2026 Version 2.0 Citations and Information

Data Derivation, Processing, and Citation Information

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Boundaries, Version 2.0, September 22, 2026

This page provides citation and attribution guidance for Version 2.0 across the registry’s three geographic levels: Administrative 0 (Episcopal Conferences), Administrative 1 (Ecclesiastical Provinces), and Administrative 2 (Dioceses and equivalent jurisdictions). Each dataset includes an APA citation, followed by additional citation formats available in the expandable section below it. Please use the citation corresponding to the specific dataset and version you have used, and retain the version information when citing the data in research, publications, maps, or other work.

For guidance on citing research data, see the Big Ten Academic Alliance Data Citation Guide.

DOIs are currently in progress and will be added to the citations and metadata once assigned.

Mandatory Attribution and Citation Architecture

Users, developers, and publishers must provide explicit attribution in all redistributions, web maps, and publications:

A. Interactive Map Frame Attribution (Viewport Service Credits)

Client map canvases, embedded viewports, and static/print map frames must display:

Diocesan Boundaries: PUST FASS, CUA, Holy See Statistics, Esri, Catholic Hierarchy

When rendered alongside commercial base maps and baseline satellite services, format as:

Sources: USGS, NASA | Diocesan Boundaries: PUST FASS, CUA, Holy See Statistics, Esri, Catholic Hierarchy

B. Metadata Registries & Data Catalogs

In digital data registries and GIS metadata records, cite under Key Data Sources & Academic Contributors as:

Data Sources: Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (PUST FASS), The Catholic University of America (CUA), and Molly A. Burhans.

(Note: Neither university shall be categorized under operational headings such as “Platform Operator,” “System Host,” or any title indicating governance or involvement beyond being a data source)

Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church 2.0

Click here to view Data Provenance

APA Citation:

Version 2.0:
Burhans, M., Emge, T., Cheney, D. (2026). Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church (Version 2.0) [Geospatial data set]. Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Faculty of Social Sciences), Catholic University of America (Leonum Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies), Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

Derived From:
Burhans, M., Bell, J., Burhans, D., Carmichael, R., Cheney, D., Deaton, M., Emge, T., Gerlt, B., Grayson, J., Herries, J., Keegan, H., Skinner, A., Smith, M., Sousa, C., Trubetskoy, S. (2016). Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church (Version 1.0) [Data set]. GoodLands Inc., Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

Data Derivation and Processing

The Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church dataset was derived from the Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church dataset (Version 1.0) through the following processing steps:

1. Updated diocesan geometries: Existing diocesan geometries were reviewed and updated to reflect the geographic configuration of dioceses and equivalent jurisdictions used for the 2026 dataset.

2. Dissolved diocesan boundaries by country: The updated diocesan geometries were dissolved by country to create country-level geographic units based on the ecclesiastical jurisdiction data.

3. Joined the 2026 Episcopal Conference table: The 2026 Episcopal Conference table was joined to the country-level geometries using country identifiers, associating each country with its corresponding episcopal conference.

4. Dissolved by episcopal conference: The country-level geometries were subsequently dissolved by episcopal conference to produce the geographic boundaries represented in the Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church (version 2.0) dataset.

The resulting geometries were reviewed and spatially curated as part of the 2026 dataset development. The derivation process preserves the relationship between the Episcopal Conference boundaries and the underlying diocesan geographic framework while incorporating the updated 2026 episcopal conference classification.

Click on the expandable section for each citation format to view and copy the citation for direct use in your work.

MLA 9

Burhans, Molly A., Thomas Emge, and David Cheney. Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0, Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Catholic University of America, and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2026. Data set. Derived from Burhans et al., Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.0, 2016.

Dervived From:
Burhans, Molly, et al. Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0, GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2016. Data set.

APA 7

Burhans, M. A., Emge, T., & Cheney, D. (2026). Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church (Version 2.0) [Data set]. Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; & Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). Derived from Burhans et al. (2016), Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church (Version 1.0).

Derived From:
Burhans, M., Bell, J., Burhans, D., Carmichael, R., Cheney, D., Deaton, M., Emge, T., Gerlt, B., Grayson, J., Herries, J., Keegan, H., Skinner, A., Smith, M., Sousa, C., & Trubetskoy, S. (2016). Diocesan boundaries of the Catholic Church (Version 1.0) [Data set]. GoodLands Inc.; Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

Chicago: Notes and Bibliography

Burhans, Molly A., Thomas Emge, and David Cheney. Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. Data set. Rome, Italy; Washington, DC, USA; Redlands, CA, USA: Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2026. Derived from Molly Burhans et al., Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.0 (2016).

Derived from Burhans, Molly, J. Bell, D. Burhans, R. Carmichael, D. Cheney, M. Deaton, T. Emge, B. Gerlt, J. Grayson, J. Herries, H. Keegan, A. Skinner, M. Smith, C. Sousa, and S. Trubetskoy. Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0. Data set. GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2016.

Chicago: Author-Date

Burhans, Molly A., Thomas Emge, and David Cheney. 2026. Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. Data set. Rome, Italy; Washington, DC; Redlands, CA: Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). Derived from Burhans et al. 2016, Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.0.

Derived From:
Burhans, Molly, J. Bell, D. Burhans, R. Carmichael, D. Cheney, M. Deaton, T. Emge, B. Gerlt, J. Grayson, J. Herries, H. Keegan, A. Skinner, M. Smith, C. Sousa, and S. Trubetskoy. 2016. Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0. Data set. GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

Harvard

Burhans, M.A., Emge, T. & Cheney, D. (2026) Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. [Data set]. Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; & Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

Derived From:
Burhans, M., Bell, J., Burhans, D., Carmichael, R., Cheney, D., Deaton, M., Emge, T., Gerlt, B., Grayson, J., Herries, J., Keegan, H., Skinner, A., Smith, M., Sousa, C. & Trubetskoy, S. (2016) Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0. [Data set]. GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

BibTeX

@dataset{burhans2026episcopal,
author = {Burhans, Molly A. and Emge, Thomas and Cheney, David},
title = {Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church},
version = {2.0},
year = {2026},
publisher = {Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri)},
type = {Data set}
}

Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Catholic Church 2.0

Click here to view Data Provenance

APA Citation:

Version 2.0:
Burhans, M. A., Emge, T., & Cheney, D. (2026). Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Catholic Church (Version 2.0) [Data set]. Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; & Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). Derived from Burhans et al. (2016), Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church (Version 1.2).

Data Derivation and Processing

The Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Catholic Church 2026 dataset was derived from the updated 2026 diocesan boundary dataset. Diocesan geometries and metropolitan relationships were updated using 2026 ecclesiastical information from Catholic-Hierarchy.org and The Holy See’s Central Office of Church Statistics, and the resulting diocesan layer was dissolved by the metro_key field to create the geographic extent of each ecclesiastical province.

The metro_key is used only where a documented metropolitan relationship exists. Ecclesiastical provinces are not created simply by grouping geographically adjacent dioceses. Under the Code of Canon Law, neighboring particular Churches may be constituted as an ecclesiastical province, presided over by a metropolitan, the archbishop of the metropolitan diocese (CIC, cann. 431 - 435).

Consequently, the province layer does not provide geographic coverage everywhere. Areas without an established metropolitan province are not assigned an inferred province based on geographic proximity. The resulting layer represents only provinces supported by the documented 2026 ecclesiastical structure.

Click on the expandable section for each citation format to view and copy the citation for direct use in your work.

MLA 9

Burhans, Molly A., Thomas Emge, and David Cheney. Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2026. Data set. Derived from Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.2 (2016).

Dervived From:
Burhans, Molly, et al. Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0, GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2016. Data set.

APA 7

Burhans, M. A., Emge, T., & Cheney, D. (2026). Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Catholic Church (Version 2.0) [Data set]. Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; & Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). Derived from Burhans et al. (2016), Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church (Version 1.2).

Derived From:
Burhans, M., Bell, J., Burhans, D., Carmichael, R., Cheney, D., Deaton, M., Emge, T., Gerlt, B., Grayson, J., Herries, J., Keegan, H., Skinner, A., Smith, M., Sousa, C., & Trubetskoy, S. (2016). Diocesan boundaries of the Catholic Church (Version 1.0) [Data set]. GoodLands Inc.; Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

Chicago: Notes and Bibliography

Burhans, Molly A., Thomas Emge, and David Cheney. Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. Data set. Rome, Italy; Washington, DC; Redlands, CA: Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2026. Derived from Molly Burhans et al., Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.2 (2016).

Derived From:
Burhans, Molly, J. Bell, D. Burhans, R. Carmichael, D. Cheney, M. Deaton, T. Emge, B. Gerlt, J. Grayson, J. Herries, H. Keegan, A. Skinner, M. Smith, C. Sousa, and S. Trubetskoy. Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0. Data set. GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2016.

Chicago: Author-Date

Burhans, Molly A., Thomas Emge, and David Cheney. 2026. Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. Data set. Rome, Italy; Washington, DC; Redlands, CA: Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). Derived from Burhans et al., Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.2 (2016).

Derived From:
Burhans, Molly, J. Bell, D. Burhans, R. Carmichael, D. Cheney, M. Deaton, T. Emge, B. Gerlt, J. Grayson, J. Herries, H. Keegan, A. Skinner, M. Smith, C. Sousa, and S. Trubetskoy. 2016. Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0. Data set. GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

Harvard

Burhans, M.A., Emge, T. & Cheney, D. (2026) Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. [Data set]. Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). Derived from Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.2 (2016).

Derived From:
Burhans, M., Bell, J., Burhans, D., Carmichael, R., Cheney, D., Deaton, M., Emge, T., Gerlt, B., Grayson, J., Herries, J., Keegan, H., Skinner, A., Smith, M., Sousa, C. & Trubetskoy, S. (2016) Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0. [Data set]. GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

BibTeX

@dataset{burhans2026ecclesiasticalprovinces,
author = {Burhans, Molly A. and Emge, Thomas and Cheney, David},
title = {Ecclesiastical Provinces of the Catholic Church},
year = {2026},
version = {2.0},
publisher = {Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri)},
note = {Derived from Burhans et al. (2016), Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.2},
type = {Data set}
}

Dioceses of the Catholic Church 2.0

Click here to view Data Provenance

APA Citation:

Version 2.0:
Burhans, M. A., Emge, T., & Cheney, D. (2026). Dioceses of the Catholic Church (Version 2.0) [Data set]. Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; & Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). Derived from Burhans et al. (2016), Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church (Version 1.2).

Data Derivation and Processing

The Dioceses of the Catholic Church 2026 dataset was developed by substantially updating the previous diocesan boundary dataset geometry to reflect the current ecclesiastical configuration. The update incorporated changes affecting nearly 100 jurisdictions geometries, including newly erected, renamed, transferred, suppressed, or otherwise reconfigured jurisdictions, as documented in the 2026 Data Provenance database.

Review jurisdictional changes: Compared the previous dataset with current ecclesiastical information from the Vatican Statistics Office and compare Catholic-Hierarchy.org to data provided by the Holy See’s Central Office of Church Statistics to check data validity and changes to jurisdictions and their geographic relationships.
Update records and boundaries: Updated jurisdictional attributes and modified, replaced, or constructed geometries to reflect the 2026 configuration.
Separate non-Latin jurisdictions: Reduced the representation of Eastern Catholic and other non-Latinjurisdictions within the primary diocesan layer, including replacing the Apostolic Vicariate of Alexandria in Egypt with the Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Alexandria where appropriate.
Prepare for future rite-specific layers: This restructuring establishes a predominantly Latin Church dataset while preparing separate geographic layers for Eastern Catholic Churches and other ecclesial traditions in future releases. In the future the subset of Roman-rite will also be sifted from Latin-rite.
Review and curate: Checked the resulting geometries for topology, spatial accuracy, and consistency with the updated ecclesiastical information.

This approach recognizes that different Catholic ecclesial traditions may have distinct jurisdictions occupying overlapping geographic territories and establishes a clearer framework for representing them separately in future datasets.

Click on the expandable section for each citation format to view and copy the citation for direct use in your work.

MLA 9

Burhans, Molly A., Thomas Emge, and David Cheney. Dioceses of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2026. Data set. Derived from Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.2 (2016).

Dervived From:
Burhans, Molly, et al. Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0, GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2016. Data set.

APA 7

Burhans, M. A., Emge, T., & Cheney, D. (2026). Dioceses of the Catholic Church (Version 2.0) [Data set]. Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; & Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). Derived from Burhans et al. (2016), Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church (Version 1.2).

Derived From:
Burhans, M., Bell, J., Burhans, D., Carmichael, R., Cheney, D., Deaton, M., Emge, T., Gerlt, B., Grayson, J., Herries, J., Keegan, H., Skinner, A., Smith, M., Sousa, C., & Trubetskoy, S. (2016). Diocesan boundaries of the Catholic Church (Version 1.0) [Data set]. GoodLands Inc.; Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

Chicago: Notes and Bibliography

Burhans, Molly A., Thomas Emge, and David Cheney. Dioceses of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. Data set. Rome, Italy; Washington, DC; Redlands, CA: Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri), 2026. Derived from Molly Burhans et al., Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.2 (2016).

Chicago: Author-Date

Burhans, Molly A., Thomas Emge, and David Cheney. 2026. Dioceses of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. Data set. Rome, Italy; Washington, DC; Redlands, CA: Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). Derived from Burhans et al., Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.2 (2016).

Derived From:
Burhans, Molly, J. Bell, D. Burhans, R. Carmichael, D. Cheney, M. Deaton, T. Emge, B. Gerlt, J. Grayson, J. Herries, H. Keegan, A. Skinner, M. Smith, C. Sousa, and S. Trubetskoy. 2016. Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0. Data set. GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

Harvard

Burhans, M.A., Emge, T. & Cheney, D. (2026) Dioceses of the Catholic Church. Version 2.0. [Data set]. Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri). Derived from Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.2 (2016).

Derived From:
Burhans, M., Bell, J., Burhans, D., Carmichael, R., Cheney, D., Deaton, M., Emge, T., Gerlt, B., Grayson, J., Herries, J., Keegan, H., Skinner, A., Smith, M., Sousa, C. & Trubetskoy, S. (2016) Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church. Version 1.0. [Data set]. GoodLands Inc. and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri).

BibTeX

@dataset{burhans2026dioceses,
author = {Burhans, Molly A. and Emge, Thomas and Cheney, David},
title = {Dioceses of the Catholic Church},
year = {2026},
version = {2.0},
publisher = {Faculty of Social Sciences, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum); Catholic University of America; and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri)},
note = {Derived from Burhans et al. (2016), Diocesan Boundaries of the Catholic Church, Version 1.2},
type = {Data set}
}

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