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 ...

: ''Archidioecesis Avenionensis'';

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

: ''Archidiocèse d'Avignon'') is an

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 associate ...

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 onc ...

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 regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

. 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 prefe ...

. 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 A ...

, 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 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 ...

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 jurisdiction ...

sees of the Diocese of Carpentras, the

Diocese of Vaison The Ancient Diocese of Vaison (''Lat.'' dioecesis Vasionensis) was a Roman Catholic diocese in France, suppressed in 1801, with its territory transferred to the diocese of Avignon. It had been one of nine dioceses in the ecclesiastical province pre ...

, and the

Diocese of Cavaillon The former French diocese of Cavaillon (''Lat.'' dioecesis Caballicensis) existed until the French Revolution as a diocese of the Comtat Venaissin, a fief of the Church of Rome. It was a member of the ecclesiastical province headed by the Metropol ...

. 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 b ...

these three dioceses were united to Avignon, together with the Diocese of Apt, 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 ''Archidioucèsi ...

. 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 (restored in 1822);

Diocese of Valence The Roman Catholic Diocese of Valence (–Die–Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux) (Latin: ''Dioecesis Valentinensis (–Diensis–Sancti Pauli Tricastinorum)''; French: ''Diocèse de Valence (–Die–Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux'') is a diocese of the La ...

(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 The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Montpellier (–Lodève–Béziers–Agde–Saint-Pons-de-Thomières) (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Metropolitae Montis Pessulani (–Lotevensis–Biterrensis–Agathensis–Sancti Pontii Thomeriarum)'' ...

(formerly under

Toulouse Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania. The city is on t ...

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

Metropolitan Metropolitan may refer to: * Metropolitan area, a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories * Metropolitan borough, a form of local government district in England * Metropolitan county, a typ ...

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 Fran ...

. 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, or

Saint Justus Justus (died on 10 November between 627 and 631) was the fourth Archbishop of Canterbury. He was sent from Italy to England by Pope Gregory the Great, on a mission to Christianize the Anglo-Saxons from their native paganism, probably arriv ...

, 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 Saint Agricola (Agricol, Agricolus) of Avignon (c. 630–c. 700) was a bishop of Avignon. According to tradition, Agricola ("farmer") was the son of Saint Magnus, also a bishop of the city. Life At the age of sixteen, he was professed a mon ...

(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 who later became Pope Julius II.

Bishops

To 1000

* ? - 100:

Saint 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 thr ...

* 3rd of 4th century:

Saint Ruf There are several saints named Rufus, of which the ''Roman Martyrology'' records ten; historical mention is made of the following ones, which have liturgical feasts: # On 19 April, a group of martyrs in Melitene in Armenia, one of whom bears the n ...

* 439–451: Nectarius * 465: Saturinus * 475–507: Julianus * 524–540: Eucherius * 541–554: Antonius * 585: Johannes * 618: Maximus * 7th century: Saint Veredème * 7th century (683?):

* 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 Zoen Tencarari was an Italian canon lawyer, papal vice-legate, and bishop of Avignon from 1240 to about 1261. He taught at the University of Bologna, where in 1256 he founded a college. He glossed the ''Compilatio quinta'', and brought Henry of Seg ...

*1264–1266: Bertrand de Saint-Martin *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 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 b ...

*1313–1317: Jacques de Via (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 b ...

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

) *1366–1367: Urban V *1367–1368: Philippe de Cabassole *1368–1371 death: Pierre d'Aigrefeuille *1371–1383: Faydit d'Aigrefeuille *1391–1394: Clement VII (antipope) *1394–1398: Benedict XIII (antipope) *1398–1406: Gilles de Bellamere *1410–1412: Pierre V de Tourroye *1412–1415:

Simond de Cramaud The cardinal, crowning Jules_Eugène_Lenepveu.html" ;"title="Charles VII of France; painting by Jules Eugène Lenepveu">Charles VII of France; painting by Jules Eugène Lenepveu Simon de Cramaud (c. 1345 – 19 January 1423, in Poitiers) was ...

*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

Archbishops

*1474–1503: Giuliano della Rovere (Archbishop from 1475) *1503–1512: Antoine Florès *1512–1517: Orlando Carretto della Rovere (Orland de Roure) *1517–1535:

Hippolyte de' Medici Ippolito de' Medici (March 1511 – 10 August 1535) was the only son of Giuliano di Lorenzo de' Medici, born out-of-wedlock to his mistress Pacifica Brandano. Biography Ippolito was born in Urbino. His father died when he was only five (1516), an ...

*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 Fa ...

*1551–1562: Annibale Bozzuti (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'Armag ...

*1585–1592: Domenico Grimaldi *1592–1598: François-Marie Thaurusi ( Francesco Maria Tarugi) *1598–1609: Jean-François Bordini *1609–1624: Etienne II Dulci *1624–1644: Marius Philonardi *1644–1647: Bernard III Pinelli *1647–1649:

César Argelli César Argelli (1574–1648) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Avignon (1647–1648). Biography César Argelli was born in 1574 in Bologna, Italy. On 6 May 1647, he was appointed during the papacy of Pope Innocent X as Arc ...

*1649–1669: Domenico de' Marini *1669–1672: Azzo Ariosto *1673–1686:

Hyacinthe Libelli Hyacinthe Libelli, O.P. (1616 – 23 October 1684) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Avignon (1673–1684). ''(in Latin)''Archbishop of Bourges) *1842–1848: Paul Naudo *1848–1863: Jean-Marie-Mathias Debelay *1863–1880: Louis-Anne Dubreuil *1880–1884: François-Edouard Hasley (also Archbishop of Cambrai) *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 *2002–2021: Jean-Pierre Marie Cattenoz *2021–present:

François Fonlupt François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis. People with the given name * Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters" * Francis II of France, King o ...

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 or , ; la, Avenio) is the prefecture of the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône, the commune ha ...

Avignon Papacy