Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Libreville

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Libreville is the Metropolitan See of the Latin Ecclesiastical province covering all Gabon.

Archdiocese of Libreville

Liberopolitanus
Location
Country Gabon
Statistics
Area41,370 km2 (15,970 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)		(as of 2004)
553,777
289,500 (52.3%)
Information
RiteLatin Rite
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopJean-Patrick Iba-Ba
Bishops emeritusBasile Mvé Engone, SDB

Its cathedral episcopal see is the Cathédrale Notre Dame de l’Assomption of Libreville, the national capital, which also has a former cathedral of the same name (both dedicated to the Assumption of Mary).

History
  • January 22, 1842: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Two Guineas and Senegambia, on vast West African and central African territories split off from the Diocese of Funchal (on Madeira) and the Diocese of Tomé (in São Tomé and Príncipe) (both Atlantic islands in colonial Portugal)
  • 1846: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Two Guineas and Senegambia, hence entitled to a titular bishop
  • Lost territories on 1855.10.10 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Annobon, Corisco and Fernando Poo Islands, on 1858.04.13 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Sierra Leone and on 1860.08.28 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Dahomey
  • February 6, 1863: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Two Guineas (Deux Guinées), having lost territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Senegambia
  • Lost more territories: on 1879.07.03 to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Cimbebasia, on 1879.09.27 to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Gold Coast, on 1884.05.02 to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Upper Niger, on 1886.06.04 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Congo français and on 1886.11.22 to establish the Mission sui juris of Congo Belge
  • Renamed on March 18, 1890 as Apostolic Vicariate of Gabon, having lost territory to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Cameroun
  • July 10, 1947: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Libreville after its see
  • September 14, 1955: Promoted as Diocese of Libreville
  • December 11, 1958: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Libreville
  • Lost territory on 1969.05.29 to establish Diocese of Oyem, as its own suffragan
  • Enjoyed a papal visit from Pope John Paul II in February 1982.
  • Lost territory on 2003.03.19 to establishas its own suffragan the Diocese of Port-Gentil.

Bishops

Ordinaries

(all Roman rite; so far (mostly missionary) members of Latin congregations)

Apostolic Prefects of Two Guineas and Senegambia
Apostolic Vicars of Two Guineas and Senegambia
Apostolic Vicar of Two Guineas
  • Jean-René Bessieux, C.S.Sp. (see above 1863.02.06 – death 1876.04.30)
Apostolic Vicars of Gabon
  • Pierre-Marie Le Berre, C.S.Sp. 1877.09.07 – 1891.07.16, Titular Bishop of Arca in Pheonicia (1877.09.07 – 1891.07.16)
  • Alexandre-Louis-Victor-Aimé Le Roy, C.S.Sp. 1892.07.03 – 1896.05.24, Titular Bishop of Alinda (1892.07.03 – 1921.05.13); later Superior General of Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans, Holy Ghost Fathers) (1896.07 – 1926), retired as Titular Archbishop of Caria (see) (1921.05.13 – 1938.04.21
  • Jean Martin Adam, C.S.Sp. 1897.02.16 – 1914.05.07, Titular Bishop of Thmuis (1897.02.16 – death 1929.01.14)
  • Louis Jean Martrou, C.S.Sp. 1914.05.07 – death 1925.03.22, succeeding as former Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Gabon (Gabon) (1912.12.10 – 1914.05.07) & Titular Bishop of Corycus (1912.12.10 – 1925.03.22)
  • Louis-Michel-François Tardy, C.S.Sp. 1926.01.04 – death 1947.01.28, Titular Bishop of Acalissus (1925.12.18 – 1947.01.28)
Apostolic Vicar of Libreville
  • Jean-Jerôme Adam, C.S.Sp. (1947.07.10 – 1955.09.14 see below), Titular Bishop of Rhinocorura (1947.07.10 – 1955.09.14)
Suffragan Bishop of Libreville
  • Jean-Jerôme Adam, C.S.Sp. (see above 1955.09.14 – 1958.12.11 see below)
Metropolitan Archbishops of Libreville
  • Jean-Jerôme Adam, C.S.Sp. (see above 1958.12.11 – 1969.05.29), emeritate as Titular Archbishop of Brescello (1969.05.29 – 1976.10.27)
  • André Fernand Anguilé (1969.05.29 – retired 1998.04.03), also President of Episcopal Conference of Gabon (1970 – 1981)
  • Basile Mvé Engone, Salesians (S.D.B.) (1998.04.03 - 2020.03.12), also President of Episcopal Conference of Gabon (1989 – 2005), President of Association of Episcopal Conferences of the Central Africa Region (1994 – 1997); previously Coadjutor Bishop of Oyem (Gabon) (1980.04.24 – 1982.08.23), succeeding as Bishop of Oyem (1982.08.23 – 1998.04.03)
  • Jean-Patrick Iba-Ba (2020.03.12 - ...), previously Bishop of Franceville (2017.11.04 - 2020.03.12)

Coadjutor Vicars Apostolic
  • Aloys Kobès (1848-1863), did not succeed to see; appointed Vicar Apostolic of Senegambia, Senegal
  • Louis Jean Martrou, C.S.Sp. (1912-1914)

Auxiliary Bishops
  • Mathieu Madega Lebouankehan (2000-2003), appointed Bishop of Port-Gentil
  • François Ndong (1960-1969), appointed Bishop of Oyem

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops
  • Jean-Patrick Iba-Ba, appointed Bishop of Franceville in 2017; later returned here as Archbishop
  • Euzébius Chinekezy Ogbonna Managwu, appointed Bishop of Port-Gentil in 2016

Province

Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own archbishopric and the following Suffragan bishoprics, all in Gabon :

See also

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