Roman Catholicism in Benin
The Roman Catholic Church in Benin is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.
History of the Catholic Church in Benin
The first Catholic church building in what is now Benin was in the port city of Ouidah (then Ajuda, capital of the kingdom saw ) built in 1680, where the Portuguese maintained a fortification to protect their interests in the slave trade. Earlier Portuguese Capuchin had worked unsuccessfully as part of the Padroado. In the following years, especially Portuguese and French priest, Dominicans and Jesuits worked in the coastal region. While conducting a stronger French presence began in 1861 missionaries of the Lyons Society of African Missions their activities. The first Apostolic Prefecture of Dahomey based in Ouidah was built in 1883. There the first seminary of the first locals in 1914 was founded in 1928 ordained a priest. In 1955 the Archdiocese of Cotonou has been established. With the independence of Dahomey (later renamed Benin ) were established more dioceses. The most important churchman of the 20th century was Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, first indigenous Cardinal of the Catholic Church, Archbishop of Cotonou and later in the Curia as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. 1982 and 1993 Pope John Paul II, the country, in 2011, Pope Benedict XVI.
Church today in Benin
Today there are two ecclesiastical provinces with a total of ten dioceses in the country.
- Archdiocese of Cotonou: Diocese of Abomey, Dassa - Zoumé diocese, diocese Lokossa, Diocese of Porto Novo
- Archdiocese of Parakou: Djougou diocese, Diocese of Kandi, Natitingou diocese, diocese N'Dali
Long live 1.646 million Catholics in the country, what a Catholic share of 23 % corresponds to 7.155 million inhabitants.