02: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Western Sahara (English) / Sahara Occidental (Italiano) / de Sahara Occidentali (Latin)

Present Prelates

Prefect Apostolic (2013.06.24 – ...):

Fr. Mario León Dorado, O.M.I. (52)

Ordinaries

Prefects Apostolic of Western Sahara (Roman Rite)

Fr. Mario León Dorado, O.M.I. (52)
(2013.06.24 – ...)

Prefect Apostolic of Western Sahara (Western Sahara)

Born:	1974.03.16 (Madrid, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	2001.06.02

Apostolic Administrator of Western Sahara (Western Sahara) (2009.06 – 2013.06.24)

Prefect Apostolic of Western Sahara (Western Sahara) (2013.06.24 – ...)

Fr. Mario León Dorado, O.M.I. (52)
(Apostolic Administrator 2009.06 – 2013.06.24)

Fr. Acacio Valbuena Rodríguez, O.M.I.
(1994.07.10 – 2009.02.25)

Born:	1922.05.08 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1945.03.17
Died:	2011.05.04 († 88)

Prefect Apostolic of Western Sahara (Western Sahara) (1994.07.10 – 2009.02.25)

Fr. Félix Erviti Barcelona, O.M.I.
(1976.05.02 – 1994.07.06)

Born:	1910.07.29 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1933.02.19
Died:	2000.11.24 († 90)

Prefect Apostolic of Sahara Español e Ifni (Western Sahara) (1954.07.19 – 1970.05.02)

Prefect Apostolic of Sahara Español (Western Sahara) (1970.05.02 – 1976.05.02)

Prefect Apostolic of Western Sahara (Western Sahara) (1976.05.02 – 1994.07.06)

Prefects Apostolic of Sahara Español (Roman Rite)

Fr. Félix Erviti Barcelona, O.M.I.
(1970.05.02 – 1976.05.02)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Sahara Español e Ifni (Roman Rite)

Fr. Félix Erviti Barcelona, O.M.I.
(1954.07.19 – 1970.05.02)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Saint-François, El-Aaiún

Churches by City (3)

Islas Canarias (←), Rabat (↗), Nouakchott (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 266,000 km²

Population: 345 Catholics (0.0% of 1,037,300 total)

Pastoral Centres: 2 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 2 priests (religious), 3 religious (3 brothers)

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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