Catholic-Hierarchy DC

Archdiocese of Benin City

Archidioecesis Urbis Beninensis



Show: All | General Information | Historical Details | Ordinaries | Historical Summary | Statistics | Affiliated Bishops, Living | Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Bishop(s)

  • Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Archbishop
  • Richard Anthony Burke, S.P.S., Archbishop Emeritus

Suffragan Dioceses

General Information

  • Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
  • Elevated: 26 March 1994
  • Metropolitan See
  • Rite: Latin (or Roman)
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Square Kilometers: 10,863 (4,195 Square Miles)
  • Official Web Site: https://www.catholicarchdioceseofbenincity.com
  • Mailing Address: Chancery Office, P.O. Box 35, 30 Airport Rd., Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Telephone: (0808)28.23.403

Historical Details


Past and Present Ordinaries



Historical Summary

DateEventFromTo
Prefecture Apostolic of Upper Niger {Niger Superiore}
2 May 1884ErectedVicariate Apostolic of Two Guineas {Des Deux Guinées} Prefecture Apostolic of Upper Niger {Niger Superiore} (erected)
24 August 1911Territory LostPrefecture Apostolic of Upper Niger {Niger Superiore} (Eastern part) Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Nigeria {Nigeria Orientale} (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
24 August 1911Name ChangedPrefecture Apostolic of Upper Niger {Niger Superiore} (Western part) Prefecture Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
24 August 1918ElevatedPrefecture Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale} Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
10 March 1926Territory AddedVicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin (Boundaries adjusted)
Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale} (Boundaries adjusted)
18 July 1929Territory LostVicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale} (Area north of the rivers Niger and Benoue)
Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Nigeria {Nigeria Orientale}
Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Nigeria {Nigeria Settentrionale}
9 July 1934Territory LostVicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale} Prefecture Apostolic of Benue (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Calabar (erected)
12 January 1943Territory LostVicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin
Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
Vicariate Apostolic of Ondo-Ilorin (erected) (Ondo and Llorín)
Vicariate Apostolic of Asaba-Benin
12 January 1943Name ChangedVicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale} Vicariate Apostolic of Asaba-Benin
Diocese of Benin City
18 April 1950ElevatedVicariate Apostolic of Asaba-Benin Diocese of Benin City
21 February 1955Territory LostDiocese of Benin City
Diocese of Kaduna
Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo
Prefecture Apostolic of Kabba (erected) (Civil Province of Kabba)
10 March 1964Territory LostDiocese of Benin City (Warri) Diocese of Warri (erected)
5 July 1973Territory LostDiocese of Benin City (Asaba and Ika) Diocese of Issele-Uku (erected)
Archdiocese of Benin City
26 March 1994ElevatedDiocese of Benin City Archdiocese of Benin City
4 December 2002Territory LostArchdiocese of Benin City (Auchi with Akoko Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Etsako West, Owan East, and Owan West) Diocese of Auchi (erected)
14 December 2005Territory LostArchdiocese of Benin City (Esan West, Esan Central, Esan North-East, Esan South-East, and Igueben) Diocese of Uromi (erected)

Statistics

YearCatholicsTotal PopulationPercent CatholicDiocesan PriestsReligious PriestsTotal PriestsCatholics Per PriestPermanent DeaconsMale ReligiousFemale ReligiousParishesSource
Diocese of Benin City
195899,2531,392,1167.1%746531,8721817ap1960
1970140,9541,450,0009.7%2038582,43042338ap1971
1980110,1011,100,00010.0%2112333,336165218ap1981
1990198,0171,853,00010.7%3820583,414367634ap1991
Archdiocese of Benin City
1999389,5092,521,29115.4%84261103,540419640ap2000
2000391,0092,708,98014.4%86221083,620379643ap2001
2001392,5402,710,51114.5%90241143,443579643ap2002
2002934,0712,712,04234.4%98231217,719349850ap2003
2003330,5912,340,40114.1%83211043,178285531ap2004
2004343,8002,882,41011.9%84241083,183365833ap2005
2005241,7552,094,52611.5%3515504,8354421bul14Dec2005
2006363,0003,043,00011.9%6228904,033777754ap2007
2012128,7501,856,7616.9%81231041,237557362ap2013
2015138,9001,888,9737.4%96341301,068668673ap2016
2018148,9001,930,4737.7%103361391,0716810078ap2019
2020151,9501,954,4707.8%118381569747012284ap2021
2022153,9001,974,4707.8%113421559927411792ap2023

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


Affiliated Bishops, Living

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased



Source(s)

  • Prefecture Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
    • Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 3, Page 481
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
    • Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 10, Page 434
    • Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 369, and Page 370
  • Vicariate Apostolic of Asaba-Benin
    • Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 35, Page 150, and Page 151
  • Diocese of Benin City
    • Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 615, to Page 619
    • Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 149, and Page 150
  • Archdiocese of Benin City
    • Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 86, Page 560

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