Metropolitan Archdiocese of Brazzaville, Congo-Brazzaville

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Brazzaville / Brazzapolitan(us) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Gamboma, Kinkala

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1890.10.14: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Haut-Congo français (français) / Upper French Congo (English) / Congo Francese Superiore (Italiano) / Oubangui / Ubanghi / Congi Gallici Superioris (Latin) / Ubanghi (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Congo français)
1909.05.08: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Oubangui Chari
1922.06.14: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Brazzaville / Brazzapolitan(us) (Latin)
1950.12.21: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Fort-Rousset
1955.09.14: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Brazzaville / Brazzapolitan(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Fort-Rousset, Libreville and Pointe-Noire)
1958.12.11: Lost suffragan see Libreville
1983.06.06: Gained suffragan see Ouesso
1983.12.05: Gained suffragan see Nkayi
1987.10.03: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Kinkala and gained suffragan see Kinkala
2000.10.30: Gained suffragan see Likouala
2013.02.22: Gained suffragan see Gamboma
2013.05.24: Gained suffragan see Dolisie
2020.05.30: Lost suffragan sees Dolisie, Impfondo, Nkayi, Ouesso, Owando and Pointe-Noire

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1980.05)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2021.11.21 – ...):

Archbishop Bienvenu Manamika Bafouakouahou (60)

President of Episcopal Conference of Congo

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Brazzaville (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Bienvenu Manamika Bafouakouahou (60)
(2021.11.21 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville)
President of Episcopal Conference of Congo

Confirma fratres tuos

Born:	1964.10.16 (Brazzaville, Congo-Brazzaville)
Ordained Priest:	1993.08.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.08.25

Priest of Kinkala (Congo-Brazzaville) (1993.08.29 – 2013.05.24)

Bishop of Dolisie (Congo-Brazzaville) (2013.05.24 – 2020.04.18)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (2020.04.18 – 2021.11.21)

Apostolic Administrator of Dolisie (Congo-Brazzaville) (2020.04.18 – 2022.05.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (2021.11.21 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Congo (2022.05.01 – ...)

Archbishop Anatole Milandou (79)
(2001.01.23 – 2021.11.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville)

Ministrare non ministrari

Born:	1946.03.18 (Nsamouna, Congo-Brazzaville)
Ordained Priest:	1974.06.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1983.08.28

Priest of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1974.06.23 – 1983.07.22)

Titular Bishop of Capra (1983.07.22 – 1987.10.03)

Auxiliary Bishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1983.07.22 – 1987.10.03)

Bishop of Kinkala (Congo-Brazzaville) (1987.10.03 – 2001.01.23)

President of Association of Episcopal Conferences of the Central Africa Region (1997 – 2000)

President of Episcopal Conference of Congo (1997 – 2003)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (2001.01.23 – 2021.11.21)

Archbishop Barthélémy Batantu
(1978.11.15 – 2001.01.23)

Scio enim cui credidi

Born:	1925.07.14 (Mayala, Congo-Brazzaville)
Ordained Priest:	1959.06.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.02.11
Died:	2004.04.26 († 78)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1978.11.15 – 2001.01.23)

President of Episcopal Conference of Congo (1986 – 1993)

Cardinal Emile Biayenda
(1971.06.14 – 1977.03.23)

In verbo tuo laxabo rete

Born:	1927 (Mfinkabitoungou, Congo-Brazzaville)
Ordained Priest:	1958.10.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.05.17
Created Cardinal:	1973.03.05
Died:	1977.03.23 (Brazzaville, Congo-Brazzaville † 49)

Priest of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1958.10.26 – 1970.03.07)

Titular Archbishop of Garba (1970.03.07 – 1971.06.14)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1970.03.07 – 1971.06.14)

President of Episcopal Conference of Congo (1971 – 1977)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1971.06.14 – 1977.03.23)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Marco in Agro Laurentino (1973.03.05 – 1977.03.23)

Assassinated.

Archbishop Théophile Mbemba
(1964.05.23 – 1971.06.14)

Esto mater propitia

Born:	1917.05.06 (Mpiaka, Congo-Brazzaville)
Ordained Priest:	1946.06.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.02.11
Died:	1971.06.14 († 54)

Titular Archbishop of Tubia (1961.11.11 – 1964.05.23)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1961.11.11 – 1964.05.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1964.05.23 – 1971.06.14)

President of Episcopal Conference of Congo (1970 – 1971.06.14)

Archbishop Michel-Jules-Joseph-Marie Bernard, C.S.Sp.
(1955.09.14 – 1964.05.02)

Born:	1911.11.16 (Avranches, France)
Ordained Priest:	1938.09.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1950.06.30
Died:	1993.01.02 (Chevilly-Larue, France † 81)

Vicar Apostolic of Conakry (Guinea) (1950.03.12 – 1954.07.18)

Titular Bishop of Ægeæ (1950.03.12 – 1955.09.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1954.07.18 – 1955.09.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1955.09.14 – 1964.05.02)

Titular Archbishop of Aræ in Mauretania (1964.05.02 – 1966.01.15)

Archbishop-Bishop of Nouakchott (Mauritania) (1966.01.15 – 1973.12.21)

Vicars Apostolic of Brazzaville (Roman Rite)

Bishop Michel-Jules-Joseph-Marie Bernard, C.S.Sp. (later Archbishop)
(1954.07.18 – 1955.09.14)

(see above)

Bishop Paul Joseph Biéchy, C.S.Sp.
(1936.01.27 – 1954)

Born:	1887.06.27 (Hattstatt, France)
Ordained Priest:	1912.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1936.06.04
Died:	1960.07.08 († 73)

Vicar Apostolic of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1936.01.27 – 1954)

Titular Bishop of Thelepte (1936.01.27 – 1960.07.08)

Bishop Firmin-Jules Guichard, C.S.Sp.
(1922.06.12 – 1936.01.27)

Born:	1884.11.19 (Corps-Nuds, France)
Ordained Priest:	1910.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1922.11.12
Died:	1936.04.27 († 51)

Vicar Apostolic of Brazzaville (Congo-Brazzaville) (1922.06.12 – 1936.01.27)

Titular Bishop of Tadamata (1922.06.12 – 1936.04.27)

Vicars Apostolic of Haut-Congo français (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Philippe-Prosper Augouard, C.S.Sp.
(1890.10.14 – 1921.10.03)

Born:	1852.09.16 (Poitiers, France)
Ordained Priest:	1876.06.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1890.11.23
Died:	1921.10.03 (Paris, France † 69)

Titular Bishop of Sinis (1890.10.14 – 1915.11.30)

Vicar Apostolic of Haut-Congo français (Congo-Brazzaville) (1890.10.14 – 1921.10.03)

Titular Archbishop of Cassiope (1915.11.30 – 1921.10.03)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Emile Biayenda (later Cardinal) (1970.03.07 – 1971.06.14)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Bienvenu Manamika Bafouakouahou (60) (2020.04.18 – 2021.11.21)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Théophile Mbemba (1961.11.11 – 1964.05.23)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Anatole Milandou (79) (later Archbishop) (1983.07.22 – 1987.10.03)