PRETORIA, ARCHDIOCESE of. — In the Union of South Africa. The city of P. is the seat of the civil government and capital of the province of Transvaal.
In 1869, Fr. Le Bihan preached a mission at a farm along the banks of the Vaal, when Catholicism was prohibited by law in the Republic of Transvaal. Following protests, freedom of worship was granted, and President Martino Pretorius donated land for the construction of a church at P. The first Mass was celebrated there on 8 June 1887. On 4 June 1886, when the apostolic vicariate of Natal was divided, the territory became part of the apostolic prefecture of Transvaal, which became a vicariate on 16 September 1904. On 9 April 1948, the new apostolic vicariate of P. was erected, with territory detached from the vicariate of Transvaal, which was given the name of Johannesburg. It comprises the civil districts of P., including the recently established districts of Brankhorstspruit and Groblersdal, Brits, Rustenburg, and Marico: the latter two detached from the apostolic vicariate of Kimberley, now a diocese. With the establishment of the ecclesiastical hierarchy in the Union of South Africa on 11 January 1951, the vicariate was elevated to the archdiocese of P., with the suffragan dioceses of Johannesburg, Lydenburg, Bremersdorp, and the abbey nullius of Pietersburg.
The area is approximately 49,474 sq. km., with a population of approximately 723,074, of whom 212,138 are of European descent, 496,854 African, 7,038 Indian, and 7,044 of mixed descent. There are 15,130 Catholics, that is, 2.1% of the entire population; African Catholics (8,519) represent only 1.7% of the African population. There are approximately 530,000 Protestants; approximately 4,000 Jews, 2,500 Muslims, and 170,000 pagans.
The archdiocese is entrusted to the native clergy, represented by 5 priests, assisted by 8 Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate and 9 Redemptorists. There are 15 brothers, 100 sisters, 27 catechists, 3 quasi-parishes, 10 primary stations, 12 secondary stations, 3 churches, and 17 chapels. There are 2 hospitals and 5 dispensaries. There are 19 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 4 secondary schools, and 2 vocational schools. The periodical The Keys is published there in 1,000 copies. Pious associations are numerous.