Aire et Dax (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Nicolas Jean-Marie Souchu, Bishop
Hervé Gaschignard, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 3 June 1857
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bordeaux (-Bazas)
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: France
Square Kilometers: 9,364 (3,616 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Sud-Ouest
Official Web Site: https://diocese40.fr/
Mailing Address: Eveche, 100 avenue Francis Plante, 40100 Dax, France
Telephone: 5.58.56.59.90
Fax: 5.58.56.59.93

Historical Details

Diocese of Aire
- Latin Name: Aturensis (seu Adurensis)
- Erected: 5th Century
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Auch
- Country: France
Diocese of Aire
- Latin Name: Aturensis
- Restored: 6 October 1822
- Country: France

Past and Present Ordinaries

Pierre de Betous † ( 1268 Appointed - 1295 Died)
Martin Defosse † ( 1295 Appointed - 16 Dec 1307 Died)
Bernard de Bats † ( 1308 Appointed - 15 Jan 1326 Died)
Anesanche de Toujouse † (3 Sep 1326 Appointed - 25 Aug 1327 Died)
Garsias de Fabri † (11 Jan 1328 Appointed - 18 Apr 1349 Died)
Dauphin de Marquefave † (17 Jun 1349 Appointed - 15 Nov 1354 Died)
Bernard , O. Cist. † (17 Nov 1354 Appointed - 18 Jun 1361 Appointed, Bishop of Tarbes)
Jean de Montaut † (18 Jun 1361 Appointed - 1386 Died)
Robert Waldby, O.E.S.A. † (4 Jun 1386 Appointed - 14 Nov 1390 Appointed, Archbishop of Dublin)
Garsias Arnaud de Navailles † (16 Jun 1386 Appointed - 1397 Died)
Robert Waldby, O.E.S.A. † ( 1387 Ordained Bishop - 14 Nov 1390 Appointed, Archbishop of Dublin)
Maurice Usk, O.P. † (14 Nov 1390 Appointed - Apr 1393 Appointed, Bishop of Bazas)
Arnaud de Saliers † (10 Jul 1392 Appointed - 22 Dec 1423 Appointed, Bishop of (Saint-Lizier de) Couserans (or Conserans))
Bernard Bruni, O.P. † (15 May 1397 Appointed - 1418 Died)
Roger de Foix de Castellon † (22 Dec 1423 Appointed - 13 Jan 1440 Appointed, Bishop of Tarbes)
Pierre de Gachefret (Saxoferto) † (13 Jan 1440 Appointed - 1444 Died)
Louis d’Albret † (7 Jan 1445 Appointed - 4 Jul 1460 Appointed, Bishop of Cahors)
Tristan d’Aure † (30 Jul 1460 Appointed - 1475 Resigned)
Pierre de Foix (Jr.) † (31 Jul 1475 Appointed - 5 May 1484 Appointed, Administrator of Bayonne)
Matthieu de Nardo Garcia † (5 May 1484 Appointed - 1485 Died)
Bernard d’Abbadie † (15 Feb 1486 Appointed - 10 Aug 1511 Died)
Thomas † ( 1500 Appointed - 1516 Died)
Antoine du Monastey (d’Alpiniac, Appiniac) † ( 1512 Appointed - 1516 Died)
Arnaud Guillaume de Aydia † (14 Jan 1517 Appointed - 1522 Died)
Charles de Gramont, O.S.A. † (24 Apr 1523 Appointed - 9 Mar 1530 Appointed, Archbishop of Bordeaux)
Gabriel de Saluti † (9 Mar 1530 Appointed - 1537 Resigned)
Jean de Domo de Saint Julien † (6 Feb 1538 Appointed - 1560 Died)
Christophe de Foix de Candale † (13 Sep 1560 Appointed - 14 Sep 1570 Died)
François de Foix de Candale † (18 Jul 1576 Appointed - 5 Feb 1594 Died)
Philippe Cospéan † (4 Dec 1606 Appointed - 13 Oct 1621 Appointed, Bishop of Nantes)
Sébastien Le Bouthilier † (13 Oct 1621 Appointed - Jan 1625 Died)
Gilles Boutault † (14 Mar 1627 Ordained Bishop - 15 Nov 1649 Confirmed, Bishop of Évreux)
Charles-François d’Anglure de Bourlémont † (10 Jan 1650 Confirmed - 17 Feb 1659 Confirmed, Bishop of Castres)
Bernard de Sariac † (10 Mar 1659 Appointed - 12 Oct 1672 Died)
Jean-Louis de Fromentières † (12 Jun 1673 Appointed - 18 Dec 1684 Died)
Jean-Baptiste-Armand Bazin de Bezons † (12 Oct 1693 Confirmed - 15 Sep 1698 Confirmed, Archbishop of Bordeaux)
Louis-Gaston Fleuriau d’Armenonville † (24 Nov 1698 Confirmed - 15 Nov 1706 Confirmed, Bishop of Orléans)
François-Gaspard de La Mer de Matha † (21 Feb 1707 Confirmed - 30 Jun 1710 Died)
Joseph-Gaspard de Montmorin de Saint-Hérem † (10 Nov 1710 Appointed - 7 Nov 1723 Died)
Gilbert-Gaspard de Montmorin de Saint-Hérem de La Chassaigne † (7 Nov 1723 Ordained Bishop - 1 Dec 1734 Confirmed, Bishop of Langres)
François de Serret de Gaujac † (27 Feb 1736 Confirmed - 18 Nov 1757 Died)
Plaicart de Raigecourt † (13 Mar 1758 Confirmed - 26 Oct 1783 Died)
Sébastien-Charles-Philibert de Roger de Cahuzac de Caux † (26 Oct 1783 Succeeded - 1816 Resigned)
Jean-François-Marie Le Pappe de Trévern † (16 May 1823 Confirmed - 9 Apr 1827 Confirmed, Bishop of Strasbourg)
Dominique-Marie Savy † (25 Jun 1827 Confirmed - 12 Dec 1839 Resigned)
François-Adélaïde-Adolphe Lannéluc † (12 Dec 1839 Succeeded - 30 Jun 1856 Died)
Prosper-Michel-Arnaud Hiraboure † (15 Dec 1856 Confirmed - 6 Jun 1859 Died)
Louis-Marie-Olivier Epivent † (26 Sep 1859 Confirmed - 22 Jul 1876 Died)
Victor-Jean-François-Paulin Delannoy † (18 Dec 1876 Confirmed - 7 Aug 1905 Died)
Eugène-François Touzet † (21 Feb 1906 Appointed - 23 Sep 1911 Died)
Marie-Charles-Alfred de Cormont † (27 Nov 1911 Appointed - 22 Dec 1930 Retired)
Clément Joseph Mathieu † (12 Sep 1931 Appointed - 25 Mar 1963 Died)
Fernand-Pierre-Robert Bézac des Martinies † (25 Mar 1963 Succeeded - 25 Apr 1978 Retired)
Robert Pierre Sarrabère † (25 Apr 1978 Succeeded - 18 Jun 2002 Retired)
Philippe Jean Louis Breton † (18 Jun 2002 Appointed - 24 Jan 2012 Retired)
Hervé Gaschignard (24 Jan 2012 Appointed - 6 Apr 2017 Resigned)
Nicolas Jean-Marie Souchu (15 Nov 2017 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Aire
5th Century	Erected		Diocese of Aire (erected)
29 November 1801	Suppressed	Diocese of Aire (suppressed)	Diocese of Bayonne Archdiocese of Bordeaux
Diocese of Aire
6 October 1822	Restored	Diocese of Bayonne	Diocese of Aire Diocese of Tarbes
Diocese of Aire et Dax
3 June 1857	Name Changed	Diocese of Aire	Diocese of Aire et Dax
8 December 2002	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Aire et Dax (from Auch)

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 Aire et Dax

1948 240,000 251,436 95.5% 354 40 394 609 324 ap1951

1958 238,000 248,943 95.6% 377 2 379 627 50 420 322 ap1960

1970 250,000 277,381 90.1% 326 26 352 710 38 292 326 ap1971

1980 252,300 301,800 83.6% 275 39 314 803 53 447 345 ap1981

1990 260,000 312,000 83.3% 247 37 284 915 3 71 328 351 ap1991

1999 255,000 311,458 81.9% 199 34 233 1,094 4 46 169 36 ap2000

2000 255,000 326,900 78.0% 184 34 218 1,169 3 45 152 36 ap2001

2001 255,000 326,617 78.1% 170 35 205 1,243 6 40 269 36 ap2002

2002 255,000 326,617 78.1% 166 35 201 1,268 7 44 264 35 ap2003

2003 255,000 326,617 78.1% 165 29 194 1,314 7 39 259 35 ap2004

2004 255,000 326,617 78.1% 154 31 185 1,378 7 42 168 35 ap2005

2006 256,700 329,300 78.0% 158 26 184 1,395 9 34 184 35 ap2007

2012 264,000 377,381 70.0% 133 20 153 1,725 13 30 162 35 ap2013

2015 274,000 387,817 70.7% 97 15 112 2,446 19 29 137 35 ap2016

2018 278,900 395,500 70.5% 82 14 96 2,905 21 29 107 35 ap2019

2020 285,600 405,010 70.5% 76 14 90 3,173 23 29 97 35 ap2021

2022 272,000 407,444 66.8% 78 14 92 2,956 25 25 87 35 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 Aire et Dax
1948	240,000	251,436	95.5%	354	40	394	609				324	ap1951
1958	238,000	248,943	95.6%	377	2	379	627		50	420	322	ap1960
1970	250,000	277,381	90.1%	326	26	352	710		38	292	326	ap1971
1980	252,300	301,800	83.6%	275	39	314	803		53	447	345	ap1981
1990	260,000	312,000	83.3%	247	37	284	915	3	71	328	351	ap1991
1999	255,000	311,458	81.9%	199	34	233	1,094	4	46	169	36	ap2000
2000	255,000	326,900	78.0%	184	34	218	1,169	3	45	152	36	ap2001
2001	255,000	326,617	78.1%	170	35	205	1,243	6	40	269	36	ap2002
2002	255,000	326,617	78.1%	166	35	201	1,268	7	44	264	35	ap2003
2003	255,000	326,617	78.1%	165	29	194	1,314	7	39	259	35	ap2004
2004	255,000	326,617	78.1%	154	31	185	1,378	7	42	168	35	ap2005
2006	256,700	329,300	78.0%	158	26	184	1,395	9	34	184	35	ap2007
2012	264,000	377,381	70.0%	133	20	153	1,725	13	30	162	35	ap2013
2015	274,000	387,817	70.7%	97	15	112	2,446	19	29	137	35	ap2016
2018	278,900	395,500	70.5%	82	14	96	2,905	21	29	107	35	ap2019
2020	285,600	405,010	70.5%	76	14	90	3,173	23	29	97	35	ap2021
2022	272,000	407,444	66.8%	78	14	92	2,956	25	25	87	35	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Garsias Arnaud de Navailles † (Bishop: 16 Jun 1386 to 1397)
Tristan d’Aure † (Bishop: 30 Jul 1460 to 1475)
Arnaud Guillaume de Aydia † (Bishop: 14 Jan 1517 to 1522)
Bernard de Bats † (Bishop: 1308 to 15 Jan 1326)
Jean-Baptiste-Armand Bazin de Bezons † (Bishop: 12 Oct 1693 to 15 Sep 1698)
Pierre de Betous † (Bishop: 1268 to 1295)
Fernand-Pierre-Robert Bézac des Martinies † (Coadjutor Bishop: 16 Jan 1961; Bishop: 25 Mar 1963 to 25 Apr 1978)
Gilles Boutault † (Bishop: 14 Mar 1627 to 15 Nov 1649)
Philippe Jean Louis Breton † (Bishop: 18 Jun 2002 to 24 Jan 2012)
Bernard Bruni, O.P. † (Bishop: 15 May 1397 to 1418)
Marie Pierre Jean Cassaigne, M.E.P. †
Marie-Charles-Alfred de Cormont † (Bishop: 27 Nov 1911 to 22 Dec 1930)
Philippe Cospéan † (Bishop: 4 Dec 1606 to 13 Oct 1621)
Bernard d’Abbadie † (Bishop: 15 Feb 1486 to 10 Aug 1511)
Louis d’Albret † (Bishop: 7 Jan 1445 to 4 Jul 1460)
Charles-François d’Anglure de Bourlémont † (Bishop: 10 Jan 1650 to 17 Feb 1659)
Martin Defosse † (Bishop: 1295 to 16 Dec 1307)
Victor-Jean-François-Paulin Delannoy † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1876 to 7 Aug 1905)
Jean de Domo de Saint Julien † (Bishop: 6 Feb 1538 to 1560)
Louis-Marie-Olivier Epivent † (Bishop: 26 Sep 1859 to 22 Jul 1876)
Garsias de Fabri † (Bishop: 11 Jan 1328 to 18 Apr 1349)
Louis-Gaston Fleuriau d’Armenonville † (Bishop: 24 Nov 1698 to 15 Nov 1706)
Pierre de Foix (Jr.) † (Bishop: 31 Jul 1475; Administrator: 18 Dec 1476 to 5 May 1484)
Christophe de Foix de Candale † (Bishop: 13 Sep 1560 to 14 Sep 1570)
François de Foix de Candale † (Bishop: 18 Jul 1576 to 5 Feb 1594)
Roger de Foix de Castellon † (Bishop: 22 Dec 1423 to 13 Jan 1440)
Jean-Louis de Fromentières † (Bishop: 12 Jun 1673 to 18 Dec 1684)
Guillaume de Gabarrario, O. Carm. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Apr 1488)
Pierre de Gachefret (Saxoferto) † (Bishop: 13 Jan 1440 to 1444)
François-Xavier-Marie-Jules Gieure † (Deacon: 21 Dec 1873; Priest: 30 May 1874 to 21 Feb 1906)
Charles-Marie-Félix de Gorostarzu, M.E.P. †
Charles de Gramont, O.S.A. † (Bishop: 24 Apr 1523 to 9 Mar 1530)
Prosper-Michel-Arnaud Hiraboure † (Bishop: 15 Dec 1856 to 6 Jun 1859)
François-Gaspard de La Mer de Matha † (Bishop: 21 Feb 1707 to 30 Jun 1710)
François-Adélaïde-Adolphe Lannéluc † (Coadjutor Bishop: 11 Jul 1839; Bishop: 12 Dec 1839 to 30 Jun 1856)
Charles-Martial-Allemand Lavigerie †
Sébastien Le Bouthilier † (Bishop: 13 Oct 1621 to Jan 1625)
Jean-François-Marie Le Pappe de Trévern † (Bishop: 16 May 1823 to 9 Apr 1827)
Dauphin de Marquefave † (Bishop: 17 Jun 1349 to 15 Nov 1354)
Clément Joseph Mathieu † (Bishop: 12 Sep 1931 to 25 Mar 1963)
Antoine du Monastey (d’Alpiniac, Appiniac) † (Bishop: 1512 to 1516)
Jean de Montaut † (Bishop: 18 Jun 1361 to 1386)
Joseph-Gaspard de Montmorin de Saint-Hérem † (Bishop: 10 Nov 1710 to 7 Nov 1723)
Gilbert-Gaspard de Montmorin de Saint-Hérem de La Chassaigne † (Coadjutor Bishop: 20 Jan 1723; Bishop: 7 Nov 1723 to 1 Dec 1734)
Matthieu de Nardo Garcia † (Bishop: 5 May 1484 to 1485)
Plaicart de Raigecourt † (Bishop: 13 Mar 1758 to 26 Oct 1783)
Sébastien-Charles-Philibert de Roger de Cahuzac de Caux † (Coadjutor Bishop: 18 Sep 1780; Bishop: 26 Oct 1783 to 1816)
Arnaud de Saliers † (Bishop: 10 Jul 1392 to 22 Dec 1423)
Gabriel de Saluti † (Bishop: 9 Mar 1530 to 1537)
Bernard de Sariac † (Bishop: 10 Mar 1659 to 12 Oct 1672)
Robert Pierre Sarrabère † (Coadjutor Bishop: 7 Nov 1974; Bishop: 25 Apr 1978 to 18 Jun 2002)
Jean-Baptiste-Hippolyte Sarthou, C.M. †
Dominique-Marie Savy † (Bishop: 25 Jun 1827 to 12 Dec 1839)
François de Serret de Gaujac † (Bishop: 27 Feb 1736 to 18 Nov 1757)
Jean-Charles Jacques Clovis Marcel Thomas † (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Mar 1972 to 4 Feb 1974)
Anesanche de Toujouse † (Bishop: 3 Sep 1326 to 25 Aug 1327)
Eugène-François Touzet † (Bishop: 21 Feb 1906 to 23 Sep 1911)
Maurice Usk, O.P. † (Bishop: 14 Nov 1390 to Apr 1393)
Robert Waldby, O.E.S.A. † (Bishop: 4 Jun 1386 to 14 Nov 1390)
Alvaro , O.F.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Nov 1457)
Bernard , O. Cist. † (Bishop: 17 Nov 1354 to 18 Jun 1361)
Bertrand † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1465)
Thomas † (Bishop: 1500 to 1516)

Source(s)

Diocese of Aire
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 1, Page 72
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 2, Page 80
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 3, Page 95
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 4, Page 69
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 5, Page 70
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 6, Page 67
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 480, to Page 481
Diocese of Aire
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 7, Page 94
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 8, Page 130
Diocese of Aire et Dax
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 9, Page 72

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Diocese of Aire et Dax

Dioecesis Aturensis et Aquae Augustae