Apostolic Vicariate of

Archipel des Comores

Comoros , Mayotte

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: Archipel des Comores (français) / Archipelago of the Comores (English) / Arcipelago delle Comores (Italiano) / Insularum Comorensium (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1975.06.05: Established as Apostolic Administration of Comores / Comore (Italiano) / Insularum Comorensium (Latin) (from Diocese of Ambanja)
2010.05.01: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Archipel des Comores (français) / Archipelago of the Comores (English) / Arcipelago delle Comores (Italiano) / Insularum Comorensium (Latin)

Contact Info

Address: B.P. 46, Moroni, Comoros

Phone: 763.19.96

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2010.05.01 – ...):

Bishop Charles Mahuza Yava, S.D.S. (65)

Titular Bishop of Apisa maius

Vice-President of Episcopal Conferences of Indian Ocean

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Archipel des Comores (Roman Rite)

Bishop Charles Mahuza Yava, S.D.S. (65)
(2010.05.01 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Archipel des Comores (Comoros)
Titular Bishop of Apisa maius
Vice-President of Episcopal Conferences of Indian Ocean

Born:	1960.07.29 (Sandoa, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1993.05.08
Consecrated Bishop:	2010.06.19

Titular Bishop of Apisa maius (2010.05.01 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Archipel des Comores (Comoros) (2010.05.01 – ...)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conferences of Indian Ocean (2023? – ...)

Apostolic Administrators of Comores (Roman Rite)

Fr. Jan Geerits, S.D.S.
(2006.06.06 – 2010.05.01)

Apostolic Administrator of Comores (Comoros) (2006.06.06 – 2010.05.01)

Fr. Jan Szpilka, S.D.S.
(1998.04.01 – 2006.06.06)

Born:	1950.05.20 (Poland)
Ordained Priest:	1978.04.29

Apostolic Administrator of Comores (Comoros) (1998.04.01 – 2006.06.06)

Fr. Jean Péault, M.E.P.
(1997 – 1998)

Pro-Administrator of Comores (Comoros) (1988 – 1991)

Pro-Administrator of Comores (Comoros) (1997 – 1998)

Fr. Gabriel Franco Nicolai, O.F.M. Cap.
(1991 – 1997)

Pro-Administrator of Comores (Comoros) (1991 – 1997)

Fr. Jean Péault, M.E.P.
(1988 – 1991)

Pro-Administrator of Comores (Comoros) (1988 – 1991)

Pro-Administrator of Comores (Comoros) (1997 – 1998)

Fr. Jean Berchmans Eugène Jung, O.F.M. Cap.
(1980.05.02 – 1983)

Died:

1983

Apostolic Administrator of Comores (Comoros) (1980.05.02 – 1983)

Bishop Léon-Adolphe Messmer, O.F.M. Cap.
(1975.06.05 – 1980.05.02)

Born:	1900.09.26 (Wingen, France)
Ordained Priest:	1925.03.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1951.06.29
Died:	1987.02.10 († 86)

Prefect Apostolic of Ambanja (Madagascar) (1937.11.12 – 1951.03.08)

Titular Bishop of Coropissus (1951.03.08 – 1955.09.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Ambanja (Madagascar) (1951.03.08 – 1955.09.14)

Bishop of Ambanja (Madagascar) (1955.09.14 – 1975.06.05)

Apostolic Administrator of Comores (Comoros) (1975.06.05 – 1980.05.02)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Sainte Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus, Moroni, Comoros

Churches by City (4)

Pemba (←), Antsiranana (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,235 km²

Population: 6,574 Catholics (0.6% of 1,148,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 5 parishes

Personnel: 6 priests (1 diocesan, 5 religious), 16 religious (6 brothers, 10 sisters), 1 seminarian

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.01.09

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