Archdiocese of Fort-de-France (e Saint Pierre)

Archidioecesis Arcis Gallicae (et S. Petri o Martinicensis)

Bishop(s)

David Thomas Daniel Macaire, O.P., Archbishop
Gilbert Marie Michel Méranville, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 26 September 1967
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Martinique
Region: Antilles (West Indies)
Square Kilometers: 1,128 (435 Square Miles)
Description: Island of Martinique.
Official Web Site: https://martinique.catholique.fr/
Mailing Address: Archeveche, B.P. 586, 5-7 Rue du Révérend Père Pinchon, 97207 Fort-de-France CEDEX, Martinique
Telephone: (0596)63.70.70
Fax: 72.45.30

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Îles de la Terre Ferme
- Erected: 1643
- Country: Martinique
- Region: Antilles (West Indies)
Diocese of Martinique (Fort-de-France e Saint Pierre)
- Latin Name: Martinicensis
- Elevated: 27 September 1850
- Immediately Subject to the Holy See
- Country: Martinique
- Region: Antilles (West Indies)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Etienne Jean François Le Herpeur † (3 Oct 1850 Confirmed - 13 Apr 1858 Died)
Louis-Martin Porchez † (27 Sep 1858 Confirmed - 11 Jun 1860 Died)
Armand-Joseph Fava † (6 Mar 1871 Confirmed - 23 Sep 1875 Confirmed, Bishop of Grenoble)
Julien-François-Pierre Carmené † (28 Jan 1876 Confirmed - 30 Aug 1897 Resigned)
Étienne-Joseph-Frédéric Tanoux † (24 Mar 1898 Confirmed - 22 Nov 1899 Died)
Marie-Charles-Alfred de Cormont † (14 Dec 1899 Confirmed - 27 Nov 1911 Appointed, Bishop of Aire et Dax)
Joseph Félix François Malleret, C.S.Sp. † (2 Feb 1912 Appointed - 25 Jun 1914 Died)
Paul-Louis-Joseph Lequien, C.S.Sp. † (15 Mar 1915 Appointed - 5 Jan 1941 Died)
Henri-Marie-François Varin de la Brunelière, C.S.Sp. † (24 Oct 1941 Appointed - 4 Jul 1972 Retired)
Maurice Rigobert Marie-Sainte † (4 Jul 1972 Appointed - 8 Jan 2004 Retired)
Gilbert Marie Michel Méranville (14 Nov 2003 Appointed - 7 Mar 2015 Retired)
David Thomas Daniel Macaire, O.P. (7 Mar 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Îles de la Terre Ferme
1643	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Îles de la Terre Ferme (erected)
27 September 1850	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Îles de la Terre Ferme	Diocese of Guadeloupe et Basse-Terre (erected)
Diocese of Martinique (Fort-de-France e Saint Pierre)
27 September 1850	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Îles de la Terre Ferme	Diocese of Martinique (Fort-de-France e Saint Pierre)
1925	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Martinique (Fort-de-France e Saint Pierre) (from Bordeaux, France)
Archdiocese of Fort-de-France (e Saint Pierre)
26 September 1967	Elevated	Diocese of Martinique (Fort-de-France e Saint Pierre)	Archdiocese of Fort-de-France (e Saint Pierre)

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 Martinique (Fort-de-France e Saint Pierre)

1948 258,000 261,595 98.6% 43 50 93 2,774 55 160 41 ap1951

1966 320,000 330,000 97.0% 59 63 122 2,622 86 247 46 ap1967

Archdiocese of Fort-de-France (e Saint Pierre)

1970 300,000 320,000 93.8% 66 65 131 2,290 86 249 46 ap1971

1976 290,000 324,832 89.3% 46 54 100 2,900 71 220 47 ap1977

1980 290,000 320,000 90.6% 45 52 97 2,989 66 210 47 ap1981

1990 300,000 339,000 88.5% 38 34 72 4,166 43 213 47 ap1991

1999 280,000 359,800 77.8% 38 27 65 4,307 37 217 47 ap2000

2000 297,515 381,427 78.0% 44 24 68 4,375 35 224 47 ap2001

2001 297,515 381,427 78.0% 38 25 63 4,722 36 229 47 ap2002

2002 297,515 381,427 78.0% 34 26 60 4,958 37 218 45 ap2003

2003 297,515 381,427 78.0% 35 27 62 4,798 38 183 47 ap2004

2004 297,515 381,427 78.0% 35 27 62 4,798 37 178 47 ap2005

2006 312,000 390,000 80.0% 35 23 58 5,379 3 33 171 47 ap2007

2013 312,296 390,371 80.0% 44 10 54 5,783 12 19 142 47 ap2014

2016 322,700 393,500 82.0% 38 12 50 6,454 12 32 146 47 ap2017

2019 344,196 395,628 87.0% 51 18 69 4,988 12 33 116 47 ap2020

2021 319,101 368,783 86.5% 42 18 60 5,318 11 34 116 47 ap2022

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 Martinique (Fort-de-France e Saint Pierre)
1948	258,000	261,595	98.6%	43	50	93	2,774		55	160	41	ap1951
1966	320,000	330,000	97.0%	59	63	122	2,622		86	247	46	ap1967
Archdiocese of Fort-de-France (e Saint Pierre)
1970	300,000	320,000	93.8%	66	65	131	2,290		86	249	46	ap1971
1976	290,000	324,832	89.3%	46	54	100	2,900		71	220	47	ap1977
1980	290,000	320,000	90.6%	45	52	97	2,989		66	210	47	ap1981
1990	300,000	339,000	88.5%	38	34	72	4,166		43	213	47	ap1991
1999	280,000	359,800	77.8%	38	27	65	4,307		37	217	47	ap2000
2000	297,515	381,427	78.0%	44	24	68	4,375		35	224	47	ap2001
2001	297,515	381,427	78.0%	38	25	63	4,722		36	229	47	ap2002
2002	297,515	381,427	78.0%	34	26	60	4,958		37	218	45	ap2003
2003	297,515	381,427	78.0%	35	27	62	4,798		38	183	47	ap2004
2004	297,515	381,427	78.0%	35	27	62	4,798		37	178	47	ap2005
2006	312,000	390,000	80.0%	35	23	58	5,379	3	33	171	47	ap2007
2013	312,296	390,371	80.0%	44	10	54	5,783	12	19	142	47	ap2014
2016	322,700	393,500	82.0%	38	12	50	6,454	12	32	146	47	ap2017
2019	344,196	395,628	87.0%	51	18	69	4,988	12	33	116	47	ap2020
2021	319,101	368,783	86.5%	42	18	60	5,318	11	34	116	47	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

David Thomas Daniel Macaire, O.P. (Archbishop: 7 Mar 2015 - )
Gilbert Marie Michel Méranville (Priest: 20 Dec 1959; Archbishop: 14 Nov 2003 to 7 Mar 2015)
Alain René Ransay (Priest: 27 Dec 1992 to 10 Dec 2021)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Julien-François-Pierre Carmené † (Bishop: 28 Jan 1876 to 30 Aug 1897)
Marie-Charles-Alfred de Cormont † (Bishop: 14 Dec 1899 to 27 Nov 1911)
Armand-Joseph Fava † (Bishop: 6 Mar 1871 to 23 Sep 1875)
Etienne Jean François Le Herpeur † (Bishop: 3 Oct 1850 to 13 Apr 1858)
Paul-Louis-Joseph Lequien, C.S.Sp. † (Bishop: 15 Mar 1915 to 5 Jan 1941)
Joseph Félix François Malleret, C.S.Sp. † (Bishop: 2 Feb 1912 to 25 Jun 1914)
Maurice Rigobert Marie-Sainte † (Priest: 21 Dec 1955; Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Dec 1968; Archbishop: 4 Jul 1972 to 8 Jan 2004)
Louis-Martin Porchez † (Bishop: 27 Sep 1858 to 11 Jun 1860)
Étienne-Joseph-Frédéric Tanoux † (Bishop: 24 Mar 1898 to 22 Nov 1899)
Henri-Marie-François Varin de la Brunelière, C.S.Sp. † (Bishop: 24 Oct 1941; Archbishop: 26 Sep 1967 to 4 Jul 1972)

Source(s)

Diocese of Martinique (Fort-de-France e Saint Pierre)
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 169
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 551
Archdiocese of Fort-de-France (e Saint Pierre)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 60, Page 182, and Page 183

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