Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Malabo

Equatorial Guinea

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Malabo / Malaboën(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Bata, Ebebiyín, Evinayong, Mongomo

Neighbouring Dioceses: Buéa (↗), Douala (→), Bata (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1855.10.10: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Annobon, Corisco and Fernando Poo Islands (English) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Deux Guinées et Sénégambie)
1904.05.12: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Fernando Poo / de Fernando Poo (Latin)
1965.08.09: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Río Muni
1966.05.03: Promoted as Diocese of Santa Isabel / Sanctæ Isabellæ (Latin) (without ecclesiastical province)
1974.04.14: Renamed as Diocese of Malabo / Malaboën(sis) (Latin)
1982.10.15: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Malabo / Malaboën(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Bata and Ebebiyín)
2017.04.01: Gained suffragan sees Evinayong and Mongomo

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2015.02.11 – ...):

Archbishop Juan Nsue Edjang Mayé (68)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena (2026.08.21 – ...):

Bishop Miguel Angel Nguema Bee, S.D.B. (57)

Bishop of Bata (Equatorial Guinea)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Malabo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Miguel Angel Nguema Bee, S.D.B. (57)
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 2026.08.21 – ...)

Archbishop Juan Nsue Edjang Mayé (68)
(2015.02.11 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea)

Born:	1957.11.09 (Mikomeseng-Kie Ntem, Equatorial Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	1995.03.25
Consecrated Bishop:	2011.05.07

Priest of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1995.03.25 – 2011.02.19)

Bishop of Ebebiyín (Equatorial Guinea) (2011.02.19 – 2015.02.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (2015.02.11 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea (2017.01 – 2022.01)

President of Association of Episcopal Conferences of the Central Africa Region (2017.07.15 – 2022.07.24)

Archbishop Ildefonso Obama Obono (88)
(1991.07.09 – 2015.02.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea)

Born:	1938.05.06 (Kogo, Equatorial Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	1964.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1983.01.06

Priest of Ebebiyín (Equatorial Guinea) (1964.06.29 – 1982.10.15)

Apostolic Administrator of Bata (Equatorial Guinea) (1971.05.04 – 1975)

Bishop of Ebebiyín (Equatorial Guinea) (1982.10.15 – 1991.07.09)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1991.07.09 – 2015.02.11)

President of Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea (2000 – 2016?)

Archbishop Rafael María Nze Abuy, C.M.F.
(1982.10.21 – 1991.07.07)

Born:	1926.09.12 (Kogo, Equatorial Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	1954.05.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1965.12.12
Died:	1991.07.07 (Madrid, Spain † 64)

Titular Bishop of Sutunurca (1965.08.09 – 1966.05.03)

Vicar Apostolic of Río Muni (Equatorial Guinea) (1965.08.09 – 1966.05.03)

Bishop of Bata (Equatorial Guinea) (1966.05.03 – 1974.05.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1980 – 1982.10.21)

Bishop of Bata (Equatorial Guinea) (1980.06.26 – 1982.10.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1982.10.21 – 1991.07.07)

President of Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea (1983 – 1991.07.07)

Bishops of Malabo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Rafael María Nze Abuy, C.M.F. (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1980 – 1982.10.21)

Bishop Vicente Bernikon
(1974.05.09 – 1976.09.14)

Born:	1907.12.07 (Basakato del Oeste, Equatorial Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	1940.07.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.08.25
Died:	1976.09.14 († 68)

Priest of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1940.07.07 – 1974.05.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1971.04.19 – 1974.05.09)

Bishop of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1974.05.09 – 1976.09.14)

Apostolic Administrator of Bata (Equatorial Guinea) (1975 – 1976)

Bishop Francisco Gómez Marijuán, C.M.F.
(1974.04.14 – 1974.05.09)

Born:	1906.04.25 (Villanueva del Conde, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1930.04.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1958.06.15
Died:	1979.01.26 (Salamanca, Spain † 72)

Titular Bishop of Sinna (1957.11.14 – 1966.05.03)

Vicar Apostolic of Fernando Poo (Equatorial Guinea) (1957.11.14 – 1966.05.03)

Bishop of Santa Isabel (Equatorial Guinea) (1966.05.03 – 1974.04.14)

Bishop of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1974.04.14 – 1974.05.09)

Bishops of Santa Isabel (Roman Rite)

Fr. Vicente Bernikon (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1971.04.19 – 1974.05.09)

Bishop Francisco Gómez Marijuán, C.M.F.
(1966.05.03 – 1974.04.14)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Fernando Poo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francisco Gómez Marijuán, C.M.F.
(1957.11.14 – 1966.05.03)

(see above)

Bishop Leoncio Fernández Galilea, C.M.F.
(1935.06.18 – 1957.02.15)

Born:	1892.01.13 (Tosos, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1916.06.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1935.09.29
Died:	1957.02.15 († 65)

Titular Bishop of Ariassus (1935.06.18 – 1957.02.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Fernando Poo (Equatorial Guinea) (1935.06.18 – 1957.02.15)

Bishop Nicolás Gonzalez Pérez, C.M.F.
(1918.08.24 – 1935.03.23)

Born:	1869.02.03 (La Nuez de Arriba, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1893.08.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1918.11.30
Died:	1935.03.23 († 66)

Titular Bishop of Jonopolis (1918.08.24 – 1935.03.23)

Vicar Apostolic of Fernando Poo (Equatorial Guinea) (1918.08.24 – 1935.03.23)

Bishop Pedro Coll Armengol, C.M.F.
(1904.05.12 – 1918.04.21)

Born:	1859.01.11 (Ibars, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1881.09.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1904.06.19
Died:	1918.04.21 († 59)

Prefect Apostolic of Annobon, Corisco and Fernando Poo Islands (Equatorial Guinea) (1890.08 – 1904.05.12)

Titular Bishop of Thignica (1904.05.12 – 1918.04.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Fernando Poo (Equatorial Guinea) (1904.05.12 – 1918.04.21)

Prefects Apostolic of Annobon, Corisco and Fernando Poo Islands (Roman Rite)

Fr. Pedro Coll Armengol, C.M.F. (later Bishop)
(1890.08 – 1904.05.12)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de Santa Isabel, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Región Insular

Buéa (↗), Douala (→), Bata (↘)

Statistics (2020.12.31)

Area: 2,034 km²

Population: 286,000 Catholics (81.0% of 353,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 26 parishes, 23 missions

Personnel: 52 priests (26 diocesan, 26 religious), 82 religious (36 brothers, 46 sisters), 16 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.08.24

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