Catholic Church in Turkmenistan


The Catholic Church in Turkmenistan is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.

History

All Catholic infrastructure in the country was destroyed by Soviet revolutionaries in the 1920s. In 1997 a request was made to recognize the local Catholic community, but was refused since the local church was not headed by a Turkmen. As of 2010, the church had approximately 100 members and 30 catechumens. In July 2010, the Catholic Mission received official government recognition. Plans are underway to ask permission to build a Catholic church, and to reclaim a Catholic Armenian church in Turkmenbasy that still stands in the west of the country, as well as a church building in Sendar. There are currently two priests and a deacon serving the Catholic population. Mass is celebrated at the Papal embassy in the capital and at parishioners' homes.