Archdiocese of Tanger

Archidioecesis Tingitana

Bishop(s)

Emilio Rocha Grande, O.F.M., Archbishop
Santiago Agrelo Martínez, O.F.M., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 14 November 1956
Immediately Subject to the Holy See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Morocco
Square Kilometers: 20,000 (7,725 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://diocesistanger.org/
Mailing Address: 55 Rue Sidi Bouabid, 90000 Tanger, Marruecos
Telephone: (0539)932-762

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos
- Erected: 28 November 1630
- Country: Morocco
Vicariate Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos
- Latin Name: Maroquiensis
- Elevated: 14 April 1908
- Vicariate
- Country: Morocco

Past and Present Ordinaries

Diego Ortega y Escacena (Hortiago), O.F.M. † (28 Aug 1693 Appointed - )
Francisco María Cervera y Cervera, O.F.M. † (15 Apr 1908 Appointed - 26 Mar 1926 Died)
José María Betanzos y Hormaechevarría, O.F.M. † (17 Jul 1926 Appointed - 27 Dec 1948 Died)
Francisco Aldegunde Dorrego, O.F.M. † (27 Dec 1948 Succeeded - 17 Dec 1973 Retired)
Carlos Amigo Vallejo, O.F.M. † (17 Dec 1973 Appointed - 22 May 1982 Appointed, Archbishop of Sevilla {Seville})
José Antonio Peteiro Freire, O.F.M. † (2 Jul 1983 Appointed - 23 Mar 2005 Resigned)
Santiago Agrelo Martínez, O.F.M. (11 Apr 2007 Appointed - 24 May 2019 Retired)
Emilio Rocha Grande, O.F.M. (7 Feb 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos
28 November 1630	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos
14 April 1908	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos	Vicariate Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos
2 July 1923	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos (Area under French control)	Vicariate Apostolic of Rabat (erected)
5 July 1954	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Ghardaïa nel Sahara (Sahara (subject to the Spaniards)) Vicariate Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos (Ifni)	Prefecture Apostolic of Spanish Sahara and Ifni {Sahara Español e Ifni} (erected)
Archdiocese of Tanger
14 November 1956	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos	Archdiocese of Tanger

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 Marocco o Marruecos

1950 113,164 760,500 14.9% 22 50 72 1,571 114 221 15 ap1951

Archdiocese of Tanger

1970 25,036 1,550,131 1.6% 2 45 47 532 77 181 19 ap1971

1980 9,750 2,072,000 .5% 25 25 390 31 155 15 ap1981

1990 4,400 2,506,250 .2% 15 15 293 19 114 10 ap1991

1999 3,000 4,000,000 .1% 2 8 10 300 13 114 10 ap2000

2000 2,000 4,002,100 .0% 2 7 9 222 12 111 7 ap2001

2001 2,064 4,100,000 .1% 2 10 12 172 15 115 8 ap2002

2002 1,681 4,100,000 .0% 2 8 10 168 12 107 8 ap2003

2003 2,150 4,200,000 .1% 2 10 12 179 14 101 9 ap2004

2004 2,510 4,200,000 .1% 2 7 9 278 11 95 9 ap2005

2010 2,019 4,000,000 .1% 3 7 10 201 12 87 8 ap2011

2014 2,500 4,175,000 .1% 13 13 192 18 76 7 ap2015

2017 3,000 4,325,500 .1% 15 15 200 21 77 7 ap2018

2020 3,000 4,463,500 .1% 12 12 250 17 63 7 ap2021

2022 2,990 4,496,422 .1% 15 15 199 20 51 8 ap2023

2023 3,000 4,539,580 .1% 14 14 214 18 58 7 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Marocco o Marruecos
1950	113,164	760,500	14.9%	22	50	72	1,571	114	221	15	ap1951
Archdiocese of Tanger
1970	25,036	1,550,131	1.6%	2	45	47	532	77	181	19	ap1971
1980	9,750	2,072,000	.5%		25	25	390	31	155	15	ap1981
1990	4,400	2,506,250	.2%		15	15	293	19	114	10	ap1991
1999	3,000	4,000,000	.1%	2	8	10	300	13	114	10	ap2000
2000	2,000	4,002,100	.0%	2	7	9	222	12	111	7	ap2001
2001	2,064	4,100,000	.1%	2	10	12	172	15	115	8	ap2002
2002	1,681	4,100,000	.0%	2	8	10	168	12	107	8	ap2003
2003	2,150	4,200,000	.1%	2	10	12	179	14	101	9	ap2004
2004	2,510	4,200,000	.1%	2	7	9	278	11	95	9	ap2005
2010	2,019	4,000,000	.1%	3	7	10	201	12	87	8	ap2011
2014	2,500	4,175,000	.1%		13	13	192	18	76	7	ap2015
2017	3,000	4,325,500	.1%		15	15	200	21	77	7	ap2018
2020	3,000	4,463,500	.1%		12	12	250	17	63	7	ap2021
2022	2,990	4,496,422	.1%		15	15	199	20	51	8	ap2023
2023	3,000	4,539,580	.1%		14	14	214	18	58	7	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Santiago Agrelo Martínez, O.F.M. (Archbishop: 11 Apr 2007 to 24 May 2019)
Cristóbal López Romero, S.D.B. (Apostolic Administrator: 24 May 2019 to 25 Feb 2022)
Emilio Rocha Grande, O.F.M. (Apostolic Administrator: 25 Feb 2022; Archbishop: 7 Feb 2023 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Francisco Aldegunde Dorrego, O.F.M. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 6 Feb 1947; Vicar Apostolic: 27 Dec 1948; Archbishop: 14 Nov 1956 to 17 Dec 1973)
Carlos Amigo Vallejo, O.F.M. † (Archbishop: 17 Dec 1973 to 22 May 1982)
José María Betanzos y Hormaechevarría, O.F.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 17 Jul 1926 to 27 Dec 1948)
Francisco María Cervera y Cervera, O.F.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Apr 1908 to 26 Mar 1926)
Diego Ortega y Escacena (Hortiago), O.F.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Aug 1693)
José Antonio Peteiro Freire, O.F.M. † (Archbishop: 2 Jul 1983 to 23 Mar 2005)

Source(s)

Archdiocese of Tanger
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 49, Page 336, to Page 338

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