The Archdiocese of Reims or Rheims (; French: ''Archidiocèse de Reims'') is a

Latin Church The Latin Church () is the largest autonomous () particular church within the Catholic Church, whose members constitute the vast majority of the 1.3 billion Catholics. The Latin Church is one of 24 Catholic particular churches and liturgical ...

ecclesiastic territory or

archdiocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...

of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. Erected as a

diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, prov ...

around 250 by Sixtus of Reims, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese around 750. The archbishop received the title "primate of

Gallia Belgica Gallia Belgica ("Belgic Gaul") was a Roman province, province of the Roman Empire located in the north-eastern part of Roman Gaul, in what is today primarily northern France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, along with parts of the Netherlands and German ...

" in 1089. In 1023, Archbishop Ebles acquired the Countship of Reims, making him a

prince-bishop A prince-bishop is a bishop who is also the civil ruler of some secular principality and sovereignty, as opposed to '' Prince of the Church'' itself, a title associated with cardinals. Since 1951, the sole extant prince-bishop has been the ...

; it became a duchy and a

peerage A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles (and sometimes Life peer, non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted Imperial, royal and noble ranks, noble ranks. Peerages include: A ...

between 1060 and 1170. The archdiocese comprises the ''

arrondissement An arrondissement (, , ) is any of various administrative divisions of France, Belgium, Haiti, and certain other Francophone countries, as well as the Netherlands. Europe France The 101 French departments are divided into 342 ''arrondissem ...

'' of

Reims Reims ( ; ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French Departments of France, department of Marne (department), Marne, and the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 12th most populous city in Fran ...

and the département of

Ardennes The Ardennes ( ; ; ; ; ), also known as the Ardennes Forest or Forest of Ardennes, is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills and ridges primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, extending into Germany and France. Geological ...

while the province comprises the former '' région'' of Champagne-Ardenne. The

suffragan diocese A suffragan diocese is one of the dioceses other than the metropolitan archdiocese that constitute an ecclesiastical province. It exists in some Christian denominations, in particular the Catholic Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandr ...

s in the ecclesiastical province of Reims are

Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; , or ) is a city and Communes of France, commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in the region ...

; Beauvais, Noyon, and Senlis; Châlons;

Langres Langres () is a commune in France, commune in northeastern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Departments of France, department of Haute-Marne, in the Regions of France, region of Grand Est. History As the capital ...

; Soissons, Laon, and Saint-Quentin; and

Troyes Troyes () is a Communes of France, commune and the capital of the Departments of France, department of Aube in the Grand Est region of north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about south-east of Paris. Troyes is situated within ...

. The archepiscopal see is located in the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims, where the

Kings of France France was ruled by monarchs from the establishment of the kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions. Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I, king of the Fra ...

were traditionally crowned. In 2022 it was estimated that there was one priest for every 7,608 Catholics in the diocese.

Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...

appointed Éric de Moulins-Beaufort Archbishop of Reims in 2018.

History

Reims was taken by the Vandals in 406. According to Flodoard, on Holy Saturday, 497, Clovis was baptized and anointed by Archbishop Remigius of Reims in the cathedral of Reims. In 719 the city took up arms against Charles Martel, who besieged the city, took it by assault, and devastated it. In 816,

Pope Stephen IV Pope Stephen IV (; died 24 January 817) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from June 816 to his death on 24 January 817.

crowned

Louis the Pious Louis the Pious (; ; ; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aquitaine from 781. As the only ...

as Emperor at Reims. On 28 January 893, Charles III "the Simple' was crowned King of West Francia at Reims. King Robert I was consecrated and crowned 'Rex Francorum' at Saint-Remi in Reims on 29 June 922 by Archbishop Hervée.

Hugh Capet Hugh Capet (; ; 941 – 24 October 996) was the King of the Franks from 987 to 996. He is the founder of and first king from the House of Capet. The son of the powerful duke Hugh the Great and his wife Hedwige of Saxony, he was elected as t ...

was crowned at Reims on Christmas Day 988, by Archbishop Adalberon. In 990 the city was attacked by Charles of Lorraine, the rival of Hugues Capet, who seized the city and devastated the area. In 1801, the archdiocese was suppressed by the

Concordat of 1801 The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between the First French Republic and the Holy See, signed by First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII on 15 July 1801 in Paris. It remained in effect until 1905, except in Alsace–Lorraine, ...

and its territory were divided between the diocese of Meaux (department of Marne) and Metz (department of Ardennes). In 1822, the diocese of Reims was reestablished, with the territory once again restored, including the department of Marne and the department of Ardennes.

Councils of Reims

The First Council of Reims took place in 625, under the presidency of Archbishop Sonnatius. It produced at least twenty-five canons. In 1049, from 3 to 5 October, a Council of the Church took place at Reims under the presidency of

Pope Leo IX Pope Leo IX (, , 21 June 1002 – 19 April 1054), born Bruno von Egisheim-Dagsburg, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 February 1049 to his death in 1054. Leo IX is considered to be one of the most historica ...

, with twenty bishops and some fifty abbots in attendance. The Pope was in Reims for the dedication of the church of the monastery of Saint-Rémi, in fulfilment of a promise made to Abbot Herimar.

Cathedral chapter

In 1657, the chapter of the Cathedral of Reims contained nine dignities and sixty-four canons. The dignities included the major archdeacon (Archdeacon of Reims), the minor archdeacon (Archdeacon of Champagne), the provost, the dean, the cantor, the treasurer, the vicedominus, the scholasticus, and the poenitentiarius. There were also a number of collegiate churches in the diocese, whose clergy were led by canons: Saint-Symphorien in Reims (a dean and 20 prebends); Saint-Timothée in Reims (12 prebends); Saint-Côme in Reims (4 prebends); Sainte-Nourrice in Reims (11 prebends); Saint-Pierre aux Dames in Reims (4 prebends); Mézières (a dean, a treasurer and 12 prebends); Braux (12 prebends); Montfaucon (a provost and canons); and Avenay (6 prebends). The two archdeacons were already in existence in 877, when they are mentioned at the head of the Capitulations issued by Archbishop Hincmar. They were both appointees of the archbishop. In addition to the right to nominate the archbishop of Reims (since the Concordat of Bologna in 1516), the King enjoyed the right to name the abbot of Haut-Villiers (O.S.B.), Sainte-Baste (O.S.B.), Mouson (O.S.B.), Saint-Nicaise de Reims (O.S.B.), Saint-Pierre-de-Reims (O.S.B.), Saint-Remi de Reims (O.S.B.), Saint-Thierry lez Reims (O.S.B.), Chery (O.Cist.), Elem (O.Cist.), Igny (O.Cist.), Signy (O.Cist.), Vau-le-Roy (O.Cist.), Saint-Denis-de-Reims (O.S.A.), Esparnay-sur-Marne (O.S.A.), Belle-Val (Praemonst.), Chaumont en Porcien (Praemonst.), Sept Fontaines (Praemonst.), and Vau-Dieu (Praemonst.).

Bishops and archbishops

Bishops of Reims

* St. Sixtus (c. 260) * St. Sinicius (Sinice) (c. 280) * St. Amantius (Amanse) (c. 290) * Imbetausius (before 300–c. 314) * Aprus (Aper) (328–350) * Maternianus (350–359) * Donatianus (361–390) * Viventius (390–394) * Severus (394–400) *

Nicasius of Rheims Saint Nicasius of Reims (; d. 407 or 451) was a Bishop of Reims. He founded the first Reims Cathedral and is the patron saint of smallpox victims. Vandals Sources placing his death in 407 credit him with prophesying the invasion of France by the V ...

(probably 400–407 but perhaps ?-451) * Barucius * Barnabas * Bennagius (?–459) *

Saint Remigius Remigius ( or ; – 13 January 533) was the Bishop of Reims and "Apostle of the Franks". On 25 December 496, he baptised Clovis I, King of the Franks. The baptism, leading to about 3000 additional converts, was an important event in the Christ ...

(Remi) (459–533) * Romanus (c. 533–535) * Flavius (c. 535) * Mappinus (c. 549) * Egidius (573–590) * Romulph (590–613) * Sonnatius (613–c. 627) * Leudigisil * Angelbert (c. 630) * Lando * Nivard (before 657–673) * Reolus (673–c. 689) * Rigobert (''c.'' 689 – after 720) * Milo (715–744) *

Abel Abel ( ''Hébel'', in pausa ''Hā́ḇel''; ''Hábel''; , ''Hābēl'') is a biblical figure in the Book of Genesis within the Abrahamic religions. Born as the second son of Adam and Eve, the first two humans created by God in Judaism, God, he ...

(c. 743/744–748)

Archbishops of Reims

To 1000

* Tilpin (748–795) * ''vacant'' (795–812) * Wulfaire (812–816) * Ebbo (816–835) * ''vacant'' (835–840) * Ebbo (840–841), again * ''vacant'' (841–845) *

Hincmar Hincmar (; ; ; 806 – 21 December 882), archbishop of Reims, was a Frankish jurist and theologian, as well as the friend, advisor and propagandist of Charles the Bald. He belonged to a noble family of northern Francia. Biography Early life Hincm ...

(845–882) *

Fulk the Venerable Fulk the Venerable (died June 17, 900) was archbishop of Reims from 883 until his death. He was a key figure in the political conflicts of the West Frankish kingdom that followed the dissolution of the Carolingian Empire in the late ninth century ...

(882–900) * Hervaeus (900–922) * Seulf (922–925) * Hugh of Vermandois (925–931) * Artaud (931–940) * Hugh of Vermandois (940–946), again * Artaud (946–961), again * Odelric (962–969) * Adalberon (969–988) * Arnoul (988–991; son of

Lothair of France Lothair (; ; 941 – 2 March 986), sometimes called Lothair II,After the emperor Lothair I. IIICounting Lothair II of Lotharingia, who ruled over modern Lorraine and Belgium. or IV,Counting Lothair II of Italy. was the penultimate Carol ...

) * Gerbert of Aurillac (991–996); later Pope Sylvester II * Arnoul (996–1021), again

1000–1300

* Ebles I of Roucy (1021–1033; count of Roucy, count of Reims, 1023–1033) * Guy of Châtillon (1033–1055) * Gervaise of Bellême (1055–1067) * Manasses I (1069–1080) * Renaud du Bellay (1083–1096) * Manasses II (1096–1106) * Gervaise of Rethel (1106) * (1106–1124) * Rainaldus de Martigny (1125–1138) * Samson de Mauvoisin (1140–1161) *

Henry Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainmen ...

(1162–1175; son of

Louis VI of France Louis VI (1 December 1081 – 1 August 1137), called the Fat () or the Fighter (), was List of French monarchs, King of the Franks from 1108 to 1137. Like his father Philip I of France, Philip I, Louis made a lasting contribution to centralizing ...

)Gislebertus of Mons, ''Chronicle of Hainaut'', transl. Laura Napran, (The Boydell Press, 2005), 68 note 288. * Guillaume de Blois ( Guillaume aux Blanches Mains) (1176–1202) * Guy Paré (1204 – 30 July 1206) * Albericus de Humbert (1207 – 24 December 1218) * Guillaume de Joinville (24 April 1219 – 6 November 1226) * Henry of Dreux (18 April 1227 – 6 July 1240) * Juhel de Mathefelon (20 March 1245 – 18 December 1250) * Thomas de Beaumes (4 March 1251 – 15 February 1263) * Jean de Courtenay-Champignelles (15 July 1266 – 17 August 1270) * Pierre Barbet (17 April 1273 – 3 October 1298) * Robert de Courtenay-Champignelles (10 April 1299 – 3 March 1324)

1300–1500

* Guillaume de Trie (1324–1334) * Jean de Vienne (1335–1351) * Hugues d'Arcy (1351–1352) **

Humbert Humbert, Umbert or Humberto (Latinized ''Humbertus'') is a Germanic given name, from ''hun'' "warrior" and ''beraht'' "bright". It also came into use as a surname. Given name ;Royalty and Middle Ages * Emebert (died 710) * Humbert of Maroilles ...

, O.P. (1352–1355) (Administrator) * Jean de Craon (1355–1373) * Louis Thesart (14 April 1374 – 12 October 1375) * Richard Picque (12 November 1375 – 6 December 1389) * Ferry Cassinel (29 January 1390 – 26 May 1390) (Avignon Obedience) * Guy de Roye (1391–1409) * Simon of Cramaud (2 July 1409 – 1413) * Pierre Trousseau (2 May 1413 - 16 December 1413) * Renaud of Chartres (2 January 1414 – 1444) * Jacques Juvenal des Ursins (9 October 1444 – 3 March 1449) * Jean Juvenal des Ursins (3 March 1449 – 14 July 1473) * Pierre de Montfort-Laval (1474–1493) * Robert Briçonnet (1493–1497) * Guillaume Briçonnet (1497–1507)

1500–1800

* Cardinal Charles Dominique de Carreto (16 September 1507 – 28 March 1509) * Cardinal Robert de Lenoncourt (28 March 1509 – 25 September 1532) * Cardinal Jean de Lorraine (1533–1550) * Cardinal Charles of Guise (1538–1574) * Cardinal Louis I of Guise (1574–1588) * Cardinal Nicolas de Pellevé (1588–1594) * Philippe du Bec (1594–1605) * Cardinal Louis II of Guise (1605–1621) * Gabriel de Sainte-Marie OSB (William Gifford) (1623–1629) * Henry of Guise (1629–1641) * Léonore d'Étampes de Valençay (1641–1651) * Henri de Savoie (1651–1659) * Cardinal

Antonio Barberini Antonio Barberini (5 August 1607 – 3 August 1671) was an Italian people, Italian Roman Catholic Church, Catholic Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims, Archbishop of Reims, military leader, patron of the arts a ...

(1657/1667 – 4 August 1671) * Charles Maurice Le Tellier (1668/1671 – 22 February 1710) * François de Mailly (1 December 1710 – 13 September 1721) *

Armand Jules de Rohan-Guéméné Armand-Jules de Rohan-Guémené (Paris, 10 February 1695 - Saverne, 28 August 1762) was a French ecclesiastic, Peer of France and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims, Archbishop of Reims. Early life Prince de Guemene was the fifteenth child ...

(6 July 1722 – 28 August 1762) * Charles Antoine de La Roche-Aymon (1763–1777) * Alexandre-Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord (1777–1816)

From 1800

* ''vacant'' * Jean-Charles de Coucy (1817–1824) * Jean-Baptist-Marie-Anne-Antoine de Latil (1824–1839) * Thomas-Marie-Joseph Gousset (1840–1866) * Jean-Baptiste François Anne Thomas Landriot (1867–1874) * Benoit-Marie Langénieux (1874–1905) * Louis Luçon (1906–1930) * Emmanuel Célestin Suhard (1930–1940) * Louis-Augustin Marmottin (1940–1960) * Gabriel Auguste François Marty (1960–1968) * Émile André Jean-Marie Maury (1968–1972) * Jacques Eugène Louis Ménager (1973–1988) * Jean Marie Julien BallandBalland was born at Bué (Cher) near Sancerre in the diocese of Bourges in 1934. He studied at the French Seminary in Rome. He was named Vicar General of Bourges in 1980, and Bishop of Dijon in 1982. He was Archbishop of Reims from 1988 to 1995, when he was transferred to Lyon. He died of lung cancer on 1 March 1998, ten days after having been named a cardinal by

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

, and a week after his reception of the gold ring and title of San Pietro in Vincoli. See: François Wenz-Dumas, in the journal ''Libération'', 2 March 199
mort-de-mgr-balland-cardinal
retrieved: 2017-01-31. (1988–1995) * Gérard Defois (1995–1998) * Thierry Jordan (1999–2018) * Éric de Moulins-Beaufort (2018–present)

Auxiliary bishops

* Abel de Saint-Brieuc (1483)David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy
"Bishop Abel de Saint-Brieuc, O.P."
retrieved January 30, 2016.

References

Sources

Episcopal lists

* (Use with caution; obsolete) * (in Latin) * (in Latin) * * * * * * * * *''Fasti Ecclesiae Gallicanae: Repertoire prosopographique des évêques, dignitaires et chanoines de France de 1200 a 1500''. Vol. 3. Diocèse de Reims. Turnhout: Brepols, 1998. *

Studies

* Anselme. ''Histoire Généalogique et Chronologique des Pairs de France.'' Vol. 2. *Boussinecq, Georges and Laurent, Gustave. ''Histoire de Reims des origines jusqu'à nos jours.'' 1933. * *Cusimano, Richard, ed., and Suger, Abbot of Saint Denis. ''The Deeds of Louis the Fat.'' Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1992. *''Histoire de Reims.'' Pierre Desportes, ed. 1983. . * (in French) * * * * * *

For further reading

External links

* Centre national des Archives de l'Église de France
''L'Épiscopat francais depuis 1919''
, retrieved: 2016-12-24. *

at catholic-hierarchy.org {{DEFAULTSORT:Reims * Roman Catholic dioceses in France Reims Dioceses established in the 3rd century 3rd-century establishments in Roman Gaul