Bangassou (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Juan-José Aguirre Muñoz, M.C.C.I., Bishop
Aurelio Gazzera, O.C.D., Coadjutor Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 10 February 1964
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bangui
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Central African Republic
Square Kilometers: 134,284 (51,867 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Eveche, B.P. 84, Bangassou, Rep. Centrafricaine; c/o Maison Comboni, B.P. 1427, Bangui, Rep. Centraricaine
Telephone: 758.90.044

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Bangassou
- Latin Name: Bangassuensis
- Erected: 14 June 1954
- Country: Central African Republic

Past and Present Ordinaries

Martinus H. M. Bodéwes, C.S.Sp. † (4 Mar 1955 Appointed - 10 Feb 1964 Resigned)
Antoine Marie Maanicus, C.S.Sp. † (10 Feb 1964 Appointed - 21 Dec 2000 Died)
Juan-José Aguirre Muñoz, M.C.C.I. (21 Dec 2000 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Bangassou
14 June 1954	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Bangui (Basse-Kotto and Mbomou, and Mobaye, Alindao, Kembe, Bangassou, Ouango, Bakouma, Rafay, Zemio, and Obo.)	Prefecture Apostolic of Bangassou (erected)
Diocese of Bangassou
10 February 1964	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Bangassou	Diocese of Bangassou
18 December 2004	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bangassou (Basse-Kotto (Mobaye, Zangba, Kembé, Satéma, Mingala, and Alindao))	Diocese of Alindao (erected)

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 Bangassou

1970 42,367 354,000 12.0% 1 31 32 1,323 47 57 20 ap1971

1980 39,978 337,000 11.9% 4 24 28 1,427 34 33 12 ap1981

1990 60,509 367,000 16.5% 7 22 29 2,086 31 30 21 ap1991

1999 92,246 350,500 26.3% 22 17 39 2,365 17 31 19 ap2000

2000 94,100 350,000 26.9% 14 17 31 3,035 17 31 19 ap2001

2001 80,271 420,000 19.1% 12 13 25 3,210 15 35 21 ap2002

2002 82,100 420,000 19.5% 16 14 30 2,736 19 30 21 ap2003

2003 82,100 420,000 19.5% 15 13 28 2,932 16 25 21 ap2004

2004 85,899 445,000 19.3% 16 15 31 2,770 19 26 21 ap2005

2005 52,000 191,500 27.2% 4 15 19 2,736 1 19 8 bul:18Dec2004

2006 53,300 194,000 27.5% 11 17 28 1,903 19 17 12 ap2007

2012 90,000 214,000 42.1% 24 5 29 3,103 7 7 25 11 ap2013

2015 95,000 226,000 42.0% 27 4 31 3,064 6 23 11 ap2016

2018 87,915 465,170 18.9% 22 6 28 3,139 7 12 11 ap2019

2020 82,500 582,500 14.2% 24 4 28 2,946 5 8 14 ap2021

2022 84,600 597,000 14.2% 28 4 32 2,643 6 8 13 ap2023

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 Bangassou
1970	42,367	354,000	12.0%	1	31	32	1,323		47	57	20	ap1971
1980	39,978	337,000	11.9%	4	24	28	1,427		34	33	12	ap1981
1990	60,509	367,000	16.5%	7	22	29	2,086		31	30	21	ap1991
1999	92,246	350,500	26.3%	22	17	39	2,365		17	31	19	ap2000
2000	94,100	350,000	26.9%	14	17	31	3,035		17	31	19	ap2001
2001	80,271	420,000	19.1%	12	13	25	3,210		15	35	21	ap2002
2002	82,100	420,000	19.5%	16	14	30	2,736		19	30	21	ap2003
2003	82,100	420,000	19.5%	15	13	28	2,932		16	25	21	ap2004
2004	85,899	445,000	19.3%	16	15	31	2,770		19	26	21	ap2005
2005	52,000	191,500	27.2%	4	15	19	2,736		1	19	8	bul:18Dec2004
2006	53,300	194,000	27.5%	11	17	28	1,903		19	17	12	ap2007
2012	90,000	214,000	42.1%	24	5	29	3,103	7	7	25	11	ap2013
2015	95,000	226,000	42.0%	27	4	31	3,064		6	23	11	ap2016
2018	87,915	465,170	18.9%	22	6	28	3,139		7	12	11	ap2019
2020	82,500	582,500	14.2%	24	4	28	2,946		5	8	14	ap2021
2022	84,600	597,000	14.2%	28	4	32	2,643		6	8	13	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Juan-José Aguirre Muñoz, M.C.C.I. (Coadjutor Bishop: 13 Dec 1997; Bishop: 21 Dec 2000)
Aurelio Gazzera, O.C.D. (Coadjutor Bishop: 23 Feb 2024 - )
Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp.
Jesús Ruiz Molina, M.C.C.I. (Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Jul 2017 to 10 Mar 2021)
Cyr-Nestor Yapaupa (Priest: 18 Mar 2001 to 18 Dec 2004)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Martinus H. M. Bodéwes, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 4 Mar 1955 to 10 Feb 1964)
Antoine Marie Maanicus, C.S.Sp. † (Bishop: 10 Feb 1964 to 21 Dec 2000)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Bangassou
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 646, and Page 647
Diocese of Bangassou
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 56, Page 797, and Page 798

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Diocese of Bangassou

Dioecesis Bangassuensis