Archdiocese of Cotonou
The Archdiocese of Cotonou is the Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Cotonou in Benin. It is the metropolitan see of the ecclesiastical province of Cotonou.
History
- 26 June 1883: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Dahomey from the Apostolic Vicariate of Benin Coast, Nigeria.
- 25 May 1901: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Dahomey.
- 13 May 1948: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Ouidah.
- 14 September 1955: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cotonou.
- 1983: Foundation of the organisation Charity Service for the Integral Development of Man as the social arm of the diocese. It is a member of Caritas Benin.
Special churches
The seat of the archbishop is the cathedral of Cotonou Cathedral in Cotonou. Basilique de l'Immaculée Conception is a minor basilica in Cotonou.Bishops
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Cotonou, in reverse chronological order
- * Roger Houngbédji: 25 June 2016 – present
- * : 21 August 2010 – 25 June 2016; formerly bishop of Dassa-Zoume, Benin
- * Marcel Honorat Léon Agboton: 5 March 2005 – 21 August 2010
- * Nestor Assogba: 29 October 1999 – 5 March 2005
- * Isidore de Souza: 27 December 1990 – 13 March 1999
- * : 28 June 1971 – 27 December 1990
- * Bernardin Gantin: 5 January 1960 – 28 June 1971; appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; future cardinal
Coadjutor archbishop
Auxiliary bishop
- Bernardin Gantin, appointed Archbishop here; future cardinal
Other priests of this diocese who became bishops
- Lucien Monsi-Agboka, appointed Bishop of Abomey in 1963
- , appointed Bishop of N'Dali in 1999
- , appointed Bishop of Abomey in 2007