Bhopal (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Alangaram Arockia Sebastian Durairaj, S.V.D., Archbishop
Leo Cornelio, S.V.D., Archbishop Emeritus
Paschal Topno, S.J., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Erected: 13 September 1963
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 20,387 (7,874 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://bhopalarchdiocese.in/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, 33 Ahmedabad Palace Road, Bhopal-462021, M.P., India
Telephone: (0755)254.08.29
Fax: 254.47.37

Past and Present Ordinaries

Eugene Louis D’Souza, M.S.F.S. † (13 Sep 1963 Appointed - 20 May 1994 Retired)
Paschal Topno, S.J. (20 May 1994 Appointed - 15 Jun 2007 Retired)
Leo Cornelio, S.V.D. (15 Jun 2007 Appointed - 4 Oct 2021 Retired)
Alangaram Arockia Sebastian Durairaj, S.V.D. (4 Oct 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
13 September 1963	Erected	Diocese of Ajmer and Jaipur (Raisen) Diocese of Indore (Bhopal, Sehore, Vishisha, and Hoshangabad) Diocese of Jabalpur (Sagar)	Archdiocese of Bhopal (erected)
29 July 1968	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bhopal (Sagar, Raisen, and Vidisha)	Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Sagar (Syro-Malabar) (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1970 2,860 1,451,000 .2% 10 12 22 130 13 177 14 ap1971

1980 6,168 2,185,000 .3% 12 18 30 205 27 173 11 ap1981

1990 9,775 2,556,059 .4% 27 51 78 125 128 335 51 ap1991

1999 9,457 3,513,000 .3% 39 53 92 102 114 323 17 ap2000

2000 9,637 3,570,000 .3% 42 63 105 91 124 342 17 ap2001

2001 9,753 3,627,000 .3% 44 85 129 75 200 361 17 ap2002

2002 9,965 3,684,000 .3% 47 88 135 73 208 368 18 ap2003

2003 10,128 3,739,000 .3% 56 87 143 70 207 372 19 ap2004

2004 10,365 3,826,494 .3% 53 89 142 72 208 375 20 ap2005

2006 18,550 3,922,000 .5% 60 55 115 161 172 400 21 ap2007

2012 13,214 4,255,000 .3% 64 70 134 98 183 546 35 ap2013

2015 13,575 5,561,000 .2% 68 70 138 98 219 526 36 ap2016

2018 14,192 5,541,570 .3% 75 74 149 95 185 545 44 ap2019

2020 14,307 5,550,530 .3% 73 79 152 94 185 545 44 ap2021

2022 14,600 5,662,000 .3% 75 78 153 95 279 594 46 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	2,860	1,451,000	.2%	10	12	22	130	13	177	14	ap1971
1980	6,168	2,185,000	.3%	12	18	30	205	27	173	11	ap1981
1990	9,775	2,556,059	.4%	27	51	78	125	128	335	51	ap1991
1999	9,457	3,513,000	.3%	39	53	92	102	114	323	17	ap2000
2000	9,637	3,570,000	.3%	42	63	105	91	124	342	17	ap2001
2001	9,753	3,627,000	.3%	44	85	129	75	200	361	17	ap2002
2002	9,965	3,684,000	.3%	47	88	135	73	208	368	18	ap2003
2003	10,128	3,739,000	.3%	56	87	143	70	207	372	19	ap2004
2004	10,365	3,826,494	.3%	53	89	142	72	208	375	20	ap2005
2006	18,550	3,922,000	.5%	60	55	115	161	172	400	21	ap2007
2012	13,214	4,255,000	.3%	64	70	134	98	183	546	35	ap2013
2015	13,575	5,561,000	.2%	68	70	138	98	219	526	36	ap2016
2018	14,192	5,541,570	.3%	75	74	149	95	185	545	44	ap2019
2020	14,307	5,550,530	.3%	73	79	152	94	185	545	44	ap2021
2022	14,600	5,662,000	.3%	75	78	153	95	279	594	46	ap2023