Cotonou (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Roger Houngbédji, O.P., Archbishop
Antoine Ganyé, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 14 September 1955
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Benin
Square Kilometers: 3,233 (1,248 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://archidiocesedecotonou.org/
Mailing Address: Archeveche, 01 B.P. 491, Cotonou, Benin
Telephone: 21.30.83.43; 21.30.01.45
Fax: 21.30.07.07

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Dahomey
- Erected: 26 June 1883
- Country: Benin
Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey
- Latin Name: de Dahomey
- Elevated: 25 May 1901
- Vicariate
- Country: Benin
Vicariate Apostolic of Ouidah
- Latin Name: Ouidahensis
- Name Changed: 13 May 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: Benin

Past and Present Ordinaries

Louis-Auguste Dartois, S.M.A. † (27 May 1901 Appointed - 3 Apr 1905 Died)
François Steinmetz, S.M.A. † (27 Jun 1906 Appointed - 12 Nov 1934 Resigned)
Louis Parisot, S.M.A. † (11 Mar 1935 Appointed - 5 Jan 1960 Retired)
Bernardin Gantin † (5 Jan 1960 Appointed - 28 Jun 1971 Resigned)
Christophe Adimou † (28 Jun 1971 Appointed - 27 Dec 1990 Retired)
Isidore de Souza † (27 Dec 1990 Succeeded - 13 Mar 1999 Died)
Nestor Assogba † (29 Oct 1999 Appointed - 5 Mar 2005 Retired)
Marcel Honorat Léon Agboton † (5 Mar 2005 Appointed - 21 Aug 2010 Resigned)
Antoine Ganyé (21 Aug 2010 Appointed - 25 Jun 2016 Retired)
Roger Houngbédji, O.P. (25 Jun 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Dahomey
26 June 1883	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin	Prefecture Apostolic of Dahomey (erected)
12 April 1892	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Dahomey	Prefecture Apostolic of Togo (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey
25 May 1901	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Dahomey	Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey
28 April 1942	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey Vicariate Apostolic of Foumban Prefecture Apostolic of Ghardaïa nel Sahara Prefecture Apostolic of Jos Prefecture Apostolic of Kaduna Vicariate Apostolic of Khartoum Vicariate Apostolic of Ouagadougou	Prefecture Apostolic of Niamey (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Ouidah
13 May 1948	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey	Vicariate Apostolic of Ouidah
5 April 1954	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Ouidah	Vicariate Apostolic of Porto Novo (erected)
Archdiocese of Cotonou
14 September 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Ouidah	Archdiocese of Cotonou
5 April 1963	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Cotonou (Abomey, Savalou, Savé, Dassa and Zagnanado) Diocese of Porto Novo (Zagnanado)	Diocese of Abomey (erected)
11 March 1968	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Cotonou (Mono)	Diocese of Lokossa (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 Ouidah

1949 104,931 947,404 11.1% 58 58 1,809 1 117 23 ap1951

Archdiocese of Cotonou

1970 126,435 424,333 29.8% 30 22 52 2,431 22 140 17 ap1971

1980 206,987 657,000 31.5% 15 16 31 6,677 19 195 23 ap1981

1990 310,780 1,179,121 26.4% 40 39 79 3,933 51 149 30 ap1991

1999 438,674 1,222,222 35.9% 66 52 118 3,717 88 269 35 ap2000

2000 504,503 1,411,680 35.7% 58 52 110 4,586 106 280 37 ap2001

2001 507,876 1,469,801 34.6% 60 53 113 4,494 88 275 37 ap2002

2002 531,934 1,557,147 34.2% 83 53 136 3,911 139 338 39 ap2003

2003 580,442 1,640,916 35.4% 93 43 136 4,267 124 351 39 ap2004

2004 618,717 1,826,226 33.9% 95 50 145 4,267 118 376 40 ap2005

2006 654,000 1,930,000 33.9% 111 62 173 3,780 163 404 42 ap2007

2010 680,326 2,168,000 31.4% 191 65 256 2,657 175 463 63 ap2011

2013 749,179 2,390,000 31.3% 202 69 271 2,764 136 502 87 ap2014

2016 802,000 2,082,000 38.5% 267 59 326 2,460 189 500 102 ap2017

2019 890,450 2,098,600 42.4% 317 95 412 2,161 233 530 109 ap2020

2021 920,997 2,160,650 42.6% 354 87 441 2,088 241 550 111 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Ouidah
1949	104,931	947,404	11.1%	58		58	1,809	1	117	23	ap1951
Archdiocese of Cotonou
1970	126,435	424,333	29.8%	30	22	52	2,431	22	140	17	ap1971
1980	206,987	657,000	31.5%	15	16	31	6,677	19	195	23	ap1981
1990	310,780	1,179,121	26.4%	40	39	79	3,933	51	149	30	ap1991
1999	438,674	1,222,222	35.9%	66	52	118	3,717	88	269	35	ap2000
2000	504,503	1,411,680	35.7%	58	52	110	4,586	106	280	37	ap2001
2001	507,876	1,469,801	34.6%	60	53	113	4,494	88	275	37	ap2002
2002	531,934	1,557,147	34.2%	83	53	136	3,911	139	338	39	ap2003
2003	580,442	1,640,916	35.4%	93	43	136	4,267	124	351	39	ap2004
2004	618,717	1,826,226	33.9%	95	50	145	4,267	118	376	40	ap2005
2006	654,000	1,930,000	33.9%	111	62	173	3,780	163	404	42	ap2007
2010	680,326	2,168,000	31.4%	191	65	256	2,657	175	463	63	ap2011
2013	749,179	2,390,000	31.3%	202	69	271	2,764	136	502	87	ap2014
2016	802,000	2,082,000	38.5%	267	59	326	2,460	189	500	102	ap2017
2019	890,450	2,098,600	42.4%	317	95	412	2,161	233	530	109	ap2020
2021	920,997	2,160,650	42.6%	354	87	441	2,088	241	550	111	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Martin Adjou Moumouni (Priest: 16 Jul 1983 to 22 Dec 1999)
Dieudonné Datonou (Priest: 7 Dec 1989 to 7 Oct 2021)
Antoine Ganyé (Priest: 4 Jan 1969 to 10 Jun 1995; Archbishop: 21 Aug 2010 to 25 Jun 2016)
Eugène Cyrille Houndékon (Deacon: 2 Feb 1986; Priest: 5 Jul 1986 to 20 Dec 2007)
Roger Houngbédji, O.P. (Archbishop: 25 Jun 2016 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Christophe Adimou † (Archbishop: 28 Jun 1971 to 27 Dec 1990)
Marcel Honorat Léon Agboton † (Archbishop: 5 Mar 2005 to 21 Aug 2010)
Nestor Assogba † (Archbishop: 29 Oct 1999 to 5 Mar 2005)
Louis-Auguste Dartois, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 May 1901 to 3 Apr 1905)
Bernardin Gantin † (Priest: 14 Jan 1951; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Dec 1956; Archbishop: 5 Jan 1960 to 28 Jun 1971)
Lucien Monsi-Agboka † (Priest: 21 Dec 1957 to 5 Apr 1963)
Louis Parisot, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Mar 1935; Archbishop: 14 Sep 1955 to 5 Jan 1960)
Isidore de Souza † (Priest: 8 Jul 1962; Coadjutor Archbishop: 17 Jul 1981; Archbishop: 27 Dec 1990 to 13 Mar 1999)
François Steinmetz, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Jun 1906 to 12 Nov 1934)