Diocese of

La Rochelle–Saintes

France France, Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: La Rochelle / Rupellen(sis) (Latin)

United Title: Saintes

Ecclesiastical Province: Poitiers

Neighbouring Dioceses: Luçon (↑), Poitiers (↗), Angoulême (→), Bordeaux (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Eutrope d’Orange (April 30)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: November 18

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

United Titles

Present Prelates

Bishop (2016.03.09 – ...):Bishop Georges Colomb, M.E.P. (72)Bishop Georges Colomb, M.E.P. (72)
Coadjutor Bishop (2025.08.19 – ...):Bishop Pierre-Antoine Bozo (60)Bishop Pierre-Antoine Bozo (60)

Bishop emeritus of Limoges (France)

Ordinaries

Bishops of La Rochelle (Roman Rite)

Bishop François Jacolin, M.D.P. (75)Bishop François Jacolin, M.D.P. (75)
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 2023.06.22 – 2025.10.19)

Bishop Georges Colomb, M.E.P. (72)Bishop Georges Colomb, M.E.P. (72)
(2016.03.09 – ...)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France)

Ma grâce te suffit

Born:1953.06.15 (Saint-Anthème, France)
Ordained Priest:1987.09.13
Consecrated Bishop:2016.05.05

Superior General of Paris Foreign Missions Society (2010.07.09 – 2016.03.09)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (2016.03.09 – ...)

Bishop Bernard Housset (85)Bishop Bernard Housset (85)
(2006.11.28 – 2016.03.09)

Bishop emeritus of La Rochelle (France)

Vers la plénitude du Christ

Born:1940.06.01 (Saint-Michel-de-Port, France)
Ordained Priest:1965.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:1996.09.15

Priest of Bayonne (France) (1965.06.29 – 1996.05.17)

Bishop of Montauban (France) (1996.05.17 – 2006.11.28)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (2006.11.28 – 2016.03.09)

Archbishop Georges Paul Pontier (82)Bishop Georges Paul Pontier (82) (later Archbishop)
(1996.08.05 – 2006.05.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Marseille (France)

Pauperes evangelizantur / La bonne nouvelle est annoncée aux pauvres

Born:1943.05.01 (Lavaur, France)
Ordained Priest:1966.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:1988.03.20

Priest of Albi (France) (1966.07.03 – 1988.02.02)

Bishop of Digne (France) (1988.02.02 – 1996.08.05)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1996.08.05 – 2006.05.12)

Vice-President of Bishops’ Conference of France (2001 – 2004)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Marseille (France) (2006.05.12 – 2019.08.08)

President of Bishops’ Conference of France (2013.07.01 – 2019.04.03)

Apostolic Administrator of Avignon (France) (2021.01.11 – 2021.06.11)

Apostolic Administrator of Paris (France) (2021.12.02 – 2022.04.26)

Apostolic Administrator of France of the Eastern Rite (France) (2021.12.02 – 2022.05.07)

Bishop Jacques Louis Antoine Marie David
(1985.02.21 – 1996.02.02)

Viens Seigneur Jésus

Born:1930.12.22 (Saint-Aubin-la Plaine, France)
Ordained Priest:1956.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:1981.09.26
Died:2018.12.19 (La Roche-sur-Yon, France † 87)

Titular Bishop of Girba (1981.07.27 – 1985.02.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bordeaux (France) (1981.07.27 – 1985.02.21)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1985.02.21 – 1996.02.02)

Vice-President of Bishops’ Conference of France (1996 – 1999)

Bishop of Évreux (France) (1996.02.02 – 2006.01.28)

Bishop François-Marie-Christian Favreau
(1979.08.17 – 1983.09.08)

Born:1929.11.15 (Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, France)
Ordained Priest:1952.06.30
Consecrated Bishop:1973.01.20
Died:2021.09.07 (Poitiers, France † 91)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bayonne (France) (1972.11.24 – 1977.10.07)

Titular Bishop of Turres Ammeniæ (1972.11.24 – 1979)

Coadjutor Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1977.10.07 – 1979.08.17)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1979.08.17 – 1983.09.08)

Bishop of Nanterre (France) (1983.09.08 – 2002.06.18)

Bishop Félix-Marie-Honoré Verdet
(1963.07.01 – 1979.08.17)

In veritate et caritate

Born:1904.08.03 (Cannes, France)
Ordained Priest:1933.01.06
Consecrated Bishop:1952.07.12
Died:1992.07.03 (Bandol, France † 87)

Titular Bishop of Gurza (1952.06.10 – 1963.07.01)

Auxiliary Bishop of Nice (France) (1952.06.10 – 1963.07.01)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1963.07.01 – 1979.08.17)

Bishop Xavier Morilleau
(1955.08.10 – 1963.03.23)

Born:1907.02.14 (Legé, France)
Ordained Priest:1937.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:1954.06.24
Died:1996.06.25 (Angers, France † 89)

Titular Bishop of Ancusa (1954.05.05 – 1955.08.10)

Coadjutor Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1954.05.05 – 1955.08.10)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1955.08.10 – 1963.03.23)

Titular Bishop of Colonia in Cappadocia (1963.03.23 – 1970.12.10)

Bishop Louis Liagre
(1938.03.07 – 1955.08.10)

Apostolus Jesu Christi

Born:1883.09.05 (Tourcoing, France)
Ordained Priest:1909.06.05
Consecrated Bishop:1938.05.04
Died:1955.08.10 († 71)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1938.03.07 – 1955.08.10)

Bishop Eugène Curien
(1923.12.23 – 1937.11.08)

Born:1868.02.23 (Senones, France)
Ordained Priest:1892.06.11
Consecrated Bishop:1924.02.05
Died:1947.08.06 († 79)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1923.12.23 – 1937.11.08)

Titular Bishop of Loryma (1937.11.08 – 1947.08.06)

Bishop Jean-Auguste-François-Eutrope Eyssautier
(1906.11.27 – 1923.03.07)

Born:1844.11.30 (Entrevaux, France)
Ordained Priest:1868.06.06
Consecrated Bishop:1906.11.30
Died:1923.03.07 († 78)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1906.11.27 – 1923.03.07)

Bishop Emile-Paul-Angel-Constant Le Camus
(1901.04.18 – 1906.09.28)

Born:1839.08.24 (Paraza, France)
Ordained Priest:1862.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:1901.07.02
Died:1906.09.28 († 67)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) ([1901.04.05] 1901.04.18 – 1906.09.28)

Archbishop François-Joseph-Edwin Bonnefoy
(1893.01.19 – 1901.04.18)

Born:1836.02.27 (Lorgues, France)
Ordained Priest:1858.09.08
Consecrated Bishop:1893.03.12
Died:1920.04.20 († 84)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) ([1892.11.26] 1893.01.19 – 1901.04.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aix (France) ([1901.04.05] 1901.04.18 – 1920.04.20)

Archbishop Pierre-Marie-Etienne-Gustave Ardin
(1884.03.27 – 1892.07.11)

Born:1840.12.26 (Clairvaux-les-Lacs, France)
Ordained Priest:1864.05.21
Consecrated Bishop:1880.05.01
Died:1911.11.21 († 70)

Bishop of Oran (Algeria) ([1880.02.12] 1880.02.27 – 1884.03.27)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) ([1884.01.10] 1884.03.27 – 1892.07.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Sens (France) ([1892.04.02] 1892.07.11 – 1911.11.21)

Bishop Léon-Benoit-Charles Thomas (later Cardinal)
(1867.03.27 – 1884.03.24)

Nil fortius nil dulcius

Born:1826.05.24 (Paray-le Monial, France)
Ordained Priest:1850.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:1867.05.15
Created Cardinal:1893.01.16
Died:1894.03.09 (Rouen, France † 67)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1867.03.27 – 1884.03.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Rouen (France) (1884.03.24 – 1894.03.09)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Nuova (1893.06.15 – 1894.03.09)

Archbishop Jean-Baptiste-François-Anne-Thomas Landriot
(1856.06.16 – 1867.03.27)

Parare viam Domini

Born:1816.01.09 (Couches-les-Mines, France)
Ordained Priest:1839.05.25
Consecrated Bishop:1856.07.20
Died:1874.06.08 († 58)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) ([1856.04.08] 1856.06.16 – 1867.03.27)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Reims (France) ([1866.12.30] 1867.03.27 – 1874.06.08)

Cardinal Clément Villecourt
(1836.02.01 – 1856.06.07)

Absit gloriari nisi in cruce

Born:1787.10.09 (Lyon, France)
Ordained Priest:1811.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:1836.03.13
Created Cardinal:1855.12.17
Died:1867.01.17 (Roma, Italy † 79)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1836.02.01 – 1856.06.07)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Pancrazio (1855.12.20 – 1867.01.17)

Archbishop Joseph Bernet (later Cardinal)
(1827.06.25 – 1836.02.01)

Born:1770.09.04 (Saint-Flour, France)
Ordained Priest:1795.11.04
Consecrated Bishop:1827.08.12
Created Cardinal:1846.01.19
Died:1846.07.05 (Aix-en-Provence, France † 75)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) ([1827.03.29] 1827.06.25 – 1836.02.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aix (France) ([1835.10.06] 1836.02.01 – 1846.07.05)

Cardinal-Priest with no Title assigned (1846.01.19 – 1846.07.05)

Bishop Gabriel-Laurent Paillou
(1805.02.01 – 1826.12.15)

Born:1735.03.07 (Puybelliard, France)
Consecrated Bishop:1805.02.02
Died:1826.12.15 († 91)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) ([1804.12.17] 1805.02.01 – 1826.12.15)

Bishop Jean-François de Mandolx
(1803.01.20 – 1806.02.04)

Born:1744.10.20 (Marseille, France)
Consecrated Bishop:1803.02.02
Died:1817.08.14 († 72)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) ([1802.09.30] 1803.01.20 – 1806.02.04)

Bishop of Amiens (France) ([1804.12.17] 1806.02.04 – 1817.08.14)

Bishop Michel-François de Couët du Vivier de Lorry
(1802.04.17 – 1802.11.20)

Born:1727.01.09 (Metz, France)
Consecrated Bishop:1764.05.01
Died:1803.03.14 († 76)

Bishop of Vence (France) ([1763.12.25] 1764.04.09 – 1769.09.11)

Bishop of Tarbes (France) ([1769.06.18] 1769.09.11 – 1782.09.23)

Bishop of Angers (France) ([1782.08.04] 1782.09.23 – 1801.09.19)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) ([1802.04.09] 1802.04.17 – 1802.11.20)

Bishop Jean-Charles de Coucy (later Archbishop)
(1789.12.14 – 1801)

Born:1746.09.23 (Ecordal, France)
Consecrated Bishop:1790.01.03
Died:1824.03.09 († 77)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) ([1789.08.16] 1789.12.14 – 1801)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Reims (France) ([1817.08.08] 1817.10.01 – 1824.03.09)

Bishop François-Joseph-Emmanuel de Crussol d’Uzès d’Amboise
(1768.06.20 – 1789.06.07)

Born:1735.06.04 (Paris, France)
Consecrated Bishop:1768.07.17
Died:1789.06.07 († 54)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1768.06.20 – 1789.06.07)

Bishop Augustin-Roch de Menou de Charnisai
(1730.08.14 – 1767.11.26)

Born:1681.05.15 (Menon, France)
Ordained Priest:1707.04
Consecrated Bishop:1730.09.10
Died:1767.11.26 († 86)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1730.08.14 – 1767.11.26)

Bishop Jean-Baptiste-Antoine de Brancas (later Archbishop)
(1725.04.16 – 1729.08.17)

Born:1693.04.12 (Pernes, France)
Consecrated Bishop:1725.10.21
Died:1770.08.30 († 77)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1725.04.16 – 1729.08.17)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Aix (France) (1729.08.17 – 1770)

Bishop de Champflour de Champflour
(1702.12.31 – 1724.11.26)

Born:1646.05.17 (Clermont d’Auvergne, France)
Consecrated Bishop:1703.06.10
Died:1724.11.26 († 78)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1702.12.31 – 1724.11.26)

Bishop Charles-Madeleine Frézeau de Frèzelière
(1693.12.24 – 1702.11.04)

Born:1654.09.04 (Poitiers, France)
Consecrated Bishop:1694.06.27
Died:1702.11.04 († 48)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1693.12.24 – 1702.11.04)

Bishop Henri-Marie de Laval de Bois-Dauphin
(1661.07.01 – 1693.11.22)

Born:1620.03.02 (Le Mans, France)
Consecrated Bishop:1651.08.27
Died:1693.11.22 († 73)

Bishop of Léon (France) (1651 – 1661.07.01)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1661.07.01 – 1693.11.22)

Bishop Jacques Raoul de La Guibourgère
(1648.05.04 – 1661.05.15)

Born:1589 (Nantes, France)
Consecrated Bishop:1632.01.11
Died:1661.05.15 († 71)

Bishop of Saintes (France) (1631 – 1646)

Bishop of Maillezais (France) (1646 – 1648.05.04)

Bishop of La Rochelle (France) (1648.05.04 – 1661.05.15)

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Luçon (↑), Poitiers (↗), Angoulême (→), Bordeaux (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 7,106 km²

Population: 400,000 Catholics (60.5% of 661,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 46 parishes

Personnel: 91 priests (82 diocesan, 9 religious), 40 deacons, 94 religious (10 brothers, 84 sisters), 8 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.04.09

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