Parakou (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Pascal N’Koué, Archbishop
Fidèle Agbatchi, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 16 October 1997
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Benin
Square Kilometers: 9,259 (3,576 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.diocese-parakou.org/
Mailing Address: Archevêché, B.P. 75, Parakou, Benin
Telephone: 23.61.02.54

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Parakou
- Latin Name: Parakuensis
- Erected: 13 May 1948
- Country: Benin
Diocese of Parakou
- Latin Name: Parakuensis
- Elevated: 10 February 1964
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cotonou
- Country: Benin

Past and Present Ordinaries

François Faroud, S.M.A. † (21 May 1948 Appointed - 23 Dec 1955 Resigned)
Robert Chopard-Lallier, S.M.A. † (4 Jan 1957 Appointed - 13 Feb 1962 Resigned)
André (Andreas Nicolaus) van den Bronk, S.M.A. † (13 Feb 1962 Appointed - 29 Sep 1975 Resigned)
Nestor Assogba † (10 Apr 1976 Appointed - 29 Oct 1999 Appointed, Archbishop of Cotonou)
Fidèle Agbatchi (14 Apr 2000 Appointed - 3 Nov 2010 Resigned)
Pascal N’Koué (14 Jun 2011 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Parakou
13 May 1948	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Niamey (Kandi, Paralcon, Djougou, and Natitingou)	Prefecture Apostolic of Parakou (erected)
10 February 1964	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Parakou (Civil District of Natitingou)	Diocese of Natitingou (erected)
Diocese of Parakou
10 February 1964	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Parakou	Diocese of Parakou
19 December 1994	Territory Lost	Diocese of Parakou (Kandi, Banikoara, Gogonou, Ségbana, Malanville, and Karimama)	Diocese of Kandi (erected)
Archdiocese of Parakou
16 October 1997	Elevated	Diocese of Parakou	Archdiocese of Parakou
22 December 1999	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Parakou (N'Dali, Bembereke, Kalale, Nikki, Perere, and Sinende)	Diocese of N’Dali (erected)

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

Prefecture Apostolic of Parakou

1950 3,859 451,060 .9% 17 17 227 14 10 ap1951

Diocese of Parakou

1970 10,454 317,000 3.3% 1 19 20 522 21 30 ap1971

1980 18,840 483,000 3.9% 6 14 20 942 18 24 16 ap1981

1990 42,686 621,630 6.9% 17 28 45 948 35 85 17 ap1991

Archdiocese of Parakou

1999 62,577 637,225 9.8% 21 26 47 1,331 50 116 15 ap2000

2000 59,233 227,490 26.0% 17 14 31 1,910 30 85 8 ap2001

2001 62,207 308,526 20.2% 19 17 36 1,727 42 63 8 ap2004

2004 68,477 334,288 20.5% 20 20 40 1,711 42 117 7 ap2005

2010 184,000 398,000 46.2% 34 14 48 3,833 37 66 14 ap2011

2013 202,000 438,000 46.1% 46 22 68 2,970 72 121 17 ap2014

2016 207,400 438,500 47.3% 52 21 73 2,841 52 162 23 ap2017

2019 103,860 459,800 22.6% 50 23 73 1,422 48 165 26 ap2020

2021 123,721 503,960 24.5% 51 23 74 1,671 53 141 30 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Parakou
1950	3,859	451,060	.9%	17		17	227		14	10	ap1951
Diocese of Parakou
1970	10,454	317,000	3.3%	1	19	20	522	21	30		ap1971
1980	18,840	483,000	3.9%	6	14	20	942	18	24	16	ap1981
1990	42,686	621,630	6.9%	17	28	45	948	35	85	17	ap1991
Archdiocese of Parakou
1999	62,577	637,225	9.8%	21	26	47	1,331	50	116	15	ap2000
2000	59,233	227,490	26.0%	17	14	31	1,910	30	85	8	ap2001
2001	62,207	308,526	20.2%	19	17	36	1,727	42	63	8	ap2004
2004	68,477	334,288	20.5%	20	20	40	1,711	42	117	7	ap2005
2010	184,000	398,000	46.2%	34	14	48	3,833	37	66	14	ap2011
2013	202,000	438,000	46.1%	46	22	68	2,970	72	121	17	ap2014
2016	207,400	438,500	47.3%	52	21	73	2,841	52	162	23	ap2017
2019	103,860	459,800	22.6%	50	23	73	1,422	48	165	26	ap2020
2021	123,721	503,960	24.5%	51	23	74	1,671	53	141	30	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Nestor Assogba † (Bishop: 10 Apr 1976; Archbishop: 16 Oct 1997 to 29 Oct 1999)
Robert Chopard-Lallier, S.M.A. † (Prefect: 4 Jan 1957 to 13 Feb 1962)
François Faroud, S.M.A. † (Prefect: 21 May 1948 to 23 Dec 1955)
Patient Honoré Pierre Yvon Redois, S.M.A. † (Apostolic Administrator: 29 Sep 1975 to 25 Jul 1976)
André (Andreas Nicolaus) van den Bronk, S.M.A. † (Prefect: 13 Feb 1962; Bishop: 10 Feb 1964 to 29 Sep 1975)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Parakou
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 40, Page 487, and Page 488
Diocese of Parakou
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 56, Page 792, to Page 794
Archdiocese of Parakou
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 90, Page 5, and Page 6

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Archdiocese of Parakou

Archidioecesis Parakuensis