Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi

History

• Established on 11 July 1946 as Apostolic Prefecture of Gorakhpur, on territory split off from the Diocese of Allahabad, exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See
• 17 September 1958: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Benares-Gorakhpur
• Promoted on 5 June 1970 as Diocese of Banaras, losing its exempt status by becoming a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agra
• 14 May 1971: Renamed as Diocese of Varanasi.

  Ordinaries

• Father Joseph Emil Malenfant, Capuchin Friars

• Joseph Emil Malenfant, O.F.M. Cap.

• Patrick Paul D'Souza

• Patrick Paul D'Souza, Vice-President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India
• Raphy Manjaly, later Bishop of Allahabad
• Eugene Joseph