Abidjan (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Ignace Bessi Dogbo, Cardinal, Archbishop
Jean-Pierre Kutwa, Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 14 September 1955
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Square Kilometers: 3,810 (1,471 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archeveche, av. Jean Paul II, 01 B.P. 1287, Abidjan 01, Cote d'Ivoire
Telephone: 20.21.23.08/9
Fax: 20.21.40.22

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio
- Latin Name: Eburnei Litteris
- Erected: 28 June 1895
- Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio
- Latin Name: Eburnei Litteris
- Elevated: 17 November 1911
- Vicariate
- Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Vicariate Apostolic of Abidjan
- Latin Name: Abidianensis
- Name Changed: 9 April 1940
- Vicariate
- Country: Côte d’Ivoire
- Square Kilometers: 71 (27 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jules-Joseph Moury, S.M.A. † (18 Jan 1910 Appointed - 29 Mar 1935 Died)
François Person, S.M.A. † (9 Dec 1935 Appointed - 8 Jul 1938 Died)
Jean-Baptiste Boivin, S.M.A. † (15 Mar 1939 Appointed - 10 Jun 1959 Resigned)
Bernard Yago † (5 Apr 1960 Appointed - 19 Dec 1994 Retired)
Bernard Agré † (19 Dec 1994 Appointed - 2 May 2006 Retired)
Jean-Pierre Kutwa (2 May 2006 Appointed - 20 May 2024 Retired)
Ignace Bessi Dogbo (20 May 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio
28 June 1895	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast}	Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (erected)
17 November 1911	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (Northern districts: Tuba, Mankono, Kong, and Bunduku)	Prefecture Apostolic of Korhogo (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio
17 November 1911	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (Southern districts: Cavally-Nord, Sassandra-Nord, Baulé-Nord, Comoé, and Indenie)	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio
9 April 1940	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio (Right bank of the river Bandama (except Tiassalé))	Vicariate Apostolic of Sassandra (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Abidjan
9 April 1940	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio	Vicariate Apostolic of Abidjan
17 May 1951	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Abidjan (Bouaké)	Prefecture Apostolic of Bouaké (erected)
Archdiocese of Abidjan
14 September 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Abidjan	Archdiocese of Abidjan
13 September 1963	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Abidjan (Abengourou, Agnibilekrou, and Adzopé) Diocese of Bouaké (Bongouanou and Arrah) Diocese of Katiola (Bini-Madam, Bondoukou, Bouna, Nassian, Tanda, and Tehini)	Diocese of Abengourou (erected)
18 February 1966	Territory Added	Diocese of Abengourou (Adzopé and Akoupé)	Archdiocese of Abidjan
8 June 1982	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Abidjan (Aboisso, Grand-Bassam, and Bonoua along with Port-Bouët and Koumassi)	Diocese of Grand-Bassam (erected) Diocese of Yopougon (erected)
8 June 1982	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Abidjan (Yopougon along with Agboville, Adzopé, Tiassalé, Sikensi, Dabou, and Jacqueville)

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 Abidjan

1950 93,810 751,000 12.5% 56 56 1,675 64 24 ap1951

Archdiocese of Abidjan

1959 140,730 19 63 82 1,716 10 74 24 ap1960

1969 260,000 900,000 28.9% 40 96 136 1,911 128 132 35 ap1971

1980 375,000 2,347,000 16.0% 67 90 157 2,388 1 137 185 46 ap1981

1990 636,000 1,329,000 47.9% 61 61 122 5,213 131 104 26 ap1991

1999 750,000 2,500,000 30.0% 104 87 191 3,926 353 265 34 ap2000

2000 750,000 2,500,000 30.0% 104 80 184 4,076 306 265 36 ap2001

2001 750,000 2,500,000 30.0% 171 63 234 3,205 1 329 272 42 ap2002

2002 750,000 2,500,000 30.0% 102 65 167 4,491 290 276 43 ap2003

2003 750,000 2,500,000 30.0% 139 60 199 3,768 285 166 45 ap2004

2004 750,000 2,500,000 30.0% 136 74 210 3,571 1 279 271 44 ap2005

2005 762,000 2,540,000 30.0% 158 100 258 2,953 1 451 265 48 ap2006

2006 859,000 2,616,000 32.8% 235 135 370 2,321 582 320 55 ap2007

2011 1,987,000 3,013,000 65.9% 216 164 380 5,228 597 325 65 ap2012

2012 2,043,000 3,098,000 65.9% 204 72 276 7,402 514 308 67 ap2013

2015 2,210,000 3,351,000 66.0% 342 141 483 4,575 417 166 72 ap2016

2018 2,379,000 3,608,000 65.9% 378 141 519 4,583 436 166 72 ap2019

2020 2,502,660 3,795,650 65.9% 403 141 544 4,600 473 166 72 ap2021

2022 2,622,000 3,982,000 65.8% 427 146 573 4,575 478 166 72 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 Abidjan
1950	93,810	751,000	12.5%	56		56	1,675			64	24	ap1951
Archdiocese of Abidjan
1959	140,730			19	63	82	1,716		10	74	24	ap1960
1969	260,000	900,000	28.9%	40	96	136	1,911		128	132	35	ap1971
1980	375,000	2,347,000	16.0%	67	90	157	2,388	1	137	185	46	ap1981
1990	636,000	1,329,000	47.9%	61	61	122	5,213		131	104	26	ap1991
1999	750,000	2,500,000	30.0%	104	87	191	3,926		353	265	34	ap2000
2000	750,000	2,500,000	30.0%	104	80	184	4,076		306	265	36	ap2001
2001	750,000	2,500,000	30.0%	171	63	234	3,205	1	329	272	42	ap2002
2002	750,000	2,500,000	30.0%	102	65	167	4,491		290	276	43	ap2003
2003	750,000	2,500,000	30.0%	139	60	199	3,768		285	166	45	ap2004
2004	750,000	2,500,000	30.0%	136	74	210	3,571	1	279	271	44	ap2005
2005	762,000	2,540,000	30.0%	158	100	258	2,953	1	451	265	48	ap2006
2006	859,000	2,616,000	32.8%	235	135	370	2,321		582	320	55	ap2007
2011	1,987,000	3,013,000	65.9%	216	164	380	5,228		597	325	65	ap2012
2012	2,043,000	3,098,000	65.9%	204	72	276	7,402		514	308	67	ap2013
2015	2,210,000	3,351,000	66.0%	342	141	483	4,575		417	166	72	ap2016
2018	2,379,000	3,608,000	65.9%	378	141	519	4,583		436	166	72	ap2019
2020	2,502,660	3,795,650	65.9%	403	141	544	4,600		473	166	72	ap2021
2022	2,622,000	3,982,000	65.8%	427	146	573	4,575		478	166	72	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Bernard Agré † (Priest: 20 Jul 1953 to 8 Jun 1968; Archbishop: 19 Dec 1994 to 2 May 2006)
Paul-Siméon Ahouanan Djro, O.F.M. †
Jean-Baptiste Boivin, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Mar 1939; Archbishop: 14 Sep 1955 to 10 Jun 1959)
Jules-Joseph Moury, S.M.A. † (Prefect: 18 Jan 1910; Vicar Apostolic: 17 Nov 1911 to 29 Mar 1935)
François Person, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Dec 1935 to 8 Jul 1938)
Bernard Yago † (Priest: 1 May 1947; Archbishop: 5 Apr 1960 to 19 Dec 1994)
Laurent Yapi † (Priest: 21 Dec 1963; Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Sep 1970 to 12 Jan 1979)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Avorio
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 3, Page 653, and Page 654
Vicariate Apostolic of Abidjan
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 32, Page 195
Archdiocese of Abidjan
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 113, to Page 119
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 58, Page 243

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Archdiocese of Abidjan

Archidioecesis Abidianensis