Brazzaville (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Bienvenu Manamika Bafouakouahou, Archbishop
Anatole Milandou, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 14 September 1955
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo
Square Kilometers: 14,450 (5,581 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.archidiocesedebrazzaville.org/
Mailing Address: Archeveche, B.P. 2301, Av. Cardinal Emile Biayenda 1, Brazzaville, Rep. du Congo
Telephone: 06.968.39.08; 05.660.69.07

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of French Congo {Congo Francese}
- Erected: 4 June 1886
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo
Vicariate Apostolic of Upper French Congo {Congo Francese Superiore} o Ubanghi
- Latin Name: Congi Gallici Superioris seu Ubanghi
- Split: 14 October 1890
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo
Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville
- Latin Name: Brazzapolitanus
- Name Changed: 14 June 1922
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo
- Square Kilometers: 200,000 (77,250 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antoine-Marie-Hippolyte Carrie, C.S.Sp. † (8 Jun 1886 Appointed - 14 Oct 1890 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Lower French Congo {Congo Francese Inferiore})
Philippe-Prosper Augouard, C.S.Sp. † (14 Oct 1890 Appointed - 3 Oct 1921 Died)
Firmin-Jules Guichard, C.S.Sp. † (12 Jun 1922 Appointed - 27 Aug 1935 Resigned)
Paul Joseph Biéchy, C.S.Sp. † (27 Jan 1936 Appointed - 18 Jul 1954 Resigned)
Michel-Jules-Joseph-Marie Bernard, C.S.Sp. † (18 Jul 1954 Appointed - 2 May 1964 Resigned)
Théophile Mbemba † (23 May 1964 Succeeded - 14 Jun 1971 Died)
Émile Biayenda † (14 Jun 1971 Succeeded - 22 Mar 1977 Died)
Barthélémy Batantu † (15 Nov 1978 Appointed - 23 Jan 2001 Retired)
Anatole Milandou (23 Jan 2001 Appointed - 21 Nov 2021 Retired)
Bienvenu Manamika Bafouakouahou (21 Nov 2021 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of French Congo {Congo Francese}
4 June 1886	Erected		Vicariate Apostolic of French Congo {Congo Francese} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Upper French Congo {Congo Francese Superiore} o Ubanghi
14 October 1890	Split	Vicariate Apostolic of French Congo {Congo Francese}	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper French Congo {Congo Francese Superiore} o Ubanghi Vicariate Apostolic of Lower French Congo {Congo Francese Inferiore}
8 May 1909	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper French Congo {Congo Francese Superiore} o Ubanghi	Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari (erected)
14 February 1911	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Loango (Linzoio)	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper French Congo {Congo Francese Superiore} o Ubanghi
Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville
14 June 1922	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper French Congo {Congo Francese Superiore} o Ubanghi	Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville
15 July 1925	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville (Boundaries adjusted) Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari (Boundaries adjusted)
8 February 1929	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville (Haute Sangha)	Prefecture Apostolic of Oubangui Chari
2 August 1929	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville (Boundaries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Loango (Boundaries adjusted)
28 May 1940	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Oubangui Chari (Southern part)	Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville
21 December 1950	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville (Alima, Sanga-Likouala, and Likouala)	Vicariate Apostolic of Fort-Rousset (erected)
Archdiocese of Brazzaville
14 September 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville	Archdiocese of Brazzaville
3 October 1987	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Brazzaville (Boko, Mindouli, Kindamba, Mayama, and part of Kinkala)	Diocese of Kinkala (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville

1950 107,888 400,000 27.0% 7 51 58 1,860 73 47 16 ap1951

Archdiocese of Brazzaville

1959 106,267 245,000 43.4% 15 54 69 1,540 74 85 17 ap1960

1964 160,756 360,000 44.7% 26 51 77 2,087 67 98 24 ap1971

1980 370,000 610,000 60.7% 20 50 70 5,285 2 26 77 31 ap1981

1990 322,912 840,535 38.4% 25 38 63 5,125 108 132 35 ap1991

1997 588,138 1,388,138 42.4% 62 40 102 5,766 84 74 30 ap2000

2000 587,065 1,387,065 42.3% 54 28 82 7,159 72 74 32 ap2001

2001 587,065 1,387,065 42.3% 57 28 85 6,906 79 74 32 ap2002

2002 587,065 1,500,000 39.1% 65 29 94 6,245 84 88 34 ap2003

2003 587,065 1,500,000 39.1% 56 29 85 6,906 84 88 35 ap2004

2004 418,647 719,950 58.1% 51 34 85 4,925 105 88 35 ap2005

2006 431,225 758,000 56.9% 63 41 104 4,146 105 240 40 ap2007

2012 505,000 886,000 57.0% 98 48 146 3,458 184 304 45 ap2013

2015 544,000 955,000 57.0% 107 60 167 3,257 182 282 47 ap2016

2018 587,385 1,031,620 56.9% 103 63 166 3,538 162 297 47 ap2019

2020 712,551 1,373,382 51.9% 120 72 192 3,711 166 245 53 ap2021

2022 747,650 1,440,090 51.9% 138 77 215 3,477 187 274 53 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville
1950	107,888	400,000	27.0%	7	51	58	1,860		73	47	16	ap1951
Archdiocese of Brazzaville
1959	106,267	245,000	43.4%	15	54	69	1,540		74	85	17	ap1960
1964	160,756	360,000	44.7%	26	51	77	2,087		67	98	24	ap1971
1980	370,000	610,000	60.7%	20	50	70	5,285	2	26	77	31	ap1981
1990	322,912	840,535	38.4%	25	38	63	5,125		108	132	35	ap1991
1997	588,138	1,388,138	42.4%	62	40	102	5,766		84	74	30	ap2000
2000	587,065	1,387,065	42.3%	54	28	82	7,159		72	74	32	ap2001
2001	587,065	1,387,065	42.3%	57	28	85	6,906		79	74	32	ap2002
2002	587,065	1,500,000	39.1%	65	29	94	6,245		84	88	34	ap2003
2003	587,065	1,500,000	39.1%	56	29	85	6,906		84	88	35	ap2004
2004	418,647	719,950	58.1%	51	34	85	4,925		105	88	35	ap2005
2006	431,225	758,000	56.9%	63	41	104	4,146		105	240	40	ap2007
2012	505,000	886,000	57.0%	98	48	146	3,458		184	304	45	ap2013
2015	544,000	955,000	57.0%	107	60	167	3,257		182	282	47	ap2016
2018	587,385	1,031,620	56.9%	103	63	166	3,538		162	297	47	ap2019
2020	712,551	1,373,382	51.9%	120	72	192	3,711		166	245	53	ap2021
2022	747,650	1,440,090	51.9%	138	77	215	3,477		187	274	53	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Philippe-Prosper Augouard, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Oct 1890 to 3 Oct 1921)
Barthélémy Batantu † (Priest: 28 Jun 1959; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1978 to 23 Jan 2001)
Michel-Jules-Joseph-Marie Bernard, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Jul 1954; Archbishop: 14 Sep 1955 to 2 May 1964)
Émile Biayenda † (Priest: 26 Oct 1958; Coadjutor Archbishop: 7 Mar 1970; Archbishop: 14 Jun 1971 to 22 Mar 1977)
Paul Joseph Biéchy, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Jan 1936 to 18 Jul 1954)
Antoine-Marie-Hippolyte Carrie, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jun 1886 to 14 Oct 1890)
Firmin-Jules Guichard, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Jun 1922 to 27 Aug 1935)
Théophile Mbemba † (Priest: 9 Jun 1946; Coadjutor Archbishop: 11 Nov 1961; Archbishop: 23 May 1964 to 14 Jun 1971)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Upper French Congo {Congo Francese Superiore} o Ubanghi
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 3, Page 104
Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 14, Page 385
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 124
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 22, Page 266
Archdiocese of Brazzaville
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 113, to Page 119

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

✠

Archdiocese of Brazzaville

Archidioecesis Brazzapolitana