The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Avignon (

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

: ''Archidioecesis Avenionensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse d'Avignon'') is an archdiocese of the

Latin Rite Latin liturgical rites, or Western liturgical rites, are Catholic rites of public worship employed by the Latin Church, the largest particular church '' sui iuris'' of the Catholic Church, that originated in Europe where the Latin language once ...

of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. The diocese exercises jurisdiction over the territory embraced by the department of

Vaucluse Vaucluse (; oc, Vauclusa, label= Provençal or ) is a department in the southeastern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It had a population of 561,469 as of 2019.Region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (; or , ; commonly shortened to PACA; en, Provence-Alps-French Riviera, italic=yes; also branded as Région Sud) is one of the eighteen administrative regions of France, the far southeastern on the mainland. Its pref ...

. The diocese has been led since January 2021 by Archbishop

Georges Pontier Georges Pontier (born 1 May 1943) is a French prelate of the Catholic Church who was Archbishop of Marseille from 2006 to 2019 and President of the Episcopal Conference of France from 2013 to 2019. He was named apostolic administrator of the Ar ...

, whom

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

called out of retirement to serve as Apostolic Administrator. Established in the 4th century as the Diocese of Avignon, the

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, pro ...

was elevated to an archdiocese in 1475, with the

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdictiona ...

sees of the

Diocese of Carpentras Carpentras (''Lat.'' dioecesis Carpentoratensis) was a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Provence region (later part of France), from the later Roman Empire until 1801. It was part of the ecclesiastical province under the Metropolitan ...

, the Diocese of Vaison, and the Diocese of Cavaillon. By the

Concordat of 1801 The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII, signed on 15 July 1801 in Paris. It remained in effect until 1905, except in Alsace-Lorraine, where it remains in force. It sought national reconciliation ...

these three dioceses were united to Avignon, together with the

Diocese of Apt The former French Catholic diocese of Apt, in southeast France, existed from the fourth century until the French Revolution. By the Concordat of 1801, it was suppressed, and its territory was divided between the diocese of Digne and the diocese o ...

, a suffragan of the

Archdiocese of Aix The Archdiocese of Aix-en-Provence and Arles (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Aquensis in Gallia et Arelatensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse d'Aix-en-Provence et Arles''; Occitan Provençal: ''Archidiocèsi de Ais de Provença e Arle'' or ''Archidioucè ...

. At the same time, however, Avignon was reduced to the rank of a

bishopric 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 associate ...

and was made a suffragan see of Aix. The Archdiocese of Avignon was re-established in 1822, and received as suffragan sees the

Diocese of Viviers The Roman Catholic Diocese of Viviers ( la, Dioecesis Vivariensis; french: Diocèse de Viviers ) is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Erected in the 4th century, the diocese was restored in the Concordat of 1822 ...

(restored in 1822); Diocese of Valence (formerly under Lyon);

Diocese of Nîmes 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 associat ...

(restored in 1822); and Diocese of Montpellier (formerly under

Toulouse Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger region of Occitania. The city is on the banks of the River Garonne, from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Par ...

). On 16 December 2002, the see – officially Archdiocese of Avignon (-Apt, Cavaillon, Carpentras, Orange, and Vaison) – lost its Metropolitan status and became instead a suffragan see of

Marseille Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...

. In 2009 its name was changed to Archdiocese of Avignon, the secondary titles being suppressed.

History

There is no evidence that either Saint Rufus, disciple of

Saint Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

according to certain traditions the son of

Simon of Cyrene Simon of Cyrene (, Standard Hebrew ''Šimʿon'', Tiberian Hebrew ''Šimʿôn''; , ''Simōn Kyrēnaios''; ) was the man compelled by the Romans to carry the cross of Jesus of Nazareth as Jesus was taken to his crucifixion, according to all three ...

, or Saint Justus, likewise held in high honour throughout the territory of Avignon, was venerated in antiquity as bishop of that see. The first bishop known to history is Nectarius, who took part in several councils about the middle of the fifth century. Saint Agricol (Agricolus), bishop between 650 and 700, is the patron saint of Avignon. In 1475

Pope Sixtus IV Pope Sixtus IV ( it, Sisto IV: 21 July 1414 – 12 August 1484), born Francesco della Rovere, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 August 1471 to his death in August 1484. His accomplishments as pope include ...

raised the diocese of Avignon to the rank of an archbishopric, in favour of his nephew

Giuliano della Rovere Pope Julius II ( la, Iulius II; it, Giulio II; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope or the ...

who later became Pope Julius II.

Bishops

To 1000

* ? - 100: Saint Simon of Cyrene * 3rd of 4th century: Saint Ruf * 439–451: Nectarius * 465: Saturinus * 475–507: Julianus * 524–540: Eucherius * 541–554: Antonius * 585: Johannes * 618: Maximus * 7th century:

Saint Veredème Saint Veredemus (also ''Veredemius''; french: Saint Vérédème, Vrème, Vrime) was an 8th-century hermit who become bishop of Avignon around 700 AD. According to tradition, he was of Greek origin and was born around 640 AD. Veredemus settled at ...

* 7th century (683?): Saint Agricol * 855: Ragenutius * 860–876: Hilduinus * 876–879: Ratifridus

1000 to 1474

*mentioned 1002: Pierre *before 1006–1033: Heldebert *1033–1036: Senioret *1037– after 1047: Benoît I *before 1050– after 1173: Rostaing II *1095– after 1120: Albert *before 1124–1142: Laugerius *1148–after 1148: Geoffroy I *1173–1174: Raymond I *1174–1177: Geoffroy II *1178–1180: Pontius *1180–1197: Rostaing III de Marguerite *1197–1209: Rostaing IV *1209–1216 death: Guillaume I de Montelier *mentioned 1225: Pierre II *before 1226– after 1230: Nicolas de Corbie *mentioned 1238: Benedictus *1242–1261 death: Zoen Tencarari *1264–1266:

Bertrand de Saint-Martin Bertrand de Saint-Martin (died 28 or 29 March 1278) was a French cardinal. He was born in Arles. Career in the Church He entered the Order of Benedictines and by 1238 was dean of the abbey of Saint-André de Villeneuve at Avignon. In 1248 he ...

*1267– c. 1287 death: Robert d'Uzès *mentioned 1288: Benoît III *1290– after 1294: André de Languiscel *1300–1310: Bertrandus Aymini *1310–1312: Jacques Duèze, later Pope John XXII *1313–1317:

Jacques de Via Jacques de Via (died 13 June 1317) was a French cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. His brother Arnaud de Via, Arnaud was also a cardinal. Life Born in Cahors, he became chantry canon of Fréjus, archdeacon of Mede, Lombardy, Mede and prebendar ...

(nephew of John XXII) *1317–1334:

John XXII Pope John XXII ( la, Ioannes PP. XXII; 1244 – 4 December 1334), born Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse), was head of the Catholic Church from 7 August 1316 to his death in December 1334. He was the second and longest-reigning Avignon Pope, elected by ...

(again) *1336–1349: Jean de Cojordan *1349–1352 death: Clement VI *1352–1362 death:

Innocent VI Pope Innocent VI ( la, Innocentius VI; 1282 or 1295 – 12 September 1362), born Étienne Aubert, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 18 December 1352 to his death in September 1362. He was the fifth Avignon pope a ...

*1362–1366: Anglicus Grimoard (brother

Pope Urban V Pope Urban V ( la, Urbanus V; 1310 – 19 December 1370), born Guillaume de Grimoard, was the head of the Catholic Church from 28 September 1362 until his death in December 1370 and was also a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was the on ...

) *1366–1367:

Urban V Pope Urban V ( la, Urbanus V; 1310 – 19 December 1370), born Guillaume de Grimoard, was the head of the Catholic Church from 28 September 1362 until his death in December 1370 and was also a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was the on ...

*1367–1368: Philippe de Cabassole *1368–1371 death: Pierre d'Aigrefeuille *1371–1383: Faydit d'Aigrefeuille *1391–1394:

Clement VII (antipope) Robert of Geneva, (french: Robert de Genève; 1342 – 16 September 1394) elected to the papacy as Clement VII (french: Clément VII) by the cardinals who opposed Pope Urban VI, was the first antipope residing in Avignon, France. His election l ...

*1394–1398:

Benedict XIII (antipope) Pedro Martínez de Luna y Pérez de Gotor (25 November 1328 – 23 May 1423), known as in Spanish and Pope Luna in English, was an Aragonese nobleman who, as Benedict XIII, is considered an antipope (see Western Schism) by the Catholic Church ...

*1398–1406: Gilles de Bellamere *1410–1412: Pierre V de Tourroye *1412–1415: Simond de Cramaud *1415–1419: Guy I de Roussillon-Bouchage *1419–1422: Guy II Spifame *1422–1432: Guy III de Roussillon-Bouchage *1432–1433: Marco Condulmer *1437–1474:

Alain de Coëtivy Alain (II) de Coëtivy (8 November 1407 – 4 May 1474) was a prelate from a Breton noble family. He was bishop of Avignon, Uzès, Nîmes and of Dol, titular cardinal of Santa Prassede, then cardinal-bishop of Palestrina and cardinal-bishop o ...

Archbishops

*1474–1503:

(Archbishop from 1475) *1503–1512: Antoine Florès *1512–1517: Orlando Carretto della Rovere (Orland de Roure) *1517–1535: Hippolyte de' Medici *1535–1551:

Alessandro Farnese the Younger Alessandro Farnese (5 October 1520 – 2 March 1589), an Italian cardinal and diplomat and a great collector and patron of the arts, was the grandson of Pope Paul III (who also bore the name ''Alessandro Farnese''), and the son of Pier Luigi Far ...

*1551–1562:

Annibale Bozzuti Annibale Bozzuti (1521–1565) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography Annibale Bozzuti was born in Montecalvo Irpino, Kingdom of Naples on 2 February 1521, the son of Ludovico Bozzuti and Lucrezia Guindazzi. He was from a ...

(Annibal Buzzutto) *1566–1576: Félicien Capitone *1577–1585:

Georges d'Armagnac Georges d'Armagnac (c. 1501 – July 1585) was a French humanist, patron of arts, Cardinal and diplomat deeply embroiled in the Italian Wars and in the French Wars of Religion. Biography He was born at Avignon, the son of Pierre d'Armagna ...

*1585–1592: Domenico Grimaldi *1592–1598: François-Marie Thaurusi (

Francesco Maria Tarugi Francesco Maria Tarugi, C.O. (''French: François-Marie Tarugi'') (1525 – 11 June, 1608) was a Roman Catholic cardinal. Biography He arrived to Rome in 1555, and there joined the oratory of St Philip Neri. In 1571, at age 45, he decided to b ...

) *1598–1609: Jean-François Bordini *1609–1624: Etienne II Dulci *1624–1644: Marius Philonardi *1644–1647: Bernard III Pinelli *1647–1649: César Argelli *1649–1669: Domenico de' Marini *1669–1672: Azzo Ariosto *1673–1686:

Hyacinthe Libelli Hyacinthe Libelli, Order of Preachers, O.P. (1616 – 23 October 1684) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Avignon (1673–1684). ''(in Latin)''Archbishop of Bourges In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdioc ...

) *1842–1848: Paul Naudo *1848–1863: Jean-Marie-Mathias Debelay *1863–1880: Louis-Anne Dubreuil *1880–1884: François-Edouard Hasley (also

Archbishop of Cambrai The Archdiocese of Cambrai ( la, Archdiocesis Cameracensis; French: ''Archidiocèse de Cambrai'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France, comprising the arrondissements of Avesnes-sur-Helpe ...

) *1885–1895: Louis-Joseph-Marie-Ange Vigne *1896–1907: Louis-François Sueur *1907–1928: Gaspard-Marie-Michel-André Latty *1928–1957: Gabriel-Roch de Llobet *1957–1970: Joseph-Martin Urtasun *1970–1978: Eugène-Jean-Marie Polge *1978–2002:

Raymond Bouchex Raymond Joseph Louis Bouchex (25 January 1927, Lugrin – 9 May 2010) was the Roman Catholic archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Avignon, France. Ordained to the priesthood on 3 June 1950, Bouchex was appointed auxiliary bishop of the ...

*2002–2021: Jean-Pierre Marie Cattenoz *2021–present: François Fonlupt

Notes

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

Official site of the Diocese of Avignon

Diocese of Avignon on the website of the Église catholique en France
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Avignon, Roman Catholic Diocese of

Avignon Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region of So ...

Avignon Papacy