Bayonne (-Lescar e Oloron) (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Marc Marie Max Aillet, Bishop
Pierre Jean Marie Marcel Molères, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 22 June 1909
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bordeaux (-Bazas)
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: France
Square Kilometers: 7,712 (2,978 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Sud-Ouest
Official Web Site: http://diocese64.org/
Mailing Address: Eveche, 16 Place Mgr. Vansteenberghe, 64100 Bayonne CEDEX, France
Telephone: 5.59.59.16.88

Historical Details

Diocese of Bayonne
- Latin Name: Baionensis
- Erected: 4th Century
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Auch
- Country: France

Past and Present Ordinaries

Pierre de Marenne † ( 1309 Appointed - 1313 Died)
Bernard de Villa † (29 Mar 1314 Appointed - 1316 Died)
Pierre de Maslac, O.F.M. † (20 Dec 1316 Appointed - 1318 Died)
Pierre de Saint-Jean, O.P. † (27 Jun 1319 Appointed - )
Guillaume du Pin † (8 Feb 1357 Appointed - )
Pierre d’Oriach, O.F.M. † (20 Jun 1371 Appointed - 1377 Died)
Barthélémy d’Arribaire, O.P. † ( 1383 Appointed - 1392 Died)
Pierre de Sumelaga, O.F.M. † (22 Apr 1383 Appointed - )
Garsias de Henguy, O.E.S.A. † (12 Feb 1384 Appointed - 1409 Died)
Garsias Menéndez, O.F.M. † (11 Feb 1393 Appointed - 1405 Died)
Pierre Vernet † (20 Jan 1406 Appointed - 1415 Died)
Guillaume Arnaud de la Borde, O.F.M. † (3 Jul 1409 Appointed - 9 Dec 1444 Appointed, Bishop of Acqs (Dax))
Garsias Arnaud de la Sègue, O.F.M. † (9 Dec 1444 Appointed - 1454 Died)
Jean de Mareuil † (1 Jul 1454 Appointed - 28 Sep 1463 Appointed, Bishop of Uzés)
Jean de Laur † (28 Sep 1463 Appointed - 5 May 1484 Appointed, Titular Archbishop of Apamea in Syria)
Pierre de Foix (Jr.) † (5 May 1484 Appointed - 10 Aug 1490 Died)
Jean de Barrere † (3 Jul 1495 Appointed - 1504 Died)
Bertrand de Lahet † (8 Jul 1504 Appointed - 1519 Died)
Héctor d’Ailly de Rochefort (Rupefort) † (23 Dec 1519 Appointed - 12 Feb 1524 Appointed, Bishop of Toul)
Jean du Bellay † (12 Feb 1524 Appointed - 16 Sep 1532 Appointed, Bishop of Paris)
Étienne Poncher † (25 Sep 1532 Appointed - 6 Apr 1551 Appointed, Archbishop of Tours)
Jean des Monstiers de Froissac (Dufresne de Moustiers) † (6 Apr 1551 Appointed - 1565 Resigned)
Jean de Sossiondo † (13 Mar 1566 Appointed - 23 Nov 1578 Died)
Jacques Maury † (4 Nov 1579 Appointed - 15 Jan 1593 Died)
Bertrand d’Eschaux (de Chaux) † (17 Mar 1599 Appointed - 26 Jun 1617 Appointed, Archbishop of Tours)
Claude de Rueil † (15 Nov 1621 Appointed - 20 Mar 1628 Appointed, Bishop of Angers)
Henri de Béthune † (Oct 1626 Appointed - 19 Nov 1629 Appointed, Bishop of Maillezais)
Raymond de Montaigne † (4 Mar 1630 Confirmed - 10 Mar 1637 Died)
François Foucquet † (28 Feb 1639 Appointed - 1643 Resigned)
Jean d’Olce † (31 Aug 1643 Confirmed - 8 Feb 1681 Died)
Gabriel de La Roque-Prielé † (22 Sep 1681 Confirmed - 19 Jun 1688 Died)
Léon de La Lane † (10 Mar 1692 Confirmed - 6 Aug 1700 Died)
Réné-François de Beauvau du Rivau † (18 Apr 1701 Appointed - 7 Nov 1707 Resigned)
André Dreuilhet (Drouillet) † (7 Nov 1707 Confirmed - 17 Nov 1727 Died)
Pierre-Guillaume de La Vieuxville † (14 Jun 1728 Confirmed - 30 Jun 1734 Died)
Jacques-Bonne Gigault de Bellefonds † (27 Feb 1736 Confirmed - 25 Nov 1741 Resigned)
Christophe de Beaumont du Repaire † (27 Nov 1741 Confirmed - 8 Jul 1745 Resigned)
Guillaume d’Arché † (19 Jul 1745 Confirmed - 13 Oct 1774 Died)
Jules-Basile Ferron de La Ferronnays † (13 Mar 1775 Confirmed - 13 Dec 1783 Resigned)
Etienne-Joseph de Pavée de Villevieille † (15 Dec 1783 Confirmed - Mar 1793 Died)
Joseph-Jacques Loison † (11 Nov 1802 Confirmed - 17 Feb 1820 Died)
Paul-Thérèse-David d’Astros † (29 May 1820 Confirmed - 5 Jul 1830 Confirmed, Archbishop of Toulouse (-Narbonne))
Etienne-Bruno-Marie d’Arbou † (5 Jul 1830 Confirmed - 26 Sep 1837 Resigned)
François Lacroix † (12 Feb 1838 Confirmed - 6 Jul 1878 Retired)
Arthur-Xavier Ducellier † (15 Jul 1878 Confirmed - 26 May 1887 Confirmed, Archbishop of Besançon)
Alfred-François Fleury-Hottot † (26 May 1887 Confirmed - 10 Aug 1889 Died)
François-Antoine Jauffret † (30 Dec 1889 Confirmed - 16 Jun 1902 Died)
François-Xavier-Marie-Jules Gieure † (21 Feb 1906 Appointed - 31 Jan 1934 Retired)
Henri-Jean Houbaut † (24 Dec 1934 Appointed - 17 Jul 1939 Died)
Edmond Vansteenberghe † (6 Oct 1939 Appointed - 10 Dec 1943 Died)
Léon-Albert Terrier † (24 Jul 1944 Appointed - 12 May 1957 Died)
Paul Joseph Marie Gouyon † (6 Aug 1957 Appointed - 6 Sep 1963 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Rennes (-Dol-Saint-Malo))
Jean-Paul-Marie Vincent † (18 Dec 1963 Appointed - 13 Jun 1986 Retired)
Pierre Jean Marie Marcel Molères (13 Jun 1986 Succeeded - 15 Oct 2008 Retired)
Marc Marie Max Aillet (15 Oct 2008 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Bayonne
4th Century	Erected		Diocese of Bayonne (erected) ((or 6th Century))
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Diocese of Aire (suppressed)	Diocese of Bayonne Archdiocese of Bordeaux
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Diocese of (Saint-Bertrand de) Comminges (suppressed)	Diocese of Bayonne Archdiocese of Toulouse
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Diocese of Lescar (suppressed)	Diocese of Agen Diocese of Bayonne
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Diocese of Lombez (suppressed)	Diocese of Bayonne Archdiocese of Toulouse
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Diocese of Tarbes (suppressed)	Diocese of Agen Diocese of Bayonne
6 October 1822	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bayonne	Diocese of Aire Diocese of Tarbes
Diocese of Bayonne (-Lescar e Oloron)
22 June 1909	Name Changed	Diocese of Bayonne	Diocese of Bayonne (-Lescar e Oloron)
19 May 1933	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bayonne (-Lescar e Oloron) (Northern part of the parish of Crouzeilles)	Diocese of Tarbes et Lourdes
8 December 2002	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Bayonne (-Lescar e Oloron) (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 Bayonne (-Lescar e Oloron)

1950 407,338 415,797 98.0% 853 166 1,019 399 308 1,983 512 ap1951

1959 416,060 420,019 99.1% 855 191 1,046 397 338 1,900 520 ap1960

1970 501,274 508,734 98.5% 716 145 861 582 224 1,816 527 ap1971

1980 532,600 536,700 99.2% 644 154 798 667 237 1,610 527 ap1981

1990 554,000 575,000 96.3% 501 141 642 862 3 226 1,330 526 ap1991

1995 550,000 581,000 94.7% 408 131 539 1,020 6 211 1,153 523 ap2000

2000 550,000 581,000 94.7% 402 131 533 1,031 6 211 1,153 523 ap2001

2001 550,000 581,000 94.7% 402 131 533 1,031 6 211 1,153 523 ap2002

2002 550,000 620,763 88.6% 371 128 499 1,102 6 189 835 89 ap2003

2003 550,000 620,763 88.6% 336 130 466 1,180 5 197 812 69 ap2004

2004 550,000 620,763 88.6% 331 140 471 1,167 5 198 793 69 ap2005

2006 505,000 606,000 83.3% 349 139 488 1,034 6 200 756 69 ap2007

2012 570,000 669,300 85.2% 279 123 402 1,417 8 163 471 69 ap2013

2015 576,000 676,608 85.1% 298 119 417 1,381 10 144 404 69 ap2016

2018 572,200 667,249 85.8% 244 100 344 1,663 10 126 449 70 ap2019

2020 582,500 679,354 85.7% 224 88 312 1,866 11 127 407 70 ap2021

2022 597,000 697,000 85.7% 221 76 297 2,010 10 89 358 70 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 Bayonne (-Lescar e Oloron)
1950	407,338	415,797	98.0%	853	166	1,019	399		308	1,983	512	ap1951
1959	416,060	420,019	99.1%	855	191	1,046	397		338	1,900	520	ap1960
1970	501,274	508,734	98.5%	716	145	861	582		224	1,816	527	ap1971
1980	532,600	536,700	99.2%	644	154	798	667		237	1,610	527	ap1981
1990	554,000	575,000	96.3%	501	141	642	862	3	226	1,330	526	ap1991
1995	550,000	581,000	94.7%	408	131	539	1,020	6	211	1,153	523	ap2000
2000	550,000	581,000	94.7%	402	131	533	1,031	6	211	1,153	523	ap2001
2001	550,000	581,000	94.7%	402	131	533	1,031	6	211	1,153	523	ap2002
2002	550,000	620,763	88.6%	371	128	499	1,102	6	189	835	89	ap2003
2003	550,000	620,763	88.6%	336	130	466	1,180	5	197	812	69	ap2004
2004	550,000	620,763	88.6%	331	140	471	1,167	5	198	793	69	ap2005
2006	505,000	606,000	83.3%	349	139	488	1,034	6	200	756	69	ap2007
2012	570,000	669,300	85.2%	279	123	402	1,417	8	163	471	69	ap2013
2015	576,000	676,608	85.1%	298	119	417	1,381	10	144	404	69	ap2016
2018	572,200	667,249	85.8%	244	100	344	1,663	10	126	449	70	ap2019
2020	582,500	679,354	85.7%	224	88	312	1,866	11	127	407	70	ap2021
2022	597,000	697,000	85.7%	221	76	297	2,010	10	89	358	70	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Guillaume d’Arché † (Bishop: 19 Jul 1745 to 13 Oct 1774)
Guillaume Arnaud de la Borde, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 3 Jul 1409 to 9 Dec 1444)
Garsias Arnaud de la Sègue, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 9 Dec 1444 to 1454)
Barthélémy d’Arribaire, O.P. † (Bishop: 1383 to 1392)
Jean de Barrere † (Bishop: 3 Jul 1495 to 1504)
Christophe de Beaumont du Repaire † (Bishop: 27 Nov 1741 to 8 Jul 1745)
Réné-François de Beauvau du Rivau † (Bishop: 18 Apr 1701 to 7 Nov 1707)
Jean du Bellay † (Bishop: 12 Feb 1524 to 16 Sep 1532)
Henri de Béthune † (Bishop: Oct 1626 to 19 Nov 1629)
Philippe Carriquiry, M.E.P. †
Juan de Castellmorum †
Jean Victor Émile Chesnelong † (Deacon: 21 Dec 1878; Priest: 20 Sep 1879 to 21 Feb 1906)
Héctor d’Ailly de Rochefort (Rupefort) † (Bishop: 23 Dec 1519 to 12 Feb 1524)
Etienne-Bruno-Marie d’Arbou † (Bishop: 5 Jul 1830 to 26 Sep 1837)
Paul-Thérèse-David d’Astros † (Bishop: 29 May 1820 to 5 Jul 1830)
Bertrand d’Eschaux (de Chaux) † (Bishop: 17 Mar 1599 to 26 Jun 1617)
Jean des Monstiers de Froissac (Dufresne de Moustiers) † (Bishop: 6 Apr 1551 to 1565)
Dominic Desperben, SS.CC. †
Jean d’Olce † (Bishop: 31 Aug 1643 to 8 Feb 1681)
André Dreuilhet (Drouillet) † (Bishop: 7 Nov 1707 to 17 Nov 1727)
Arthur-Xavier Ducellier † (Bishop: 15 Jul 1878 to 26 May 1887)
Pierre Duhart, M.E.P. †
Guillaume du Pin † (Bishop: 8 Feb 1357)
Pierre Erdozainey-Etchart, S.C.I. †
Roger Marie Élie Etchegaray † (Priest: 13 Jul 1947 to 29 Mar 1969)
Pierre Étienne Louis Eyt † (Priest: 29 Jun 1961 to 7 Jun 1986)
François-Marie-Christian Favreau † (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Nov 1972 to 7 Oct 1977)
Jules-Basile Ferron de La Ferronnays † (Bishop: 13 Mar 1775 to 13 Dec 1783)
Alfred-François Fleury-Hottot † (Bishop: 26 May 1887 to 10 Aug 1889)
Pierre de Foix (Jr.) † (Administrator: 5 May 1484 to 10 Aug 1490)
François Foucquet † (Bishop: 28 Feb 1639 to 1643)
François-Xavier-Marie-Jules Gieure † (Bishop: 21 Feb 1906 to 31 Jan 1934)
Jacques-Bonne Gigault de Bellefonds † (Bishop: 27 Feb 1736 to 25 Nov 1741)
Guillaume Pierre Godin, O.P. †
Paul Joseph Marie Gouyon † (Bishop: 6 Aug 1957 to 6 Sep 1963)
Garsias de Henguy, O.E.S.A. † (Bishop: 12 Feb 1384 to 1409)
Prosper-Michel-Arnaud Hiraboure † (Priest: 13 Jun 1829 to 15 Dec 1856)
Henri-Jean Houbaut † (Bishop: 24 Dec 1934 to 17 Jul 1939)
François-Antoine Jauffret † (Bishop: 30 Dec 1889 to 16 Jun 1902)
Lucien Bernard Lacoste, S.C.I. di Béth. †
François Lacroix † (Bishop: 12 Feb 1838 to 6 Jul 1878)
Bertrand de Lahet † (Bishop: 8 Jul 1504 to 1519)
Léon de La Lane † (Bishop: 10 Mar 1692 to 6 Aug 1700)
Gabriel de La Roque-Prielé † (Bishop: 22 Sep 1681 to 19 Jun 1688)
Jean Larrart, M.E.P. †
Jean Larregain, M.E.P. †
Jean de Laur † (Bishop: 28 Sep 1463 to 5 May 1484)
Pierre-Guillaume de La Vieuxville † (Bishop: 14 Jun 1728 to 30 Jun 1734)
Christophe-Louis Légasse † (Priest: 13 Jul 1884 to 14 Nov 1899)
Joseph-Jacques Loison † (Bishop: 11 Nov 1802 to 17 Feb 1820)
Pierre de Marenne † (Bishop: 1309 to 1313)
Jean de Mareuil † (Bishop: 1 Jul 1454 to 28 Sep 1463)
Pierre de Maslac, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 20 Dec 1316 to 1318)
Clément Joseph Mathieu † (Priest: 15 Jul 1906 to 12 Sep 1931)
Jacques Maury † (Bishop: 4 Nov 1579 to 15 Jan 1593)
Marcelo Mendiharat Pommies †
Garsias Menéndez, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 11 Feb 1393 to 1405)
Raymond de Montaigne † (Bishop: 4 Mar 1630 to 10 Mar 1637)
Michel Olçomendy, M.E.P. †
Pierre d’Oriach, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 20 Jun 1371 to 1377)
Etienne-Joseph de Pavée de Villevieille † (Bishop: 15 Dec 1783 to Mar 1793)
Étienne Poncher † (Bishop: 25 Sep 1532 to 6 Apr 1551)
Claude de Rueil † (Bishop: 15 Nov 1621 to 20 Mar 1628)
Jean Yves Marie Sahuquet † (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Dec 1978 to 15 May 1985)
Pierre de Saint-Jean, O.P. † (Bishop: 27 Jun 1319)
François de Sales Marie Adrien Saint-Macary † (Priest: 29 Jun 1960 to 23 Feb 1983)
Jean de Sossiondo † (Bishop: 13 Mar 1566 to 23 Nov 1578)
Pierre de Sumelaga, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 22 Apr 1383)
Léon-Albert Terrier † (Bishop: 24 Jul 1944 to 12 May 1957)
Jean-Pierre Urkia, M.E.P. †
Jean-Baptiste Urrutia, M.E.P. †
Edmond Vansteenberghe † (Bishop: 6 Oct 1939 to 10 Dec 1943)
Pierre Vernet † (Bishop: 20 Jan 1406 to 1415)
Emmanuel-Jean-François Verrolles, M.E.P. †
Bernard de Villa † (Bishop: 29 Mar 1314 to 1316)
Jean-Paul-Marie Vincent † (Bishop: 18 Dec 1963 to 13 Jun 1986)

Source(s)

Diocese of Bayonne
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 1, Page 125
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 2, Page 101
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 3, Page 127, and Page 128
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 4, Page 108
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 5, Page 112
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 6, Page 113
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 508, to Page 509
Diocese of Bayonne (-Lescar e Oloron)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 1, Page 545, and Page 546

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Diocese of Bayonne (-Lescar e Oloron)

Dioecesis Baionensis (-Lascurrensis et Oloronensis)