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Archdiocese of Avignon Archidioecesis Avenionensis Archidiocèse d'Avignon | |
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| Location | |
| Country | France |
| Ecclesiastical province | Marseille |
| Metropolitan | Archdiocese of Marseille |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 3,578 km2 (1,381 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2022) 561,469 450,000 (80.1%) |
| Parishes | 173 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 4th Century |
| Cathedral | Cathedral Basilica of Notre Dame des Doms |
| Patron saint | Notre-Dame St. Agricola of Avignon |
| Secular priests | 88 (Diocesan) 47 (Religious Orders) 22 Permanent Deacons |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Archbishop | François Fonlupt |
| Bishops emeritus | Jean-Pierre Cattenoz |
| Map | |
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| Website | |
| Website of the Archdiocese | |
The Archdiocese of Avignon (Latin: Archidioecesis Avenionensis; French: Archidiocèse d'Avignon) is a Latin archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The diocese exercises jurisdiction over the territory embraced by the department of Vaucluse, in the Region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It is named for the prefecture of Avignon. The diocese has been led since January 2021 by Archbishop Georges Pontier, whom Pope Francis called out of retirement to serve as Apostolic Administrator.[1]
Established in the 4th century as the Diocese of Avignon, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese in 1475,[a] with the suffragan sees of the Diocese of Carpentras, the Diocese of Vaison, and the Diocese of Cavaillon. By the Concordat of 1801 these three dioceses were united to Avignon, together with the Diocese of Apt, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Aix. At the same time, however, Avignon was reduced to the rank of a bishopric and was made a suffragan see of Aix.[b]
The Archdiocese of Avignon was re-established in 1822,[c] and received as suffragan sees the Diocese of Viviers (restored in 1822); Diocese of Valence (formerly under Lyon); Diocese of Nîmes (restored in 1822); and Diocese of Montpellier (formerly under Toulouse).
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. In 2009 its name was changed to Archdiocese of Avignon, the secondary titles being suppressed.
- ^ Henning, Christophe (12 January 2021). "Pope appoints retired bishop to heal divided French diocese". La Croix International. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
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