Pointe-Noire (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Abel Liluala, Archbishop
Miguel Ángel Olaverri Arroniz, S.D.B., Archbishop Emeritus
Jean-Claude Makaya Loembe, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 30 May 2020
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo
Square Kilometers: 14,644 (5,656 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocese-pointe-noire-congo.org/
Mailing Address: 82 rue Avenue Moe Vangoula, Pointe-Noire, Rep. du Congo
Telephone: 05.559.30.70

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Lower French Congo {Congo Francese Inferiore}
- Split: 14 October 1890
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo
Vicariate Apostolic of Loango
- Latin Name: de Loango
- Name Changed: 22 April 1907
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo
Vicariate Apostolic of Pointe-Noire
- Latin Name: Nigrirostrensis
- Name Changed: 20 January 1949
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo
Diocese of Pointe-Noire
- Latin Name: Nigrirostrensis
- Elevated: 14 September 1955
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Brazzaville
- Country: Congo

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antoine-Marie-Hippolyte Carrie, C.S.Sp. † (14 Oct 1890 Appointed - Nov 1903 Resigned)
Jean-Louis-Joseph Derouet, C.S.Sp. † (2 Jan 1907 Appointed - 4 Mar 1914 Died)
Léon-Charles-Joseph Girod, C.S.Sp. † (13 Jan 1915 Appointed - 13 Dec 1919 Died)
Henri Friteau, C.S.Sp. † (22 Mar 1922 Appointed - 4 Apr 1946 Resigned)
Jean-Baptiste Victor Fauret, C.S.Sp. † (13 Feb 1947 Appointed - 5 Jun 1975 Resigned)
Godefroy Émile M’Pwati † (5 Jun 1975 Appointed - 1 Sep 1988 Resigned)
Georges-Firmin Singha † (1 Sep 1988 Appointed - 18 Aug 1993 Died)
Jean-Claude Makaya Loembe (19 Dec 1994 Appointed - 31 Mar 2011 Removed)
Miguel Ángel Olaverri Arroniz, S.D.B. (22 Feb 2013 Appointed - 6 Jan 2024 Retired)
Abel Liluala (6 Jan 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Lower French Congo {Congo Francese Inferiore}
14 October 1890	Split	Vicariate Apostolic of French Congo {Congo Francese}	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper French Congo {Congo Francese Superiore} o Ubanghi Vicariate Apostolic of Lower French Congo {Congo Francese Inferiore}
Vicariate Apostolic of Loango
22 April 1907	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Lower French Congo {Congo Francese Inferiore}	Vicariate Apostolic of Loango
14 February 1911	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Loango (Linzoio)	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper French Congo {Congo Francese Superiore} o Ubanghi
2 August 1929	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Brazzaville (Boundaries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Loango (Boundaries adjusted)
Vicariate Apostolic of Pointe-Noire
20 January 1949	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Loango	Vicariate Apostolic of Pointe-Noire
Diocese of Pointe-Noire
14 September 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Pointe-Noire	Diocese of Pointe-Noire
28 November 1958	Territory Lost	Diocese of Pointe-Noire (Mayoumba et Tchibanga)	Diocese of Libreville
28 November 1958	Territory Added	Diocese of Libreville (Zanaga)	Diocese of Pointe-Noire
5 December 1983	Territory Lost	Diocese of Pointe-Noire (Niari, Lekoumou, and Bouenza)	Diocese of Nkayi (erected)
Archdiocese of Pointe-Noire
30 May 2020	Elevated	Diocese of Pointe-Noire	Archdiocese of Pointe-Noire

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 Pointe-Noire

1950 3,598 70,274 5.1% 8 34 42 85 40 14 ap1951

Diocese of Pointe-Noire

1970 150,923 456,407 33.1% 8 56 64 2,358 72 50 ap1971

1978 200,000 590,000 33.9% 7 23 30 6,666 26 45 20 ap1981

1990 190,000 400,000 47.5% 7 11 18 10,555 13 21 13 ap1991

1997 373,658 700,000 53.4% 33 11 44 8,492 30 24 34 ap2000

2000 389,000 728,000 53.4% 24 16 40 9,725 24 27 55 ap2001

2001 641,000 1,200,000 53.4% 39 11 50 12,820 14 38 45 ap2002

2002 400,000 800,000 50.0% 38 13 51 7,843 15 45 43 ap2003

2003 900,000 1,800,000 50.0% 30 12 42 21,428 13 40 34 ap2004

2004 1,000,000 2,000,000 50.0% 31 12 43 23,255 16 45 35 ap2005

2013 1,500,000 2,535,000 59.2% 64 12 76 19,736 32 42 30 ap2014

2016 887,000 1,500,000 59.1% 63 20 83 10,686 52 48 33 ap2017

2019 958,900 1,622,400 59.1% 59 29 88 10,896 29 59 35 ap2020

Archdiocese of Pointe-Noire

2021 1,007,440 1,704,530 59.1% 71 23 94 10,717 27 70 36 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 Pointe-Noire
1950	3,598	70,274	5.1%	8	34	42	85	40	14		ap1951
Diocese of Pointe-Noire
1970	150,923	456,407	33.1%	8	56	64	2,358	72	50		ap1971
1978	200,000	590,000	33.9%	7	23	30	6,666	26	45	20	ap1981
1990	190,000	400,000	47.5%	7	11	18	10,555	13	21	13	ap1991
1997	373,658	700,000	53.4%	33	11	44	8,492	30	24	34	ap2000
2000	389,000	728,000	53.4%	24	16	40	9,725	24	27	55	ap2001
2001	641,000	1,200,000	53.4%	39	11	50	12,820	14	38	45	ap2002
2002	400,000	800,000	50.0%	38	13	51	7,843	15	45	43	ap2003
2003	900,000	1,800,000	50.0%	30	12	42	21,428	13	40	34	ap2004
2004	1,000,000	2,000,000	50.0%	31	12	43	23,255	16	45	35	ap2005
2013	1,500,000	2,535,000	59.2%	64	12	76	19,736	32	42	30	ap2014
2016	887,000	1,500,000	59.1%	63	20	83	10,686	52	48	33	ap2017
2019	958,900	1,622,400	59.1%	59	29	88	10,896	29	59	35	ap2020
Archdiocese of Pointe-Noire
2021	1,007,440	1,704,530	59.1%	71	23	94	10,717	27	70	36	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Antoine-Marie-Hippolyte Carrie, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Oct 1890 to Nov 1903)
Jean-Louis-Joseph Derouet, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 2 Jan 1907 to 4 Mar 1914)
Jean-Baptiste Victor Fauret, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Feb 1947; Bishop: 14 Sep 1955 to 5 Jun 1975)
Henri Friteau, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 22 Mar 1922 to 4 Apr 1946)
Léon-Charles-Joseph Girod, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jan 1915 to 13 Dec 1919)
Godefroy Émile M’Pwati † (Priest: 9 Jul 1961; Bishop: 5 Jun 1975 to 1 Sep 1988)
Georges-Firmin Singha † (Bishop: 1 Sep 1988 to 18 Aug 1993)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Loango
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 22, Page 266
Vicariate Apostolic of Pointe-Noire
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 41, Page 148
Diocese of Pointe-Noire
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 113, to Page 119
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 41
Archdiocese of Pointe-Noire
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 112, Page 612, and Page 613

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Archdiocese of Pointe-Noire

Archidioecesis Nigrirostrensis