Pondicherry and Cuddalore (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Francis Kalist, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Name Changed: 7 August 1953
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 15,250 (5,890 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.pondicherryarchdiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 193, 206 Cathedral St., Puducherry-605001, India
Telephone: (0413)233.47.48; 233.99.11

Historical Details

Mission "Sui Iuris" of Karnatic Mission / Pondicherry
- Erected: 1776
- Country: India
Vicariate Apostolic of Pondicherry
- Latin Name: Pondicheriensis
- Elevated: 1836
- Vicariate
- Country: India
Archdiocese of Pondicherry
- Latin Name: Pondicheriensis
- Elevated: 1 September 1886
- Metropolitan See
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Pierre Brigot, M.E.P. † (30 Sep 1776 Appointed - 8 Nov 1791 Died)
Nicolas Champenois, M.E.P. † (8 Nov 1791 Succeeded - 30 Oct 1810 Died)
Louis-Charles-Auguste Hébert, M.E.P. † (30 Oct 1811 Succeeded - 8 Jul 1836 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Madurai and Coromandel Coast)
Clément Bonnand, M.E.P. † ( 1850 Appointed - 21 Mar 1861 Died)
Joseph-Isidore Godelle, M.E.P. † (21 Mar 1861 Succeeded - 15 Jul 1867 Died)
François-Jean-Marie Laouënan, M.E.P. † (24 Jul 1868 Appointed - 29 Sep 1892 Died)
François-Xavier Corbet (Corbey), C.S.Sp. † (21 Jan 1880 Appointed - 1 Sep 1886 Resigned)
François-Jean-Marie Laouënan, M.E.P. † (25 Nov 1886 Appointed - 29 Sep 1892 Died)
Joseph-Adolphe Gandy, M.E.P. † (29 Sep 1892 Succeeded - 26 Mar 1909 Died)
Élie-Jean-Joseph Morel, M.E.P. † (11 May 1909 Appointed - 16 Aug 1929 Resigned)
Auguste-Siméon Colas, M.E.P. † (24 Jun 1930 Appointed - 28 Oct 1955 Retired)
Ambrose Rayappan † (28 Nov 1955 Succeeded - 17 Mar 1973 Resigned)
Venmani S. Selvanather † (17 Mar 1973 Appointed - 18 Feb 1992 Retired)
Savarinathan Michael Augustine † (18 Feb 1992 Appointed - 10 Jun 2004 Resigned)
Antony Anandarayar † (10 Jun 2004 Appointed - 27 Jan 2021 Retired)
Francis Kalist (19 Mar 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Karnatic Mission / Pondicherry
1776	Erected		Mission "Sui Iuris" of Karnatic Mission / Pondicherry (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Pondicherry
1836	Elevated	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Karnatic Mission / Pondicherry	Vicariate Apostolic of Pondicherry
Archdiocese of Pondicherry
1 September 1886	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Pondicherry	Archdiocese of Pondicherry
7 June 1887	Elevated		Archdiocese of Pondicherry (became a Metropolitan)
1 September 1899	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Pondicherry	Diocese of Kumbakonam (erected)
3 July 1928	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Pondicherry (North Arcot)	Archdiocese of Madras
26 May 1930	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kumbakonam Diocese of Mysore Archdiocese of Pondicherry	Diocese of Salem (erected) (District of Salem)
8 February 1951	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Pondicherry (Chandernagore)	Archdiocese of Calcutta
Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
7 August 1953	Name Changed	Archdiocese of Pondicherry	Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
1 September 1969	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (Maduran-takam and Kancheepuram (lower))	Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor)
1 September 1969	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (Tiruvannamalai and Chengam)	Diocese of Vellore

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

Archdiocese of Pondicherry

1950 147,500 3,019,275 4.9% 65 48 113 1,305 12 450 50 ap1951

Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore

1970 163,262 3,417,052 4.8% 86 86 1,898 46 594 50 ap1971

1980 206,245 4,076,000 5.1% 95 16 111 1,858 27 787 59 ap1981

1990 278,500 4,765,000 5.8% 114 11 125 2,228 24 825 66 ap1991

1999 277,350 6,326,570 4.4% 131 29 160 1,733 42 925 81 ap2000

2000 283,610 6,333,830 4.5% 136 25 161 1,761 43 930 85 ap2001

2001 288,610 6,363,830 4.5% 131 23 154 1,874 39 799 87 ap2002

2002 293,610 6,393,830 4.6% 135 23 158 1,858 41 841 87 ap2003

2003 299,667 6,413,945 4.7% 137 26 163 1,838 46 910 87 ap2004

2004 305,306 6,522,756 4.7% 139 30 169 1,806 49 912 89 ap2005

2013 386,967 7,272,356 5.3% 189 49 238 1,625 88 996 101 ap2014

2016 393,590 7,404,977 5.3% 193 49 242 1,626 83 985 102 ap2017

2019 398,259 7,573,816 5.3% 187 57 244 1,632 91 1,046 105 ap2020

2021 400,361 8,170,086 4.9% 183 51 234 1,710 64 1,046 105 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Pondicherry
1950	147,500	3,019,275	4.9%	65	48	113	1,305	12	450	50	ap1951
Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
1970	163,262	3,417,052	4.8%	86		86	1,898	46	594	50	ap1971
1980	206,245	4,076,000	5.1%	95	16	111	1,858	27	787	59	ap1981
1990	278,500	4,765,000	5.8%	114	11	125	2,228	24	825	66	ap1991
1999	277,350	6,326,570	4.4%	131	29	160	1,733	42	925	81	ap2000
2000	283,610	6,333,830	4.5%	136	25	161	1,761	43	930	85	ap2001
2001	288,610	6,363,830	4.5%	131	23	154	1,874	39	799	87	ap2002
2002	293,610	6,393,830	4.6%	135	23	158	1,858	41	841	87	ap2003
2003	299,667	6,413,945	4.7%	137	26	163	1,838	46	910	87	ap2004
2004	305,306	6,522,756	4.7%	139	30	169	1,806	49	912	89	ap2005
2013	386,967	7,272,356	5.3%	189	49	238	1,625	88	996	101	ap2014
2016	393,590	7,404,977	5.3%	193	49	242	1,626	83	985	102	ap2017
2019	398,259	7,573,816	5.3%	187	57	244	1,632	91	1,046	105	ap2020
2021	400,361	8,170,086	4.9%	183	51	234	1,710	64	1,046	105	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Antony Anandarayar † (Priest: 21 Dec 1971 to 2 Jan 1997; Archbishop: 10 Jun 2004 to 27 Jan 2021)
Savarinathan Michael Augustine † (Priest: 15 Apr 1961 to 30 Jan 1978; Archbishop: 18 Feb 1992 to 10 Jun 2004)
Clément Bonnand, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Superior: 19 Aug 1831 to 8 Jul 1836; Vicar Apostolic: 1850 to 21 Mar 1861)
Pierre Brigot, M.E.P. † (Superior: 30 Sep 1776 to 8 Nov 1791)
Francis Arthur Carvalho †
Nicolas Champenois, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Superior: 14 Jun 1785; Superior: 8 Nov 1791 to 30 Oct 1810)
Auguste-Siméon Colas, M.E.P. † (Archbishop: 24 Jun 1930 to 28 Oct 1955)
François-Xavier Corbet (Corbey), C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 21 Jan 1880 to 1 Sep 1886)
Joseph-Adolphe Gandy, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 16 Mar 1883; Coadjutor Archbishop: 15 Jan 1889; Archbishop: 29 Sep 1892 to 26 Mar 1909)
Joseph-Isidore Godelle, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 3 Apr 1857; Vicar Apostolic: 21 Mar 1861 to 15 Jul 1867)
Joseph Mark Gopu † (Priest: 20 Dec 1933; Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Jul 1948 to 8 Jan 1953)
Louis-Charles-Auguste Hébert, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Superior: 8 Jul 1806; Superior: 30 Oct 1811 to 8 Jul 1836)
François-Jean-Marie Laouënan, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Jul 1868; Archbishop: 25 Nov 1886 to 29 Sep 1892)
Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy † (Priest: 21 Dec 1951 to 2 Jul 1962)
Pierre Magny, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Superior: 28 Sep 1784 - Did Not Take Effect)
Élie-Jean-Joseph Morel, M.E.P. † (Archbishop: 11 May 1909 to 16 Aug 1929)
Peter Francis Rayappa †
Ambrose Rayappan † (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Jan 1953; Coadjutor Archbishop: 7 Aug 1953; Archbishop: 28 Nov 1955 to 17 Mar 1973)
Venmani S. Selvanather † (Archbishop: 17 Mar 1973 to 18 Feb 1992)