Bangui (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., Cardinal, Archbishop
Paulin Pomodimo, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 14 September 1955
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Central African Republic
Square Kilometers: 38,342 (14,809 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://archidiocesedebangui.org/
Mailing Address: Archeveche, Bd. Charles de Gaulle, Mission St. Paul, B.P. 798, Bangui, Rep. Centrafricaine
Telephone: 75.44.59.75

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari
- Latin Name: de Ubanghi Chari
- Erected: 8 May 1909
- Country: Central African Republic
Vicariate Apostolic of Oubangui Chari
- Latin Name: Oubangui Belgico
- Elevated: 2 December 1937
- Vicariate
- Country: Central African Republic
Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui
- Latin Name: Banguensis
- Name Changed: 28 May 1940
- Vicariate
- Country: Central African Republic
- Square Kilometers: 422,500 (163,190 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Pietro Cotel, C.S.Sp. † ( 1909 Appointed - 20 Jan 1911 Resigned)
Jean-René Calloc’h, C.S.Sp. † (21 Jan 1914 Appointed - 1926 Resigned)
Marcel-Auguste-Marie Grandin, C.S.Sp. † (2 May 1928 Appointed - 4 Aug 1947 Died)
Joseph Cucherousset, C.S.Sp. † (9 Apr 1948 Appointed - 16 Sep 1970 Died)
Joachim N’Dayen † (16 Sep 1970 Succeeded - 26 Jul 2003 Resigned)
Paulin Pomodimo (26 Jul 2003 Appointed - 26 May 2009 Resigned)
Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp. (14 May 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari
8 May 1909	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper French Congo {Congo Francese Superiore} o Ubanghi	Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari (erected)
14 February 1911	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Central Africa {Africa Centrale} (to the 10th degree latitude)	Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari
28 April 1914	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Cameroun Vicariate Apostolic of Khartoum Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari	Prefecture Apostolic of Adamaua (erected) (Adamawa)
15 July 1925	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville (Boundaries adjusted) Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari (Boundaries adjusted)
8 February 1929	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville (Haute Sangha)	Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari
Vicariate Apostolic of Oubangui Chari
2 December 1937	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari	Vicariate Apostolic of Oubangui Chari
13 December 1938	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Lisala (Boundaries Adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Oubangui Chari (Boundaries Adjusted)
28 May 1940	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Oubangui Chari (Southern part)	Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville
28 May 1940	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban Vicariate Apostolic of Oubangui Chari	Prefecture Apostolic of Berbérati (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui
28 May 1940	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Oubangui Chari	Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui
9 January 1947	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Khartoum (Region between Chad, 10th latitude, and Sudan)	Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui
14 June 1954	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui (Basse-Kotto and Mbomou, and Mobaye, Alindao, Kembe, Bangassou, Ouango, Bakouma, Rafay, Zemio, and Obo.)	Prefecture Apostolic of Bangassou (erected)
Archdiocese of Bangui
14 September 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui	Archdiocese of Bangui
18 December 1965	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bangui	Diocese of Bambari (erected)
10 June 1995	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bangui (Mbaiki)	Diocese of Mbaïki (erected)
28 June 1997	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bangui (Ibingui-Economique, Bamingui-Bangoran, and Gribingui-Economique)	Diocese of Kaga-Bandoro (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui

1950 35,000 665,000 5.3% 2 42 44 795 50 28 463 ap1951

Archdiocese of Bangui

1959 79,748 480,000 16.6% 4 53 57 1,399 66 85 ap1960

1969 131,805 650,000 20.3% 15 61 76 1,734 82 143 30 ap1971

1978 161,662 708,978 22.8% 11 50 61 2,650 69 106 29 ap1981

1990 240,317 769,000 31.3% 18 50 68 3,534 1 74 96 32 ap1991

1999 203,322 809,713 25.1% 27 39 66 3,080 61 125 22 ap2000

2000 208,438 829,955 25.1% 28 38 66 3,158 56 144 25 ap2001

2001 214,858 850,703 25.3% 32 38 70 3,069 55 119 25 ap2002

2002 214,858 871,970 24.6% 35 35 70 3,069 52 119 25 ap2003

2003 166,135 893,970 18.6% 42 28 70 2,373 45 125 25 ap2004

2004 201,131 916,462 21.9% 40 34 74 2,717 45 104 25 ap2005

2006 224,071 964,105 23.2% 42 34 76 2,948 46 108 25 ap2007

2012 487,000 1,083,000 45.0% 32 52 84 5,797 66 110 25 ap2013

2015 515,000 1,218,000 42.3% 35 84 119 4,327 119 154 25 ap2016

2018 544,935 1,312,000 41.5% 40 72 112 4,865 115 159 26 ap2019

2020 657,000 1,584,200 41.5% 34 78 112 5,866 130 160 33 ap2021

2022 680,000 1,640,000 41.5% 42 72 114 5,964 107 183 33 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui
1950	35,000	665,000	5.3%	2	42	44	795		50	28	463	ap1951
Archdiocese of Bangui
1959	79,748	480,000	16.6%	4	53	57	1,399		66	85		ap1960
1969	131,805	650,000	20.3%	15	61	76	1,734		82	143	30	ap1971
1978	161,662	708,978	22.8%	11	50	61	2,650		69	106	29	ap1981
1990	240,317	769,000	31.3%	18	50	68	3,534	1	74	96	32	ap1991
1999	203,322	809,713	25.1%	27	39	66	3,080		61	125	22	ap2000
2000	208,438	829,955	25.1%	28	38	66	3,158		56	144	25	ap2001
2001	214,858	850,703	25.3%	32	38	70	3,069		55	119	25	ap2002
2002	214,858	871,970	24.6%	35	35	70	3,069		52	119	25	ap2003
2003	166,135	893,970	18.6%	42	28	70	2,373		45	125	25	ap2004
2004	201,131	916,462	21.9%	40	34	74	2,717		45	104	25	ap2005
2006	224,071	964,105	23.2%	42	34	76	2,948		46	108	25	ap2007
2012	487,000	1,083,000	45.0%	32	52	84	5,797		66	110	25	ap2013
2015	515,000	1,218,000	42.3%	35	84	119	4,327		119	154	25	ap2016
2018	544,935	1,312,000	41.5%	40	72	112	4,865		115	159	26	ap2019
2020	657,000	1,584,200	41.5%	34	78	112	5,866		130	160	33	ap2021
2022	680,000	1,640,000	41.5%	42	72	114	5,964		107	183	33	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Jean-René Calloc’h, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 21 Jan 1914 to 1926)
Pietro Cotel, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 1909 to 20 Jan 1911)
Joseph Cucherousset, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Apr 1948; Archbishop: 14 Sep 1955 to 16 Sep 1970)
Marcel-Auguste-Marie Grandin, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 2 May 1928; Vicar Apostolic: 2 Dec 1937 to 4 Aug 1947)
Edouard Mathos † (Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Jan 1991 to 6 Nov 2004)
Joachim N’Dayen † (Priest: 22 Jul 1961; Coadjutor Archbishop: 5 Sep 1968; Archbishop: 16 Sep 1970 to 26 Jul 2003)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 3, Page 104, and Page 105
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 21, Page 553, and Page 554
Vicariate Apostolic of Oubangui Chari
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 30, Page 189, and Page 190
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 31, Page 170, and Page 171
Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 32, Page 504
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 39, Page 229
Archdiocese of Bangui
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 113, to Page 119

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Archdiocese of Bangui

Archidioecesis Banguensis