Catholic-Hierarchy DC (’Ç‹L) (’Ç‹L‚±‚±‚Ü‚Å)

Archdiocese of Bamenda

Archidioecesis Bamendana

Bishop(s)

Andrew Nkea Fuanya , Archbishop
Cornelius Fontem Esua, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 18 March 1982
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Cameroon
Square Kilometers: 10,724 (4,142 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://bamendaarchdiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 82, Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon
Telephone: 233.36.12.41
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Diocese of Bamenda
- Latin Name: Bamendana
- Erected: 13 August 1970
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Yaound?
- Country: Cameroon

Past and Present Ordinaries

Paul Mbiybe Verdzekov † (13 Aug 1970 Appointed - 23 Jan 2006 Retired)
Cornelius Fontem Esua (23 Jan 2006 Succeeded - 30 Dec 2019 Retired)
Andrew Nkea Fuanya (30 Dec 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Bamenda
13 August 1970	Erected	Diocese of Buéa (Bamenda, Gwofon, Wum, Nkambe, and Nso)	Diocese of Bamenda (erected)
18 March 1982	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bamenda (Northern part)	Diocese of Kumbo (erected)
Archdiocese of Bamenda
18 March 1982	Elevated	Diocese of Bamenda	Archdiocese of Bamenda

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Bamenda

1980 166,129 988,607 16.8% 27 45 72 2,307 75 132 ap1981

Archdiocese of Bamenda

1990 152,543 920,000 16.6% 30 40 70 2,179 83 85 23 ap1991

1999 204,977 1,088,600 18.8% 48 39 87 2,356 91 102 26 ap2000

2000 214,000 1,100,000 19.5% 47 39 86 2,488 86 98 26 ap2001

2001 228,499 1,100,000 20.8% 50 35 85 2,688 91 104 26 ap2002

2002 230,000 1,100,000 20.9% 51 35 86 2,674 86 104 26 ap2003

2003 237,000 1,100,000 21.5% 54 31 85 2,788 78 104 28 ap2004

2004 238,000 1,100,000 21.6% 54 37 91 2,615 85 161 28 ap2005

2006 252,000 1,168,000 21.6% 57 35 92 2,739 112 159 28 ap2007

2012 319,000 1,321,000 24.1% 54 38 92 3,467 134 179 34 ap2013

2015 410,071 1,413,000 29.0% 67 46 113 3,628 167 234 40 ap2016

2018 609,798 1,451,900 42.0% 103 71 174 3,504 171 238 45 ap2019

2020 628,800 1,523,890 41.3% 109 71 180 3,493 171 238 46 ap2021

2022 615,015 1,460,253 42.1% 122 47 169 3,639 135 222 53 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Bamenda
1980	166,129	988,607	16.8%	27	45	72	2,307	75	132		ap1981
Archdiocese of Bamenda
1990	152,543	920,000	16.6%	30	40	70	2,179	83	85	23	ap1991
1999	204,977	1,088,600	18.8%	48	39	87	2,356	91	102	26	ap2000
2000	214,000	1,100,000	19.5%	47	39	86	2,488	86	98	26	ap2001
2001	228,499	1,100,000	20.8%	50	35	85	2,688	91	104	26	ap2002
2002	230,000	1,100,000	20.9%	51	35	86	2,674	86	104	26	ap2003
2003	237,000	1,100,000	21.5%	54	31	85	2,788	78	104	28	ap2004
2004	238,000	1,100,000	21.6%	54	37	91	2,615	85	161	28	ap2005
2006	252,000	1,168,000	21.6%	57	35	92	2,739	112	159	28	ap2007
2012	319,000	1,321,000	24.1%	54	38	92	3,467	134	179	34	ap2013
2015	410,071	1,413,000	29.0%	67	46	113	3,628	167	234	40	ap2016
2018	609,798	1,451,900	42.0%	103	71	174	3,504	171	238	45	ap2019
2020	628,800	1,523,890	41.3%	109	71	180	3,493	171	238	46	ap2021
2022	615,015	1,460,253	42.1%	122	47	169	3,639	135	222	53	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Michael Miabesue Bibi (Priest: 26 Apr 2000; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jan 2017 to 5 Jan 2021)
Cornelius Fontem Esua (Coadjutor Archbishop: 7 Dec 2004; Archbishop: 23 Jan 2006 to 30 Dec 2019)
Agapitus Enuyehnyoh Nfon (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Apr 2011 to 15 Mar 2016)
Andrew Nkea Fuanya (Archbishop: 30 Dec 2019 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Paul Mbiybe Verdzekov † (Bishop: 13 Aug 1970; Archbishop: 18 Mar 1982 to 23 Jan 2006)

Source(s)

Diocese of Bamenda
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 63, Page 200, and Page 201
Archdiocese of Bamenda
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 74, Page 666, and Page 667

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