Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bamenda, Cameroon

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Bamenda / Bamendan(us) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Buéa, Kumba, Kumbo, Mamfe

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1970.08.13: Established as Diocese of Bamenda / Bamendan(us) (Latin) (from Diocese of Buéa and became suffragan of Yaoundé)
1982.03.18: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bamenda / Bamendan(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Buéa and Kumbo and lost territory to establish Diocese of Kumbo)
1999.02.09: Gained suffragan see Mamfe
2016.03.15: Gained suffragan see Kumba

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2019.12.30 – ...):

Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya (59)

President of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Bamenda (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya (59)
(2019.12.30 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon)
President of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon

In Spiritu et veritate / Comme quelqu’un qui sert

Born:	1965.08.29 (Widikum, Cameroon)
Ordained Priest:	1992.04.22
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.08.23

Priest of Buéa (Cameroon) (1992.04.22 – 2013.07.10)

Coadjutor Bishop of Mamfe (Cameroon) (2013.07.10 – 2014.01.25)

Bishop of Mamfe (Cameroon) (2014.01.25 – 2019.12.30)

Vice-President of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (2019.05.03 – 2022.04.30)

Apostolic Administrator of Mamfe (Cameroon) (2019.12.30 – 2022.02.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon) (2019.12.30 – ...)

President of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (2022.04.30 – ...)

Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua (81)
(2006.01.23 – 2019.12.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Bamenda (Cameroon)

Sermo tuus veritas est

Born:	1943.07.02 (Mbetta, Cameroon)
Ordained Priest:	1971.12.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.12.08

Priest of Buéa (Cameroon) (1971.12.29 – 1982.09.10)

Bishop of Kumbo (Cameroon) (1982.09.10 – 2004.12.07)

President of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (2000 – 2004)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon) (2004.12.07 – 2006.01.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon) (2006.01.23 – 2019.12.30)

Archbishop Paul Verdzekov
(1982.03.18 – 2006.01.23)

Born:	1931.01.22 (Cameroon)
Ordained Priest:	1961.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.11.08
Died:	2010.01.26 († 79)

Bishop of Bamenda (Cameroon) (1970.08.13 – 1982.03.18)

President of National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (1976 – 1982)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon) (1982.03.18 – 2006.01.23)

Bishops of Bamenda (Roman Rite)

Bishop Paul Verdzekov (later Archbishop)
(1970.08.13 – 1982.03.18)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua (81) (2004.12.07 – 2006.01.23)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi (53) (2017.01.24 – 2021.01.05)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Agapitus Enuyehnyoh Nfon (60) (2011.04.08 – 2016.03.15)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Saint-Joseph, Bamenda, North-West

Mamfe (←), Katsina-Ala (↖), Wukari (↑), Kumbo (→), Bafoussam (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 10,724 km²

Population: 616,515 Catholics (42.2% of 1,460,853 total)

Pastoral Centres: 57 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 168 priests (130 diocesan, 38 religious), 351 religious (131 brothers, 220 sisters), 113 seminarians