Monrovia (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gabriel Blamo Snosio Jubwe, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 19 December 1981
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Liberia
Square Kilometers: 15,971 (6,168 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archbishop's Office, P.O. Box 2078, 46 Ashmun Street, 1000 Monrovia 10, Liberia
Telephone: (0777)077.733

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Liberia
- Latin Name: de Liberia
- Erected: 18 April 1903
- Country: Liberia
Vicariate Apostolic of Liberia
- Latin Name: de Liberia
- Elevated: 9 April 1934
- Vicariate
- Country: Liberia
Vicariate Apostolic of Monrovia
- Latin Name: Monroviensis
- Name Changed: 2 February 1950
- Vicariate
- Country: Liberia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean Ogé, S.M.A. † (3 Jan 1911 Appointed - 16 Nov 1931 Died)
John M. Collins, S.M.A. † (26 Feb 1932 Appointed - 20 Dec 1960 Resigned)
Francis Malachy Carroll, S.M.A. † (20 Dec 1960 Appointed - 28 Oct 1976 Resigned)
Michael Kpakala Francis † (28 Oct 1976 Appointed - 12 Feb 2011 Retired)
Lewis Jerome Zeigler † (12 Feb 2011 Succeeded - 7 Jun 2021 Retired)
Gabriel Blamo Snosio Jubwe (28 Feb 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Liberia
18 April 1903	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Sierra Leone	Prefecture Apostolic of Liberia (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Liberia
9 April 1934	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Liberia	Vicariate Apostolic of Liberia
2 February 1950	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Liberia (Eastern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape Palmas (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Monrovia
2 February 1950	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Liberia	Vicariate Apostolic of Monrovia
Archdiocese of Monrovia
19 December 1981	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Monrovia	Archdiocese of Monrovia
17 November 1986	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Monrovia (Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties)	Diocese of Gbarnga (erected)
29 May 1988	Territory Added	Diocese of Gbarnga (Bopolu and Gbarma)	Archdiocese of Monrovia

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 Monrovia

1950 9,271 2,000,000 .5% 26 26 356 9 7 ap1951

1970 11,820 1,000,000 1.2% 26 24 50 236 43 46 ap1971

1980 27,000 1,272,119 2.1% 4 30 34 794 3 54 64 24 ap1981

Archdiocese of Monrovia

1990 60,000 1,122,000 5.3% 12 29 41 1,463 2 35 64 19 ap1991

1999 95,000 1,195,000 7.9% 17 13 30 3,166 3 23 23 25 ap2000

2000 107,000 1,400,000 7.6% 20 14 34 3,147 3 27 31 25 ap2001

2001 115,000 1,500,000 7.7% 19 19 38 3,026 3 32 31 25 ap2002

2002 121,600 1,550,000 7.8% 19 9 28 4,342 2 22 27 25 ap2003

2003 130,000 1,630,000 8.0% 26 10 36 3,611 19 27 25 ap2004

2004 134,324 1,630,000 8.2% 25 11 36 3,731 21 27 29 ap2005

2013 140,705 2,058,000 6.8% 27 16 43 3,272 22 36 30 ap2014

2016 143,193 2,184,849 6.6% 27 20 47 3,046 29 30 30 ap2017

2019 146,770 2,307,000 6.4% 30 20 50 2,935 29 27 32 ap2020

2021 147,259 2,395,415 6.1% 31 21 52 2,831 28 30 31 ap2022

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 Monrovia
1950	9,271	2,000,000	.5%	26		26	356			9	7	ap1951
1970	11,820	1,000,000	1.2%	26	24	50	236		43	46		ap1971
1980	27,000	1,272,119	2.1%	4	30	34	794	3	54	64	24	ap1981
Archdiocese of Monrovia
1990	60,000	1,122,000	5.3%	12	29	41	1,463	2	35	64	19	ap1991
1999	95,000	1,195,000	7.9%	17	13	30	3,166	3	23	23	25	ap2000
2000	107,000	1,400,000	7.6%	20	14	34	3,147	3	27	31	25	ap2001
2001	115,000	1,500,000	7.7%	19	19	38	3,026	3	32	31	25	ap2002
2002	121,600	1,550,000	7.8%	19	9	28	4,342	2	22	27	25	ap2003
2003	130,000	1,630,000	8.0%	26	10	36	3,611		19	27	25	ap2004
2004	134,324	1,630,000	8.2%	25	11	36	3,731		21	27	29	ap2005
2013	140,705	2,058,000	6.8%	27	16	43	3,272		22	36	30	ap2014
2016	143,193	2,184,849	6.6%	27	20	47	3,046		29	30	30	ap2017
2019	146,770	2,307,000	6.4%	30	20	50	2,935		29	27	32	ap2020
2021	147,259	2,395,415	6.1%	31	21	52	2,831		28	30	31	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Charles Edmund Boyce † (Priest: 15 Aug 1999; Apostolic Administrator: 7 Jun 2021 to 19 Sep 2021)
Francis Malachy Carroll, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 20 Dec 1960 to 28 Oct 1976)
John M. Collins, S.M.A. † (Prefect: 26 Feb 1932; Vicar Apostolic: 9 Apr 1934 to 20 Dec 1960)
Michael Kpakala Francis † (Priest: 4 Aug 1963; Vicar Apostolic: 28 Oct 1976; Archbishop: 19 Dec 1981 to 12 Feb 2011)
Patrick Kla Juwle † (Priest: 29 Dec 1946 to 2 Feb 1950)
Jean Ogé, S.M.A. † (Prefect: 3 Jan 1911 to 16 Nov 1931)
Lewis Jerome Zeigler † (Priest: 22 Dec 1974 to 17 Nov 1986; Coadjutor Archbishop: 11 Jul 2009; Archbishop: 12 Feb 2011 to 7 Jun 2021)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Liberia
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 27, Page 250, and Page 251
Vicariate Apostolic of Monrovia
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 603
Archdiocese of Monrovia
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 74, Page 375, and Page 376
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 80, Page 1,481, and Page 1,482

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Archdiocese of Monrovia

Archidioecesis Monroviensis