Tunis (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Maroun Elias Nimeh Lahham, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 31 May 1995
Immediately Subject to the Holy See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Tunisia
Square Kilometers: 164,000 (63,345 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocesetunisia.com/
Mailing Address: 4 Rue d'Alger, 1000 Tunis R.P., Tunisie
Telephone: 71.335.831; 71.335.225
Fax: 71.333.832

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Tunis
- Latin Name: Tunetanus
- Erected: 1843
- Vicariate
- Country: Tunisia
Archdiocese of Carthage
- Latin Name: Carthaginensis
- Elevated: 10 November 1884
- Immediately Subject to the Holy See
- Country: Tunisia
Territorial Prelature of Tunis
- Latin Name: Tunetanus
- Name Changed: 9 July 1964
- Immediately Subject to the Holy See
- Country: Tunisia
- Square Kilometers: 164,000 (63,345 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Fidèle Sutter, O.F.M. Cap. † (5 Jul 1844 Appointed - 28 Jun 1881 Resigned)
Spiridion-Salvatore-Costantino Buhadgiar † (8 Aug 1884 Appointed - 20 Nov 1884 Resigned)
Charles-Martial Allemand-Lavigerie † (10 Nov 1884 Appointed - 26 Nov 1892 Died)
Barthélemy Clément Combes † (15 Jun 1893 Appointed - 20 Feb 1922 Died)
Alexis Lemaître, M. Afr. † (20 Feb 1922 Succeeded - 16 May 1939 Died)
Charles-Albert Gounot, C.M. † (16 May 1939 Succeeded - 20 Jun 1953 Died)
Paul-Marie-Maurice Perrin † (29 Oct 1953 Appointed - 9 Jul 1964 Appointed, Titular Archbishop of Nova)
Michel Callens, M. Afr. † (9 Jan 1965 Appointed - 19 Aug 1990 Died)
Fouad Twal (30 May 1992 Appointed - 8 Sep 2005 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Gerusalemme {Jerusalem})
Maroun Elias Nimeh Lahham (8 Sep 2005 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Tunis
1843	Erected		Vicariate Apostolic of Tunis (erected)
Archdiocese of Carthage
10 November 1884	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Tunis	Archdiocese of Carthage
Territorial Prelature of Tunis
9 July 1964	Name Changed	Archdiocese of Carthage	Territorial Prelature of Tunis
Diocese of Tunis
31 May 1995	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Tunis	Diocese of Tunis

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

Archdiocese of Carthage

1949 280,000 3,230,950 8.7% 80 90 170 1,647 80 500 238 ap1951

1959 70,000 3,800,000 1.8% 88 91 179 391 115 547 78 ap1960

Territorial Prelature of Tunis

1970 35,000 4,960,000 .7% 37 46 83 421 71 410 21 ap1971

1977 18,000 5,870,000 .3% 26 35 61 295 1 52 250 24 ap1981

1988 15,500 7,300,000 .2% 19 29 48 322 38 198 15 ap1991

Diocese of Tunis

1999 22,000 9,200,000 .2% 13 22 35 628 33 168 13 ap2000

2000 22,000 9,200,000 .2% 13 30 43 511 39 160 13 ap2001

2001 22,000 9,500,000 .2% 12 21 33 666 28 165 12 ap2002

2002 22,000 10,000,000 .2% 11 17 28 785 24 153 12 ap2003

2003 20,000 9,673,600 .2% 11 17 28 714 22 139 12 ap2004

2004 20,000 9,700,000 .2% 13 21 34 588 25 139 11 ap2005

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Carthage
1949	280,000	3,230,950	8.7%	80	90	170	1,647		80	500	238	ap1951
1959	70,000	3,800,000	1.8%	88	91	179	391		115	547	78	ap1960
Territorial Prelature of Tunis
1970	35,000	4,960,000	.7%	37	46	83	421		71	410	21	ap1971
1977	18,000	5,870,000	.3%	26	35	61	295	1	52	250	24	ap1981
1988	15,500	7,300,000	.2%	19	29	48	322		38	198	15	ap1991
Diocese of Tunis
1999	22,000	9,200,000	.2%	13	22	35	628		33	168	13	ap2000
2000	22,000	9,200,000	.2%	13	30	43	511		39	160	13	ap2001
2001	22,000	9,500,000	.2%	12	21	33	666		28	165	12	ap2002
2002	22,000	10,000,000	.2%	11	17	28	785		24	153	12	ap2003
2003	20,000	9,673,600	.2%	11	17	28	714		22	139	12	ap2004
2004	20,000	9,700,000	.2%	13	21	34	588		25	139	11	ap2005

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Charles-Martial Allemand-Lavigerie † (Archbishop: 10 Nov 1884 to 26 Nov 1892)
Spiridion-Salvatore-Costantino Buhadgiar † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Aug 1884 to 20 Nov 1884)
Michel Callens, M. Afr. † (Prelate: 9 Jan 1965 to 19 Aug 1990)
Barthélemy Clément Combes † (Archbishop: 15 Jun 1893 to 20 Feb 1922)
Jules-Etienne Gazaniol † (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Dec 1891 to 13 Oct 1896)
Charles-Albert Gounot, C.M. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 14 Aug 1937; Archbishop: 16 May 1939 to 20 Jun 1953)
Félix-Jules-Xavier Jourdan de la Passardière, C.O. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1887 to Feb 1892)
Alexis Lemaître, M. Afr. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 28 Jul 1920; Archbishop: 20 Feb 1922 to 16 May 1939)
Paul-Marie-Maurice Perrin † (Priest: 29 Jun 1936; Auxiliary Bishop: 7 Jun 1947; Archbishop: 29 Oct 1953; Prelate: 9 Jul 1964 to 9 Jul 1964)
Spiridion Poloméni † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Feb 1892 to 12 Sep 1930)
Francesco Maria Rueda † (Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Jul 1882)
Jean Saint-Pierre † (Auxiliary Bishop: 28 May 1930 to Aug 1937)
Fidèle Sutter, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 5 Jul 1844 to 28 Jun 1881)
Jean-Joseph Tournier † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Feb 1892 to 28 Jun 1924)

Diocese of Tunis

Dioecesis Tunetanus