SUEZ. - The apostolic vicariate of the Suez Canal has been called, since 27 January 1951, the apostolic vicariate of Port Said, after the name of the city where the vicar resides. The other two vicariates of Egypt also changed their names on the same date: the one of Egypt bears the name of Alexandria, and that of the Nile Delta the name of Heliopolis.
The territory of the apostolic vicariate of Port Said was formerly part of that of Egypt and Arabia, founded on 12 May 1839, from which a prefecture proper to the Nile Delta was detached on 17 March 1884, later erected on 17 September 1909 into the apostolic vicariate of the same name. The latter was divided on 12 July 1926, and one of the two parts received the name of apostolic vicariate of the Suez Canal. Its territory extends along the canal of the same name from Port Said to the city of Suez and is entrusted to the French Franciscans; it has 6 parishes, of which 2 are in Port Said and the others in Port Fuad, Ismailia, Suez and Port Tewfik. The number of Catholics is 10,800. In the parishes work 12 Franciscan priests and 2 secular priests. There are 7 boys' schools and 10 girls' schools, directed respectively by the Brothers of the Christian Schools and by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Other religious congregations also work there. The "Work of the Copts" takes care of the numerous and very poor Copts who have recently immigrated, among whom there are several hundred Catholics.