Misurata, Apostolic Prefecture of
It is situated in the eastern coastal part of Tripolitania. It was erected on 22 June 1939 from part of the territory of the then Apostolic Vicariate of Tripolitania (now of Tripoli, v.) and entrusted to the Friars Minor.
It has an area of slightly more than 100,000 sq. km., with a population (in 1950) of approximately 261,700 inhabitants. Catholics: 670, of whom 44 Maltese and 6657 others; Protestants: 104; Jews: 150; Muslims: over 254,000; priests: 10, all foreigners, of whom 6 belong to the Province of Milan of the Friars Minor and the others to other provinces of the same Order; foreign lay brothers: 2; foreign sisters: 17; principal mission stations: 11, secondary: 7; churches: 4, chapels: 14; Catholic Action is in its infancy.
BIBL.: AAS, 31 (1939), pp. 602-603; G. B. Tragella, *Le Missioni cattoliche della Libia*, in *Rassegna sociale dell'Africa italiana*, 5 (1942), pp. 287-93, 480-94; MC, 1950, pp. 88-89; Arch. della S. Congreg. de Prop. Fide, pos. prot. n. 4730/50.