Roman Catholic Church in Benin

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The Roman Catholic Church in Benin is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church , under the spiritual guidance of the Pope and the Curia in Rome.

history

The first Catholic church building in what is now Benin was erected in 1680 in the port city of Ouidah (then Ajudá, capital of the Sahé Kingdom ), where the Portuguese maintained a fortification to protect their interests in the slave trade. Portuguese Capuchins had previously worked unsuccessfully in the Padroado . In the following period, mainly Portuguese and French priests, Dominicans and Jesuits worked on the coastal region. At the same time as a stronger French presence, missionaries of the Lyon Society of Africa Missions began their work in 1861 . The first Apostolic Prefecture Dahomey , based in Ouidah, was built in 1883, which in 1909 was given today's Basilique de l'Immaculée Conception as a cathedral. The first seminary was founded there in 1914, and the first native was ordained a priest in 1928. In 1955 the Archdiocese of Cotonou was established. With the independence of Dahomeys (later renamed Benin) further dioceses were established. The most important churchman of the 20th century was Cardinal Bernardin Gantin , the first indigenous cardinal of the Catholic Church, Archbishop of Cotonou and later active in the Curia as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops . In 1982 and 1993 Pope John Paul II visited the country, in 2011 Pope Benedict XVI.

present

There are 1.646 million Catholics in the country, which corresponds to a Catholic share of 23% with 7.155 million inhabitants.

Relationship to the state

Church and state have maintained diplomatic relations since 1972. The Holy See was represented in Benin by a Pro-Nuncio, and since 1993 the Holy See has been represented by an Apostolic Nuncio . The last apostolic nuncio was Archbishop Brian Udaigwe until June 2020 .

On October 21, 2016, a framework agreement was signed between the Republic of Benin and the Holy See, which regulates the relationship between church and state in 19 articles. In the case of mutual independence, the contract obliges both parties to work for the rights of the person and the common good. In addition, the status of the church as a legal person and its institutions is recognized. The agreement was signed by the Apostolic Nuncio in Benin, Archbishop Brian Udaigwe, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Benin, Aurélien Agbénonci , and will enter into force upon ratification.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hubert Jedin (Ed.): Handbuch der Kirchengeschichte , Vol. V, Freiburg 1970, p. 296.
  2. ↑ Data from the Annuario Pontificio 2005, cf. Benin, Statistics by Diocese , Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  3. ^ Company di Accordo Quadro tra la Santa Sede e la Repubblica del Benin. In: Daily Bulletin. Holy See Press Office , October 22, 2016, accessed October 22, 2016 (Italian).