Sfasferia
Sfasferia is a former ancient city and bishopric in Roman North Africa.
History
Sfasferia was one of many cities, important enough in the Roman province of Mauretania Caesariensis, in the papal sway, to become a suffragan bishopric.Its only historically documented incumbent, bishop Rufus, participated in the synod called at Carthage in 484 by king Huneric of the Vandal Kingdom, after which he was exiled like most Catholic participants, unlike their Donatist heretic counterparts.
It faded completely, even its site somewhere in modern Algeria hasn't been identified.
Titular see
The diocese was nominally restored in 1933 as Latin titular bishopric of Sfasferia / Sfasferien.It is vacant, having had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal rank :
- Antonio Silvio Zocchetta, Friars Minor, first as Auxiliary Bishop of the then Apostolic Vicariate of Mogadishu, then as last Apostolic Vicar of Mogadishu
- Jean-Baptiste Outhay Thepmany as Apostolic Vicar of Savannakhet, also President of Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia
- Michael Gorō Matsuura as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Osaka 大阪 ; later Bishop of Nagoya 名古屋
- Simon Poh Hoon Seng as Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Kuching ; next promoted Metropolitan Archbishop of Kuching
- Bishop-elect Job Koo Yobi, Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Seoul 서울 .