Archdiocese of Yaoundé
Roman Catholic archdiocese in Cameroon
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The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Yaoundé (Latin: Yaunden(sis)) is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Yaoundé in Cameroon.
CountryCameroon
HeadquartersYaoundé, Cameroon
Area4,964 km2 (1,917 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
- (as of 2023)
- 3,227,830
- 1,506,620 (46.7%)
Archdiocese of Yaoundé Archidioecesis Yaundensis Archidiocèse de Yaoundé | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Cameroon |
| Headquarters | Yaoundé, Cameroon |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 4,964 km2 (1,917 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| Parishes | 187 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 18 March 1890 |
| Cathedral | Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, Yaoundé |
| Secular priests | 732 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Jean Mbarga |
| Bishops emeritus | Simon-Victor Tonyé Bakot |
History
- 18 March 1890: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Cameroun from the Apostolic Vicariate of Two Guineas in Gabon
- 2 January 1905: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Cameroun
- 3 April 1931: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Yaoundé
- 14 September 1955: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Yaoundé
Special churches
The seat of the metropolitan archbishop is the Cathédrale Notre Dame des Victoires in Yaoundé. There is also a Minor Basilica at Mary Queen of the Apostles Basilica in Yaoundé.
Bishops
Ordinaries, in reverse chronological order
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Yaoundé (Roman rite), below
- Archbishop Jean Mbarga (31 Oct 2014 – Present)
- Apostolic Administrator Jean Mbarga (29 Jul 2013 – 31 Oct 2014)
- Archbishop Simon-Victor Tonyé Bakot (18 Oct 2003 – 29 Jul 2013), resigned
- Archbishop André Wouking (27 Nov 1998 – 10 Nov 2002)
- Archbishop Jean Zoa (11 Sep 1961 – 20 Mar 1998)
- Archbishop René Graffin, C.S.Sp. (14 Sep 1955 – 6 Sep 1961), resigned; see below
- Archbishop Jean Mbarga (31 Oct 2014 – Present)
- Vicars Apostolic of Yaoundé (Roman rite), below
- Bishop René Graffin, C.S.Sp. (4 Mar 1943 – 14 Sep 1955); see above
- Bishop François-Xavier Vogt, C.S.Sp. (3 Apr 1931 – 4 Mar 1943); see below
- Vicars Apostolic of Cameroun (Roman rite), below
- Bishop François-Xavier Vogt, C.S.Sp. (19 May 1923 – 3 Apr 1931); see above
- Apostolic Administrator François-Xavier Vogt, C.S.Sp. (6 May 1922 – 19 May 1923)
- Bishop Franziskus Hennemann, S.A.C. (7 Nov 1914 – 21 Jun 1922), appointed Prefect of Cape of Good Hope, Central District, South Africa
- Bishop Heinrich Vieter, S.A.C. (2 Jan 1905 – 7 Nov 1914); see below
- Bishop François-Xavier Vogt, C.S.Sp. (19 May 1923 – 3 Apr 1931); see above
- Prefect Apostolic of Cameroun (Roman rite), below
- Father Heinrich Vieter, S.A.C. (18 Mar 1890 – 2 Jan 1905); see above
Coadjutor vicars apostolic
- Franziskus Xaver Hennemann, S.A.C. (1913-1914)
- René Marie Graffin, C.S.Sp. (1931-1943)
Auxiliary bishops
- Paul Etoga (1955-1961), appointed Bishop of Mbalmayo
- Jean-Baptiste Ama (1974-1983), appointed Bishop of Sangmélima
- Christophe Zoa (2006-2008), appointed Bishop of Sangmélima
Other priests of this diocese who became bishops
- Jean-Marie Benoît Balla, appointed Bishop of Bafia in 2003
- Joseph Befe Ateba, appointed Bishop of Kribi in 2008
- Dieudonné Espoir Atangana (priest here, 1986-1987), appointed Bishop of Nkongsamba in 2012