Archdiocese of Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)

Archidioecesis Montis Pessulani (-Lotevensis-Biterrensis-Agathensis-Sancti Pontii Thomeriarum)

Bishop(s)

Guy Marie Alexandre Thomazeau, Archbishop
Claude-Joseph Azéma, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 16 December 2002
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: France
Square Kilometers: 6,101 (2,356 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Provence-Méditerranée
Official Web Site: http://catholique-montpellier.cef.fr/
Mailing Address: 22 rue Lallemand, B.P. 2137, 34026 Montpellier CEDEX 01, France
Telephone: 4.67.91.11.00
Fax: 4.67.91.11.01

Historical Details

Diocese of Maguelonne
- Latin Name: Montis Pessulani (?)
- Erected: 3rd Century
- Country: France
Diocese of Montpellier
- Latin Name: Montis Pessulani
- Name Changed: 27 March 1536
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Narbonne
- Country: France
Diocese of Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)
- Latin Name: Montis Pessulani (-Lotevensis-Biterrensis-Agathensis-Sancti Pontii Thomeriarum)
- Name Changed: 16 June 1877
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Avignon (-Apt, Cavaillon, Carpentras, Orange, e Vaison)
- Country: France

Past and Present Ordinaries

Charles de Pradel † ( 1677 Succeeded - 17 Sep 1696 Died)
Georges-Lazare Berger de Charancy † (22 Apr 1738 Appointed - 14 Feb 1748 Died)
Louis-François-Renaud de Villeneuve † ( 1748 Appointed - 24 Jun 1766 Died)
Raymond de Durfort † (6 Aug 1766 Confirmed - 1774 Appointed, Archbishop of Besançon)
Joseph-François de Malide † (20 Jan 1774 Appointed - 18 Jan 1812 Died)
Jean-Louis-Simon Rollet † (15 Oct 1802 Appointed - 21 Mar 1806 Resigned)
Nicolas-Marie Fournier de la Contamine † (15 Jul 1806 Appointed - 29 Dec 1834 Died)
Charles-Thomas Thibault † (1 May 1835 Appointed - 4 May 1861 Died)
François-Marie-Joseph Lecourtier † (5 Jun 1861 Appointed - 5 Aug 1873 Retired)
François-Marie-Anatole de Rovérié de Cabrières † (18 Dec 1873 Appointed - 21 Dec 1921 Died)
René-Pierre Mignen † (3 Aug 1922 Appointed - 21 Jul 1931 Appointed, Archbishop of Rennes (, Dol, e Saint-Malo))
Gabriel Brunhes † (20 May 1932 Appointed - 24 Feb 1949 Died)
Jean Duperray † (24 Feb 1949 Succeeded - 25 Oct 1957 Died)
Cyprien-Louis-Pierre-Clément Tourel † (24 Feb 1958 Appointed - 15 May 1976 Resigned)
Louis Antoine Marie Boffet † (15 May 1976 Succeeded - 6 Sep 1996 Retired)
Jean-Pierre Bernard Ricard (6 Sep 1996 Succeeded - 21 Dec 2001 Appointed, Archbishop of Bordeaux (-Bazas))
Guy Marie Alexandre Thomazeau (28 Aug 2002 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Maguelonne
3rd Century	Erected		Diocese of Maguelonne (erected)
Diocese of Montpellier
27 March 1536	Name Changed	Diocese of Maguelonne	Diocese of Montpellier
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Diocese of Agde (suppressed)	Diocese of Montpellier
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Albi (suppressed)	Diocese of Montpellier
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Diocese of Lavaur (suppressed)	Diocese of Montpellier
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Narbonne (suppressed)	Diocese of Carcassonne Diocese of Montpellier
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Diocese of Saint-Pons (suppressed)	Diocese of Montpellier
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Diocese of Vabres (suppressed)	Diocese of Cahors Diocese of Montpellier
6 October 1822	Territory Lost	Diocese of Montpellier
6 October 1822	Territory Lost	Diocese of Montpellier	Archdiocese of Albi
Diocese of Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)
16 June 1877	Name Changed	Diocese of Montpellier	Diocese of Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)
Archdiocese of Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)
16 December 2002	Elevated	Diocese of Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)	Archdiocese of Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)

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 Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)

1950 440,000 461,000 95.4% 350 112 462 952 112 1,023 416 ap1951

1970 525,000 591,397 88.8% 363 103 466 1,126 209 1,156 410 ap1971

1980 600,000 648,202 92.6% 381 167 548 1,094 1 167 842 416 ap1981

1990 675,000 721,000 93.6% 299 116 415 1,626 3 196 736 385 ap1991

1999 601,626 794,603 75.7% 247 123 370 1,626 15 178 636 324 ap2000

2000 670,000 900,000 74.4% 248 125 373 1,796 17 181 488 324 ap2001

2001 670,000 900,000 74.4% 221 124 345 1,942 18 179 475 166 ap2002

Archdiocese of Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)

2002 670,000 900,000 74.4% 215 57 272 2,463 19 109 505 162 ap2003

2003 670,000 900,000 74.4% 212 106 318 2,106 22 155 495 173 ap2004

2004 670,000 1,000,000 67.0% 223 125 348 1,925 23 174 485 166 ap2005

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 Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)
1950	440,000	461,000	95.4%	350	112	462	952		112	1,023	416	ap1951
1970	525,000	591,397	88.8%	363	103	466	1,126		209	1,156	410	ap1971
1980	600,000	648,202	92.6%	381	167	548	1,094	1	167	842	416	ap1981
1990	675,000	721,000	93.6%	299	116	415	1,626	3	196	736	385	ap1991
1999	601,626	794,603	75.7%	247	123	370	1,626	15	178	636	324	ap2000
2000	670,000	900,000	74.4%	248	125	373	1,796	17	181	488	324	ap2001
2001	670,000	900,000	74.4%	221	124	345	1,942	18	179	475	166	ap2002
Archdiocese of Montpellier (, Lodève, Béziers, Agde, e Saint-Pons-de-Thomières)
2002	670,000	900,000	74.4%	215	57	272	2,463	19	109	505	162	ap2003
2003	670,000	900,000	74.4%	212	106	318	2,106	22	155	495	173	ap2004
2004	670,000	1,000,000	67.0%	223	125	348	1,925	23	174	485	166	ap2005