# Roman Catholic Diocese of Leavenworth

The Diocese of Leavenworth (Latin: Dioecesis Leavenworthensis) was a Latin Church former diocese and present titular see originally in and around Kansas, in the midwestern United States.

## History

* The future diocese was created on 19 July 1850 as Apostolic Vicariate of Indian Territory East of the Rocky Mountains, by Pope Pius IX.
* On 1857.01.06, it lost territory to establish the then Apostolic Vicariate of Nebraska, and the remainder was renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Kansas.
* On 22 May 1877, it was promoted as Diocese of Leavenworth, ceasing to be missionary and exempt.
* On 2 August 1887, it lost territories to establish the Dioceses of Wichita and the Concordia.
* On 29 May 1891, it was renamed as Diocese of Kansas City, Kansas / Civitatis Kansas (Latin).
* On 5 March 1897, it was finally renamed as Diocese of Leavenworth.
* On May 10, 1947, the diocese was suppressed and its territory used to establish the then Diocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

### Ordinaries
#### Apostolic Vicar of Indian Territory East of the Rocky Mountains

* John Baptiste Miège, Jesuits (S.J.) (born France) (1850.07.23 – 1857 see below), Titular Bishop of Messene (1850.07.23 – death 1884.07.21)

#### Apostolic Vicars of Kansas

* John Baptiste Miège, Jesuits (S.J.) (see above 1857 – retired 1874.11.18), died 1884
* Louis Mary Fink, Benedictine Order (O.S.B.) (born Germany) (1874.11.18 – 1877.05.22 see below), Titular Bishop of Eucarpia (1871.03.01 – 1877.05.22), succeeding as former Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Kansas (1871.03.01 – 1874.11.18)

#### Suffragan Bishop of Leavenworth (first time)

* Louis Mary Fink, (O.S.B.) (see above 1877.05.22 – 1891.05.29 see below)

#### Suffragan Bishop of Kansas City, Kansas

* Louis Mary Fink, (O.S.B.) (see above 1891.05.29 – 1897.03.05 see below)

#### Suffragan Bishops of Leavenworth (again)

* Louis Mary Fink, (O.S.B.) (see above 1897.03.05 – 1904.03.17 death)
* Thomas Francis Lillis (first native incumbent) (1904.10.24 – 1910.03.14), later Titular Bishop of Cibyra Magna (1910.03.14 – 1913.02.21), Coadjutor Bishop (1910.03.14 – 1913.02.21) and next Bishop of Kansas City (USA) (1913.02.21 – death 1938.12.29)
* John Chamberlain Ward (1910.11.25 – 1929.04.20)
* Francis Johannes (1929.04.20 – 1937.03.13), previously Titular Bishop of Thasus & Coadjutor Bishop of Leavenworth (1927.12.19 – death 1929.04.20)
* Paul Clarence Schulte (1937.05.29 – 1946.07.20); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Indianapolis (1946.07.20 – retired 1970.01.03) and emeritate as Titular Archbishop of Elicroca (1970.01.03 – death 1984.02.17)
* George Joseph Donnelly (1946.11.09 – 1947.05.10), previously Titular Bishop of Cœla & Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Louis (USA) (1940.03.19 – 1946.11.09); later first Bishop of successor diocese Kansas City (1947.05.10 – death 1950.12.13) (now Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas)

## Titular see

In 1995, the Diocese was nominally restored as a Latin rite titular bishopric of Leavenworth.
It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank:
* Marion Francis Forst (1995.09.23 – death 2007.06.02) as emeritate; previously Bishop of Dodge City (USA) (1960.01.02 – 1976.10.16), Titular Bishop of Scala (1976.10.16 – 1986.12.23) as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Kansas City (USA) (1976.10.16 – 1986.12.23)
* Barry Christopher Knestout (2008.11.18 – 2018.01.12) as Auxiliary Bishop of Washington (D.C., USA); next Bishop of Richmond (USA) (2017.12.05 – ...)
* Joel M. Konzen, S.M. (2018.04.03 – ...), Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta, USA.