Douala (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Samuel Kleda, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 18 March 1982
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Cameroon
Square Kilometers: 1,200 (463 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.archidiocesededouala.cf/
Mailing Address: Archeveche, 9 Boulevard de la Liberte, B.P. 179, Douala, Cameroun
Telephone: 233.42.37.14
Fax: 233.43.18.37

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Douala
- Latin Name: de Douala
- Erected: 31 March 1931
- Country: Cameroon
Vicariate Apostolic of Douala
- Latin Name: Dualaensis
- Elevated: 27 May 1932
- Vicariate
- Country: Cameroon
- Square Kilometers: 71 (27 Square Miles)
Diocese of Douala
- Latin Name: Dualaensis
- Elevated: 14 September 1955
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Yaoundé
- Country: Cameroon

Past and Present Ordinaries

Mathurin-Marie Le Mailloux, C.S.Sp. † (5 May 1931 Appointed - 17 Dec 1945 Died)
Pierre Marie Alphonse Bonneau, C.S.Sp. † (12 Dec 1946 Appointed - 27 Jan 1957 Died)
Thomas Mongo † (5 Jul 1957 Appointed - 29 Aug 1973 Resigned)
Simon Tonyé † (29 Aug 1973 Succeeded - 31 Aug 1991 Resigned)
Christian Wiyghan Tumi † (31 Aug 1991 Appointed - 17 Nov 2009 Retired)
Samuel Kleda (17 Nov 2009 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Douala
31 March 1931	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Cameroun	Prefecture Apostolic of Douala (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Douala
27 May 1932	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Douala	Vicariate Apostolic of Douala
26 May 1950	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Douala (Ntem, Kribi, Sanaga maritime, and parts of Mungo and Wouri (left bank)) Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban (Bamoun, Bamileke, and parts of Mungo and Wouri (right bank)) Vicariate Apostolic of Yaoundé (Nyong, Sanaga, and Mbam)
Diocese of Douala
14 September 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Douala	Diocese of Douala
18 January 1963	Territory Lost	Diocese of Douala	Diocese of Sangmélima (erected)
Archdiocese of Douala
18 March 1982	Elevated	Diocese of Douala	Archdiocese of Douala
12 March 1993	Territory Added	Diocese of Nkongsamba (Bonaberi (La Sous-Prefecture Douala IV))	Archdiocese of Douala
22 March 1993	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Douala (Sanaga Maritime) Diocese of Nkongsamba (Nkam)	Diocese of Edéa (erected)
22 March 1993	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Douala (Nyong-et-Kelle)	Diocese of Eséka (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 Douala

1950 153,793 400,000 38.4% 25 52 77 1,997 44 ap1951

Diocese of Douala

1969 177,800 421,400 42.2% 97 48 145 1,226 7 95 101 34 ap1971

1980 521,860 1,200,000 43.5% 64 42 106 4,923 15 84 172 45 ap1981

Archdiocese of Douala

1990 810,000 1,920,000 42.2% 75 25 100 8,100 14 46 120 64 ap1991

1999 494,040 1,950,000 25.3% 59 37 96 5,146 3 62 161 27 ap2000

2000 500,112 1,900,000 26.3% 72 33 105 4,762 2 57 160 27 ap2001

2001 506,132 1,900,000 26.6% 69 29 98 5,164 2 52 159 28 ap2002

2002 515,897 2,000,000 25.8% 82 30 112 4,606 2 79 158 30 ap2003

2003 522,939 2,500,000 20.9% 84 31 115 4,547 1 48 173 33 ap2004

2004 530,357 2,500,000 21.2% 92 42 134 3,957 1 63 190 33 ap2005

2006 552,314 2,591,000 21.3% 109 53 162 3,409 97 332 38 ap2007

2013 633,015 3,028,000 20.9% 138 24 162 3,907 50 230 51 ap2014

2016 689,300 3,211,240 21.5% 131 29 160 4,308 58 251 62 ap2017

2019 731,000 3,448,770 21.2% 153 77 230 3,178 126 221 72 ap2020

2021 768,230 3,624,000 21.2% 163 77 240 3,200 126 221 72 ap2022

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 Douala
1950	153,793	400,000	38.4%	25	52	77	1,997			44		ap1951
Diocese of Douala
1969	177,800	421,400	42.2%	97	48	145	1,226	7	95	101	34	ap1971
1980	521,860	1,200,000	43.5%	64	42	106	4,923	15	84	172	45	ap1981
Archdiocese of Douala
1990	810,000	1,920,000	42.2%	75	25	100	8,100	14	46	120	64	ap1991
1999	494,040	1,950,000	25.3%	59	37	96	5,146	3	62	161	27	ap2000
2000	500,112	1,900,000	26.3%	72	33	105	4,762	2	57	160	27	ap2001
2001	506,132	1,900,000	26.6%	69	29	98	5,164	2	52	159	28	ap2002
2002	515,897	2,000,000	25.8%	82	30	112	4,606	2	79	158	30	ap2003
2003	522,939	2,500,000	20.9%	84	31	115	4,547	1	48	173	33	ap2004
2004	530,357	2,500,000	21.2%	92	42	134	3,957	1	63	190	33	ap2005
2006	552,314	2,591,000	21.3%	109	53	162	3,409		97	332	38	ap2007
2013	633,015	3,028,000	20.9%	138	24	162	3,907		50	230	51	ap2014
2016	689,300	3,211,240	21.5%	131	29	160	4,308		58	251	62	ap2017
2019	731,000	3,448,770	21.2%	153	77	230	3,178		126	221	72	ap2020
2021	768,230	3,624,000	21.2%	163	77	240	3,200		126	221	72	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Dieudonné Bogmis † (Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Feb 1999 to 15 Oct 2004)
Pierre Marie Alphonse Bonneau, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Dec 1946; Bishop: 14 Sep 1955 to 27 Jan 1957)
Mathurin-Marie Le Mailloux, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 5 May 1931; Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jun 1932 to 17 Dec 1945)
Thomas Mongo † (Priest: 24 Feb 1943; Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Nov 1955; Bishop: 5 Jul 1957 to 29 Aug 1973)
Pierre-Célestin Nkou † (Priest: 15 Apr 1956 to 18 Jan 1963)
Gabriel Simo † (Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Jan 1987 to 11 Nov 1994)
Simon Tonyé † (Priest: 15 Aug 1955; Coadjutor Bishop: 12 Dec 1969; Bishop: 29 Aug 1973; Archbishop: 18 Mar 1982 to 31 Aug 1991)
Christian Wiyghan Tumi † (Archbishop: 31 Aug 1991 to 17 Nov 2009)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Douala
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 24, Page 39, and Page 40
Vicariate Apostolic of Douala
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 24, Page 365, and Page 366
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 890, and Page 891
Diocese of Douala
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 113, to Page 119
Archdiocese of Douala
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 74, Page 666, and Page 667
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 85, Page 630

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Archdiocese of Douala

Archidioecesis Dualaensis