Fort-de-France and Saint-Pierre, Diocese of

SAN PIETRO AND FORT-DE-FRANCE (MARTINIQUE), DIOCESE. - It comprises the island of Martinique, which was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502 during his fourth voyage, but was never occupied by the Spanish.

In 1635 it was occupied and colonized by the French. In the same year the Dominicans began the mission, setting out from Guadeloupe. In 1646 the Capuchins arrived there, whose mission center was St. Christopher. The Jesuits, who arrived two years later, in 1651 obtained the faculty of apostolic prefect for the Superior of the missions subject to France in the islands and mainland countries of Central America; however, the prefects of the Dominicans and Capuchins of Guadeloupe retained their jurisdiction over Martinique. Along with the religious, French and Irish secular priests also worked there (in 1667 the Irish who had taken refuge in the Lesser Antilles during Cromwell's persecution were reckoned at 12,000). Toward the end of the 17th century the entire island was Catholic. After the scandal of Fr. Antoine de La Valette, the Jesuits were expelled from the island in 1764. In the Franco-English wars during the 18th century, Martinique passed several times into the hands of the English. All the priests who remained were placed under a single apostolic prefect, Fr. Francesco Agostino Trepsac, formerly apostolic prefect of Guadeloupe (June 5, 1794).

Some French priests, deported to Cayenne during the Revolution, were able to move to Martinique, thus increasing the number of the clergy. After the Treaty of Paris (1814) and following the reopening of the Seminary of the Holy Spirit, Propaganda entrusted Martinique to the latter, leaving the choice of the prefect to the Superior General (1819). On the basis of the Concordat with France, on Sept. 27, 1850 the diocese of S. P. of Martinique was erected as a suffragan of Bordeaux; three years later (Sept. 12, 1853) the see was transferred from Fort-de-France to St-Pierre, but was then restored to its original location in 1902, since St-Pierre was completely destroyed by the eruption of the volcano Mont Pelé. After the revocation of the Concordat (1909), Martinique was subjected to the jurisdiction of Propaganda, which entrusted it to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (March 4, 1912). The number of inhabitants is currently 261,595, of whom 259,000 are Catholics; among the 93 priests only 17 are natives of the country.

Nicola Kowalsky