Metropolitan Archdiocese of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire 🇨🇮

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Abidjan / Abidianen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Agboville, Grand-Bassam, Yopougon

Neighbouring Dioceses: Yopougon (←), Agboville (↖), Grand-Bassam (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1895.06.28: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Costa d’Avorio (from Apostolic Prefecture of Gold Coast)
1911.11.17: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Costa d’Avorio (lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Korhogo)
1940.04.09: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Abidjan / Abidianen(sis) (Latin) (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Sassandra)
1951.05.17: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Bouaké
1955.09.14: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Abidjan / Abidianen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Bouaké, Daloa and Katiola)
1956.06.25: Gained suffragan see Gagnoa
1963.09.13: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Abengourou and gained suffragan see Abengourou
1968.06.08: Gained suffragan see Man
1971.10.15: Gained suffragan see Korhogo
1982.06.08: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Grand-Bassam and Diocese of Yopougon and gained suffragan sees Grand-Bassam and Yopougon
1987.07.03: Gained suffragan see Bondoukou
1989.10.23: Gained suffragan see San Pedro
1992.03.06: Gained suffragan see Yamoussoukro
1994.12.19: Lost suffragan sees Abengourou, Bondoukou, Bouaké, Daloa, Gagnoa, Katiola, Korhogo, Man, San Pedro and Yamoussoukro
2006.10.14: Gained suffragan see Agboville

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1980.05, 1985.08)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2024.05.20 – ...):	Cardinal Ignace Bessi Dogbo (64) Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Mario e Compagni Martiri
Auxiliary Bishop (2026.02.19 – ...):	Bishop Gaspard Béby Gnéba (63) Titular Bishop of Putia in Numidia

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Abidjan (Roman Rite)

Cardinal Ignace Bessi Dogbo (64)
(2024.05.20 – ...)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Mario e Compagni Martiri
Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)

Omnibus omnia

Born:	1961.08.17 (Niangon-Adjamé, Cote d’Ivoire)
Ordained Priest:	1987.08.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.07.04
Created Cardinal:	2024.12.07

Priest of Yopougon (Cote d’Ivoire) (1987.08.02 – 2004.03.19)

Bishop of Katiola (Cote d’Ivoire) (2004.03.19 – 2021.01.03)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Côte d’Ivoire (2017.05.21 – 2023.06.04)

Apostolic Administrator of Korhogo (Cote d’Ivoire) (2017.10.12 – 2021.01.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Korhogo (Cote d’Ivoire) (2021.01.03 – 2024.05.20)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) (2024.05.20 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Korhogo (Cote d’Ivoire) (2024.08.03 – 2025.03.07)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Mario e Compagni Martiri (2024.12.07 [2025.06.14] – ...)

Cardinal Jean-Pierre Kutwa (80)
(2006.05.02 – 2024.05.20)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Emerenziana a Tor Fiorenza
Apostolic Administrator of Man (Cote d’Ivoire)
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)

Ut omnes unum sint

Born:	1945.12.22 (Blockhauss, Cote d’Ivoire)
Ordained Priest:	1971.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.09.16
Created Cardinal:	2014.02.22

Priest of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) (1971.07.11 – 2001.05.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gagnoa (Cote d’Ivoire) (2001.05.15 – 2006.05.02)

Apostolic Administrator of Gagnoa (Cote d’Ivoire) (2006.05.02 – 2006.07.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) (2006.05.02 – 2024.05.20)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Emerenziana a Tor Fiorenza (2014.02.22 [2017.02.26] – ...)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Man (Cote d’Ivoire) (2024.12.27 – 2026.02.19)

Apostolic Administrator of Man (Cote d’Ivoire) (2026.02.19 – ...)

Cardinal Bernard Agré
(1994.12.19 – 2006.05.02)

Être tout à tous

Born:	1926.03.02 (Monga, Cote d’Ivoire)
Ordained Priest:	1953.07.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.10.03
Created Cardinal:	2001.02.21
Died:	2014.06.09 (Paris, France † 88)

Priest of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) (1953.07.20 – 1968.06.08)

Domestic Prelate (1961.12.08 – 1968.06.08)

Bishop of Man (Cote d’Ivoire) (1968.06.08 – 1992.03.06)

President of Regional Episcopal Conferences of Western Francophone Africa (1986 – 1991)

Bishop of Yamoussoukro (Cote d’Ivoire) (1992.03.06 – 1994.12.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) (1994.12.19 – 2006.05.02)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Giovanni Crisostomo a Monte Sacro Alto (2001.02.21 [2001.05.27] – 2014.06.09)

Cardinal Bernard Yago
(1960.04.05 – 1994.12.19)

Ut omnes unum sint

Born:	1916.07 (Pass, Cote d’Ivoire)
Ordained Priest:	1947.05.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.05.08
Created Cardinal:	1983.02.02
Died:	1997.10.05 (Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire † 81)

Priest of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) (1947.05.01 – 1960.04.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) (1960.04.05 – 1994.12.19)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Côte d’Ivoire (1970 – 1993)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Crisogono (1983.02.02 – 1997.10.05)

Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Boivin, S.M.A.
(1955.09.14 – 1959.06.10)

Born:	1898.03.09 (Hénanbihen, France)
Ordained Priest:	1923.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1939.05.30
Died:	1970.04.24 (Créhen, France † 72)

Vicar Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (Cote d’Ivoire) (1939.03.15 – 1940.04.09)

Titular Bishop of Onuphis (1939.03.15 – 1955.09.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) (1940.04.09 – 1955.09.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) (1955.09.14 – 1959.06.10)

Titular Archbishop of Viminacium (1959.06.10 – 1970.04.24)

Vicars Apostolic of Abidjan (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jean-Baptiste Boivin, S.M.A. (later Archbishop)
(1940.04.09 – 1955.09.14)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jean-Baptiste Boivin, S.M.A. (later Archbishop)
(1939.03.15 – 1940.04.09)

(see above)

Bishop François Person, S.M.A.
(1935.12.09 – 1938.07.08)

Born:	1890.09.19 (Plouharnel, France)
Ordained Priest:	1920.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1936.05.10
Died:	1938.07.08 (Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire † 47)

Titular Bishop of Parætonium (1935.12.09 – 1938.07.08)

Vicar Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (Cote d’Ivoire) (1935.12.09 – 1938.07.08)

Bishop Jules-Joseph Moury, S.M.A.
(1911.01.17 – 1935.03.29)

Born:	1873.10.11 (Agnat, France)
Ordained Priest:	1896.05.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1912.06.06
Died:	1935.03.29 (Agnat, France † 61)

Prefect Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (Cote d’Ivoire) (1910.01.18 – 1911.01.17)

Titular Bishop of Ariassus (1911.01.17 – 1935.03.29)

Vicar Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (Cote d’Ivoire) (1911.01.17 – 1935.03.29)

Prefects Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (Roman Rite)

Fr. Jules-Joseph Moury, S.M.A. (later Bishop)
(1910.01.18 – 1911.01.17)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joseph Aké Yapo (74) (later Archbishop) (2001.05.15 – 2006.07.21)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Paul Dacoury-Tabley (91) (1979.04.09 – 1994.12.19)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Laurent Yapi (1970.09.21 – 1979.01.12)