Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Parakou

Benin

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Parakou / Parakuen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Djougou, Kandi, N’Dali, Natitingou

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1948.05.13: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Parakou / Parakuen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Prefecture of Niamey)
1964.02.10: Promoted as Diocese of Parakou / Parakuen(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Diocese of Natitingou and became suffragan of Cotonou)
1994.12.19: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Kandi
1997.10.16: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Parakou / Parakuen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Djougou, Kandi and Natitingou)
1999.12.22: Lost territory to establish Diocese of N’Dali and gained suffragan see N’Dali

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1993.02)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2011.06.14 – ...):

Archbishop Pascal N’Koué (65)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Parakou (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Pascal N’Koué (65)
(2011.06.14 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Parakou (Benin)

Born:	1959.03.29 (Boukombé, Benin)
Ordained Priest:	1986.07.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.09.21

Priest of Natitingou (Benin) (1986.07.26 – 1997.06.28)

Bishop of Natitingou (Benin) (1997.06.28 – 2011.06.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Parakou (Benin) (2011.06.14 – ...)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Benin (2016.10.26 – 2023.05.26)

Apostolic Administrator of Djougou (Benin) (2019.04.03 – 2022.02.12)

Archbishop Fidèle Agbatchi (74)
(2000.04.14 – 2010.11.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Parakou (Benin)

Born:	1950.10.23 (Savé, Benin)
Ordained Priest:	1978.01.07
Consecrated Bishop:	2000.06.10

Priest of Parakou (Benin) (1978.01.07 – 2000.04.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Parakou (Benin) (2000.04.14 – 2010.11.04)

Archbishop Nestor Assogba
(1997.10.16 – 1999.10.29)

Pacificans per cor Jesu Christi

Born:	1929.02.21 (Benin)
Ordained Priest:	1957.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.07.25
Died:	2017.08.22 († 88)

Bishop of Parakou (Benin) (1976.04.10 – 1997.10.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Parakou (Benin) (1997.10.16 – 1999.10.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotonou (Benin) (1999.10.29 – 2005.03.05)

President of Episcopal Conference of Benin (2001 – 2006)

Bishops of Parakou (Roman Rite)

Bishop Nestor Assogba (later Archbishop)
(1976.04.10 – 1997.10.16)

(see above)

Bishop André van den Bronk, S.M.A.
(1964.02.10 – 1975.09.29)

Born:	1907.12.24 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1931.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1946.12.29
Died:	1997.05.13 († 89)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Delta del Nilo (Egypt) (1946.07.30 – 1950.03.23)

Titular Bishop of Tentyris (1946.07.30 – 1952.05.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Heliopolis of Egypt (Egypt) (1950.03.23 – 1952.05.15)

Bishop of Kumasi (Ghana) (1952.05.15 – 1962.02.13)

Titular Bishop of Thubunæ in Numidia (1962.02.13 – 1964.02.10)

Prefect Apostolic of Parakou (Benin) (1962.02.13 – 1964.02.10)

Bishop of Parakou (Benin) (1964.02.10 – 1975.09.29)

Prefects Apostolic of Parakou (Roman Rite)

Bishop André van den Bronk, S.M.A.
(1962.02.13 – 1964.02.10)

(see above)

Fr. Robert Chopard-Lallier, S.M.A.
(1957.01.04 – 1962)

Died:

1962

Prefect Apostolic of Parakou (Benin) (1957.01.04 – 1962)

Fr. François Faroud, S.M.A.
(1948.05.21 – 1956)

Born:	1885.07.29 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1910.11.13
Died:	1963.09.05 († 78)

Prefect Apostolic of Niamey (Niger) (1942.05.01 – 1948.05.21)

Prefect Apostolic of Parakou (Benin) (1948.05.21 – 1956)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Saints Pierre et Paul, Parakou, Borgou

Djougou (←), Natitingou (↖), N’Dali (↑), Ilorin (→), Dassa-Zoumé (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 9,259 km²

Population: 124,932 Catholics (23.3% of 535,690 total)

Pastoral Centres: 32 parishes, 6 missions

Personnel: 77 priests (53 diocesan, 24 religious), 265 religious (57 brothers, 208 sisters), 55 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.01.27

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