Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cotonou, Benin 🇧🇯

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Cotonou / Cotonuen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Abomey, Dassa-Zoumé, Lokossa, Porto Novo

Neighbouring Dioceses: Lokossa (←), Abomey (↑), Porto Novo (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1883.06.26: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Dahomey / de Dahomey (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Bight of Benin)
1892.04.12: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Togo
1901.05.25: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Dahomey / de Dahomey (Latin)
1942.04.28: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Niamey
1948.05.13: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Ouidah / Ouidahen(sis) (Latin)
1954.04.05: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Porto Novo
1955.09.14: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cotonou / Cotonuen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan see Porto Novo)
1963.04.05: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Abomey and gained suffragan see Abomey
1964.02.10: Gained suffragan sees Natitingou and Parakou
1968.03.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Lokossa and gained suffragan see Lokossa
1994.12.19: Gained suffragan see Kandi
1995.06.10: Gained suffragan sees Dassa-Zoumé and Djougou
1997.10.16: Lost suffragan sees Djougou, Kandi, Natitingou and Parakou

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2016.06.25 – ...):

Archbishop Roger Houngbédji, O.P. (62)

President of Episcopal Conference of Benin

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Cotonou (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Roger Houngbédji, O.P. (62)
(2016.06.25 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotonou (Benin)
President of Episcopal Conference of Benin

Caritas in veritate

Born:	1963.05.14 (Porto-Novo, Benin)
Ordained Priest:	1992.08.08
Consecrated Bishop:	2016.09.24

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotonou (Benin) (2016.06.25 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Benin (2023.05.26 – ...)

Archbishop Antoine Ganyé (87)
(2010.08.21 – 2016.06.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Cotonou (Benin)
former President of Episcopal Conference of Benin

Servir le Seigneur dans la joie

Born:	1938.06.28 (Sedjé, Benin)
Ordained Priest:	1969.01.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.08.20

Priest of Cotonou (Benin) (1969.01.04 – 1995.06.10)

Bishop of Dassa-Zoumé (Benin) (1995.06.10 – 2010.08.21)

President of Episcopal Conference of Benin (2006 – 2016.06.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotonou (Benin) (2010.08.21 – 2016.06.25)

Apostolic Administrator of Dassa-Zoumé (Benin) (2011.10 – 2013.08.15)

Archbishop Marcel Honorat Léon Agboton
(2005.03.05 – 2010.08.21)

Servus ancillæ filius

Born:	1941.01.16 (Avrankou, Benin)
Ordained Priest:	1966.01.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.03.25
Died:	2023.09.14 (Benin † 82)

Priest of Porto Novo (Benin) (1966.01.06 – 1994.12.19)

Bishop of Kandi (Benin) (1994.12.19 – 2000.01.29)

Bishop of Porto Novo (Benin) (2000.01.29 – 2005.03.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotonou (Benin) (2005.03.05 – 2010.08.21)

Archbishop Nestor Assogba
(1999.10.29 – 2005.03.05)

Pacificans per cor Jesu Christi

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

Bishop of Parakou (Benin) (1976.04.10 – 1997.10.16)

Apostolic Administrator of Natitingou (Benin) (1995.06.10 – 1997.06.28)

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)

Archbishop Isidore de Souza
(1990.12.27 – 1999.03.13)

Born:	1934.04.04 (Ouidah, Benin)
Ordained Priest:	1962.07.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.12.08
Died:	1999.03.13 († 64)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Cotonou (Benin) (1981.07.17 – 1990.12.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotonou (Benin) (1990.12.27 – 1999.03.13)

President of Regional Episcopal Conferences of Western Francophone Africa (1998 – 1999.03.13)

Archbishop Christophe Adimou
(1971.06.28 – 1990.12.27)

Born:	1916.01.12 (Cana, Benin)
Ordained Priest:	1951.01.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.07.25
Died:	1998.07.08 († 82)

Bishop of Lokossa (Benin) (1968.03.11 – 1971.06.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotonou (Benin) (1971.06.28 – 1990.12.27)

President of Episcopal Conference of Benin (1972 – 1991)

Archbishop Bernardin Gantin (later Cardinal)
(1960.01.05 – 1971.06.28)

In tuo sancto Servitio

Born:	1922.05.08 (Toffo, Benin)
Ordained Priest:	1951.01.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1957.02.03
Created Cardinal:	1977.06.27
Died:	2008.05.13 (Paris, France † 86)

Priest of Cotonou (Benin) (1951.01.14 – 1956.12.11)

Titular Bishop of Tipasa in Mauretania (1956.12.11 – 1960.01.05)

Auxiliary Bishop of Cotonou (Benin) (1956.12.11 – 1960.01.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotonou (Benin) (1960.01.05 – 1971.06.28)

Apostolic Administrator of Porto Novo (Benin) (1969.01.01 – 1970.09.21)

President of Episcopal Conference of Benin (1970 – 1971)

Adjunct Secretary of Sacred Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (1971.06.29 – 1973.02.26)

Secretary of Sacred Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (1973.02.26 – 1975.12.19)

Vice-President of Pontifical Commission of Justice and Peace (1975.12.19 – 1976.12.16)

Vice-President of Pontifical Council “Cor unum” (1976 – 1978.09.04)

Pro-President of Pontifical Commission of Justice and Peace (1976.12.16 – 1977.06.29)

Cardinal-Deacon of S. Cuore di Cristo Re (1977.06.27 – 1984.06.25)

President of Pontifical Commission of Justice and Peace (1977.06.29 – 1984.04.08)

President of Pontifical Council “Cor unum” (1978.09.04 – 1984.04.08)

Vice-President of Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses (1983 – 1989)

President of Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (1984.04.08 – 1989.03.01)

Prefect of Congregation for Bishops (1984.04.08 – 1998.06.25)

President of Pontifical Commission for Latin America (1984.04.08 – 1998.06.25)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Cuore di Cristo Re pro hac vice Title (1984.06.25 – 1986.09.29)

Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina (1986.09.29 – 2008.05.13)

Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia (1993.06.05 – 2002.11.30)

Cardinal Dean of College of Cardinals (1993.06.05 – 2002.11.30)

Archbishop Louis Parisot, S.M.A.
(1955.09.14 – 1960.01.05)

Born:	1885.07.11 (Brognon, France)
Ordained Priest:	1909.10.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1935.10.28
Died:	1960.04.21 (Ouidah, Benin † 74)

Vicar Apostolic of Dahomey (Benin) (1935.03.11 – 1948.05.13)

Titular Bishop of Tacapæ (1935.03.11 – 1955.09.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Ouidah (Benin) (1948.05.13 – 1955.09.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotonou (Benin) (1955.09.14 – 1960.01.05)

Titular Archbishop of Chersonesus in Zechia (1960.01.14 – 1960.04.21)

Vicars Apostolic of Ouidah (Roman Rite)

Bishop Louis Parisot, S.M.A. (later Archbishop)
(1948.05.13 – 1955.09.14)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Dahomey (Roman Rite)

Bishop Louis Parisot, S.M.A. (later Archbishop)
(1935.03.11 – 1948.05.13)

(see above)

Bishop François Steinmetz, S.M.A.
(1906.05.20 – 1934.11.12)

Born:	1868.01.10 (Morschwiller, France)
Ordained Priest:	1890.07.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1906.10.28
Died:	1952.03.29 (Ouidah, Benin † 84)

Vicar Apostolic of Dahomey (Benin) (1906.05.20 – 1934.11.12)

Titular Bishop of Hadriani ad Olympum (1906.05.20 – 1952.03.29)

Bishop Louis-Auguste Dartois, S.M.A.
(1901.05.25 – 1905.08.03)

Born:	1861.06.08 (Wez-Macquart, France)
Ordained Priest:	1888.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1901.07.25
Died:	1905.08.03 (Ouidah, Benin † 44)

Titular Bishop of Temnus (1901.05.25 – 1905.08.03)

Vicar Apostolic of Dahomey (Benin) (1901.05.25 – 1905.08.03)

Prefects Apostolic of Dahomey (Roman Rite)

Fr. Hyacinthe Bricet, S.M.A.
(1895 – 1900)

Born:	1846 (France)
Died:	1926 († 80)

Prefect Apostolic of Dahomey (Benin) (1895 – 1900)

Fr. Ernest Ménager, S.M.A.
(1883 – 1895.06)

Born:	1848 (France)
Died:	1912 († 64)

Prefect Apostolic of Dahomey (Benin) (1883 [1888] – 1895.06)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Isidore de Souza (1981.07.17 – 1990.12.27)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Bernardin Gantin (later Cardinal) (1956.12.11 – 1960.01.05)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Miséricorde, Cotonou, Littoral
Minor Basilica: Basilique de l’Immaculée Conception, Ouidah, Atlantique
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)

Lokossa (←), Abomey (↑), Porto Novo (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 3,233 km²

Population: 1,066,618 Catholics (42.3% of 2,522,153 total)

Pastoral Centres: 116 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 477 priests (385 diocesan, 92 religious), 853 religious (229 brothers, 624 sisters), 160 seminarians