Lomé (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Isaac Jogues Agbémenya Kodjo Gaglo, Apostolic Administrator
Denis Komivi Amuzu-Dzakpah, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 14 September 1955
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Togo
Square Kilometers: 3,682 (1,422 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.archidiocesedelome.org/
Mailing Address: Archevêché, 01 B.P. 348, 561 rue Aniko Palako, Lome, Togo
Telephone: 2222.26.10

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Togo
- Erected: 12 April 1892
- Country: Togo
Vicariate Apostolic of Togo
- Latin Name: Togonensis
- Elevated: 16 March 1914
- Vicariate
- Country: Togo
Vicariate Apostolic of Lomé
- Latin Name: Lomensis
- Name Changed: 14 June 1938
- Vicariate
- Country: Togo

Past and Present Ordinaries

Johann Schäfer, S.V.D. † (4 Jun 1892 Appointed - 2 Jun 1894 Resigned)
Hermann Bücking, S.V.D. † (28 Jul 1896 Appointed - 1899 Final Vows, Member of Society of the Divine Word)
Nikolaus Schönig, S.V.D. † ( 1907 Appointed - 16 Mar 1914 Resigned)
Franz Wolf, S.V.D. † (16 Mar 1914 Appointed - Jan 1921 Resigned)
Jean-Marie Cessou, S.M.A. † (20 Mar 1923 Appointed - 3 Mar 1945 Died)
Joseph-Paul Strebler, S.M.A. † (8 Nov 1945 Appointed - 16 Jun 1961 Resigned)
Robert-Casimir Tonyui Messan Dosseh-Anyron † (10 Mar 1962 Appointed - 13 Feb 1992 Resigned)
Philippe Fanoko Kossi Kpodzro † (17 Dec 1992 Appointed - 8 Jun 2007 Retired)
Denis Komivi Amuzu-Dzakpah (8 Jun 2007 Appointed - 23 Nov 2019 Retired)
Nicodème Anani Barrigah-Benissan † (23 Nov 2019 Appointed - 4 Aug 2024 Died)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Togo
12 April 1892	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Dahomey	Prefecture Apostolic of Togo (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Togo
16 March 1914	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Togo	Vicariate Apostolic of Togo
15 March 1923	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa d’Oro {Gold Coast} (Quittait and Tripoli (Denu)) Vicariate Apostolic of Togo (Area subject to English rule)	Vicariate Apostolic of Volta Inferiore (erected)
18 May 1937	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Togo (Sokodé, Bassari, Lama-Kara, and Sansanné-Mango)	Prefecture Apostolic of Sokodé (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Lomé
14 June 1938	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Togo	Vicariate Apostolic of Lomé
Archdiocese of Lomé
14 September 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Lomé	Archdiocese of Lomé
29 September 1964	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Lomé (Atakpamé, Akposso, and Nuatia)	Diocese of Atakpamé (erected)
1 July 1994	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Lomé (Lacs, Vo, Yoto, and Afagnan)	Diocese of Aného (erected)
1 July 1994	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Lomé (Kioto, Agou, Dayes, Haho, and Moyen-Mono)	Diocese of Kpalimé (erected)

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 Lomé

1950 109,003 489,104 22.3% 3 39 42 2,595 31 17 ap1951

Archdiocese of Lomé

1969 247,618 780,950 31.7% 31 5 36 6,878 26 127 23 ap1971

1980 361,034 1,168,000 30.9% 43 36 79 4,570 66 161 26 ap1981

1990 525,606 1,556,000 33.8% 84 48 132 3,981 154 220 37 ap1991

1999 355,533 1,197,000 29.7% 71 36 107 3,322 95 185 27 ap2000

2000 367,051 1,330,000 27.6% 69 40 109 3,367 92 197 28 ap2001

2001 380,405 1,352,000 28.1% 72 43 115 3,307 118 195 28 ap2002

2002 392,695 1,402,000 28.0% 77 47 124 3,166 120 235 32 ap2003

2003 403,456 1,435,000 28.1% 87 49 136 2,966 131 241 36 ap2004

2004 413,965 1,470,000 28.2% 98 52 150 2,759 148 263 36 ap2005

2013 520,369 1,810,000 28.7% 149 72 221 2,354 214 333 46 ap2014

2016 573,144 1,940,921 29.5% 164 89 253 2,265 366 379 50 ap2017

2019 610,100 2,046,000 29.8% 222 89 311 1,961 351 424 64 ap2020

2021 638,860 2,144,500 29.8% 256 84 340 1,879 303 386 74 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Lomé
1950	109,003	489,104	22.3%	3	39	42	2,595		31	17	ap1951
Archdiocese of Lomé
1969	247,618	780,950	31.7%	31	5	36	6,878	26	127	23	ap1971
1980	361,034	1,168,000	30.9%	43	36	79	4,570	66	161	26	ap1981
1990	525,606	1,556,000	33.8%	84	48	132	3,981	154	220	37	ap1991
1999	355,533	1,197,000	29.7%	71	36	107	3,322	95	185	27	ap2000
2000	367,051	1,330,000	27.6%	69	40	109	3,367	92	197	28	ap2001
2001	380,405	1,352,000	28.1%	72	43	115	3,307	118	195	28	ap2002
2002	392,695	1,402,000	28.0%	77	47	124	3,166	120	235	32	ap2003
2003	403,456	1,435,000	28.1%	87	49	136	2,966	131	241	36	ap2004
2004	413,965	1,470,000	28.2%	98	52	150	2,759	148	263	36	ap2005
2013	520,369	1,810,000	28.7%	149	72	221	2,354	214	333	46	ap2014
2016	573,144	1,940,921	29.5%	164	89	253	2,265	366	379	50	ap2017
2019	610,100	2,046,000	29.8%	222	89	311	1,961	351	424	64	ap2020
2021	638,860	2,144,500	29.8%	256	84	340	1,879	303	386	74	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

John Kwao Amuzu Aggey †
Chrétien Matawo Bakpessi †
Nicodème Anani Barrigah-Benissan † (Priest: 8 Aug 1987 to 9 Jan 2008; Archbishop: 23 Nov 2019 to 4 Aug 2024)
Hermann Bücking, S.V.D. † (Prefect: 28 Jul 1896 to 1899)
Jean-Marie Cessou, S.M.A. † (Apostolic Administrator: 11 Jan 1921; Vicar Apostolic: 20 Mar 1923 to 3 Mar 1945)
Matthias Dier, S.V.D. † (Apostolic Administrator: 1894 to 1896)
Robert-Casimir Tonyui Messan Dosseh-Anyron † (Priest: 21 Dec 1951; Archbishop: 10 Mar 1962 to 13 Feb 1992)
Ignace Hummel, S.M.A. † (Apostolic Administrator: 11 Jan 1918 to 1921)
Philippe Fanoko Kossi Kpodzro † (Priest: 20 Dec 1959 to 29 Sep 1964; Archbishop: 17 Dec 1992 to 8 Jun 2007)
Johann Schäfer, S.V.D. † (Pro-Prefect: 4 Jun 1892 to 2 Jun 1894)
Nikolaus Schönig, S.V.D. † (Pro-Prefect: 1907; Prefect: 20 Mar 1910 to 16 Mar 1914)
Joseph-Paul Strebler, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Nov 1945; Archbishop: 14 Sep 1955 to 16 Jun 1961)
Franz Wolf, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 16 Mar 1914 to Jan 1921)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Togo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 6, Page 179
Vicariate Apostolic of Lomé
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 30, Page 346, and Page 347
Archdiocese of Lomé
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 113, to Page 119

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Archdiocese of Lomé

Archidioecesis Lomensis