Diocese of Blois

Dioecesis Blesensis

Bishop(s)

Francis Victor Bestion, Bishop
Maurice Le Bègue de Germiny, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Restored: 6 October 1822
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tours
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: France
Square Kilometers: 6,422 (2,480 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Centre
Official Web Site: https://www.catholique-blois.net/
Mailing Address: Eveche, 2 rue Porte Clos-Haut, 41000 Blois, France
Telephone: 2.54.56.40.50

Historical Details

Diocese of Blois
- Latin Name: Blesensis
- Erected: 1 July 1697
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Paris
- Country: France

Past and Present Ordinaries

David-Nicolas Bertier † (1 Jul 1697 Confirmed - 20 Aug 1719 Died)
Jean-Paul-François Le Févre de Caumartin † (4 Mar 1720 Confirmed - 30 Aug 1733 Died)
François de Crussol d’Uzès † (17 Nov 1734 Confirmed - 26 Sep 1753 Confirmed, Archbishop of Toulouse)
Charles-Gilbert de May de Termont † (10 Dec 1753 Confirmed - 22 Jul 1776 Died)
Alexandre-François-Amédée-Adonis-Louis-Joseph de Lauzières de Thémines † (16 Sep 1776 Confirmed - 2 Nov 1829 Died)
Jean-François Martin de Boisville † (1 Oct 1817 Confirmed - 19 Apr 1822 Confirmed, Bishop of Dijon)
Philippe-François Sausin † (16 May 1823 Confirmed - 5 Mar 1844 Died)
Marie-Auguste Fabre-des-Essarts † (17 Jun 1844 Confirmed - 20 Oct 1850 Died)
Louis-Théophile Pallu (Palluc) du Parc † (17 Feb 1851 Confirmed - 13 Jan 1877 Resigned)
Charles-Honoré Laborde † (25 Jun 1877 Confirmed - 18 May 1907 Died)
Alfred-Jules Mélisson † (10 Oct 1907 Appointed - 9 Feb 1925 Retired)
Georges-Marie-Eugène Audollent † (15 May 1925 Appointed - 9 Nov 1944 Died)
Louis-Sylvain Robin † (3 Nov 1945 Appointed - 28 Nov 1961 Resigned)
Joseph-Marie-Georges-Michel Goupy † (28 Nov 1961 Succeeded - 25 Jul 1990 Retired)
Jean Cuminal † (25 Jul 1990 Appointed - 18 Apr 1996 Died)
Maurice Le Bègue de Germiny (27 Mar 1997 Appointed - 22 Nov 2014 Retired)
Jean-Pierre Louis Roger Sylvain Batut (22 Nov 2014 Appointed - 26 Jun 2023 Resigned)
Francis Victor Bestion (1 Oct 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Blois
1 July 1697	Erected		Diocese of Blois (erected)
29 November 1801	Suppressed	Diocese of Blois (suppressed)	Diocese of Orléans
Diocese of Blois
6 October 1822	Restored	Diocese of Orléans	Diocese of Blois
8 December 2002	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Blois (from Bourges)

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

Diocese of Blois

1950 169,693 242,419 70.0% 229 12 241 704 10 479 295 ap1951

1959 227,832 239,824 95.0% 213 14 227 1,003 14 403 295 ap1960

1970 254,501 267,896 95.0% 175 20 195 1,305 13 353 298 ap1971

1980 270,000 287,779 93.8% 133 29 162 1,666 1 29 285 292 ap1981

1990 277,000 306,000 90.5% 104 17 121 2,289 5 19 158 292 ap1991

1999 245,000 306,150 80.0% 99 10 109 2,247 7 12 130 292 ap2000

2000 250,000 314,311 79.5% 106 8 114 2,192 7 10 137 292 ap2001

2001 250,000 314,311 79.5% 100 9 109 2,293 7 10 140 292 ap2002

2002 250,000 314,311 79.5% 90 14 104 2,403 7 19 137 292 ap2003

2003 250,000 314,311 79.5% 85 20 105 2,380 7 23 112 292 ap2004

2004 258,680 317,810 81.4% 83 11 94 2,751 19 104 292 ap2005

2006 258,073 317,810 81.2% 89 10 99 2,606 10 14 97 292 ap2007

2012 185,097 338,503 54.7% 64 31 95 1,948 8 34 81 293 ap2013

2015 184,050 342,224 53.8% 58 28 86 2,140 10 36 84 293 ap2016

2018 183,250 334,700 54.8% 55 13 68 2,694 14 15 74 293 ap2019

2020 186,800 342,200 54.6% 49 15 64 2,918 14 21 69 293 ap2021

2022 187,000 343,000 54.5% 50 16 66 2,833 16 23 65 293 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Blois
1950	169,693	242,419	70.0%	229	12	241	704		10	479	295	ap1951
1959	227,832	239,824	95.0%	213	14	227	1,003		14	403	295	ap1960
1970	254,501	267,896	95.0%	175	20	195	1,305		13	353	298	ap1971
1980	270,000	287,779	93.8%	133	29	162	1,666	1	29	285	292	ap1981
1990	277,000	306,000	90.5%	104	17	121	2,289	5	19	158	292	ap1991
1999	245,000	306,150	80.0%	99	10	109	2,247	7	12	130	292	ap2000
2000	250,000	314,311	79.5%	106	8	114	2,192	7	10	137	292	ap2001
2001	250,000	314,311	79.5%	100	9	109	2,293	7	10	140	292	ap2002
2002	250,000	314,311	79.5%	90	14	104	2,403	7	19	137	292	ap2003
2003	250,000	314,311	79.5%	85	20	105	2,380	7	23	112	292	ap2004
2004	258,680	317,810	81.4%	83	11	94	2,751		19	104	292	ap2005
2006	258,073	317,810	81.2%	89	10	99	2,606	10	14	97	292	ap2007
2012	185,097	338,503	54.7%	64	31	95	1,948	8	34	81	293	ap2013
2015	184,050	342,224	53.8%	58	28	86	2,140	10	36	84	293	ap2016
2018	183,250	334,700	54.8%	55	13	68	2,694	14	15	74	293	ap2019
2020	186,800	342,200	54.6%	49	15	64	2,918	14	21	69	293	ap2021
2022	187,000	343,000	54.5%	50	16	66	2,833	16	23	65	293	ap2023