{{short description|none}} [[File:Cathedral_of_Saint-Marie,_Libreville.jpg | thumb | right | Cathedral of Saint-Marie in Libreville]] The '''Catholic Church in [[Gabon]]''' is part of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]], under the spiritual leadership of the [[Pope]] in [[Rome]]. It is endowed with the right to elect its own clergy, except archbishops.
In 2020, there were over 960,000 Catholics in Gabon;<ref>[https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=86c&u=95c The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-03]</ref> almost half the population divided in five major congregations. There are five [[diocese]]s including one [[archdiocese]], plus an [[apostolic vicariate]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2014/07/11/0513/01148.html |title=Rinunce e nomine |access-date=2014-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714214244/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2014/07/11/0513/01148.html |archive-date=2014-07-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==History==
The Catholic Church had its big first French missionary in Gabon [[Jean-Rémi Bessieux]], from the [[Holy Ghost Fathers|Congregation of the Holy Spirit]] in the first half of the 19th century. In 1863 was born the [[apostolic vicariate]] of Gabon, then called from the Two Guineas. Only after the 1878 began the evangelization of the hinterland. In 1958 Gabon becomes an [[Ecclesiastical province]], with an autonomous Metropolitan see in [[Libreville]], in 1899 the first priest was ordained in Gabon, and in 1961 was ordered the first bishop. In 1982 the Catholic Church received a pastoral visit of [[Pope John Paul II]].
On December 12, 1997 [[Holy See]] and the Republic of Gabon signed an agreeing on the principles and some legal provisions concerning their relationship and their collaboration.
In 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop [[Relwendé Kisito Ouédraogo]], titular-elect of Ilta, as [[apostolic nuncio]] in Gabon.
==Ecclesiastical organization==
The Catholic Church is present in Gabon with one [[ecclesiastical province]], four [[suffragan diocese]]s and one [[apostolic prefecture]]:
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Libreville|Archdiocese of Libreville]] * [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Franceville|Diocese of Franceville]] * [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mouila|Diocese of Mouila]] * [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Oyem|Diocese of Oyem]] * [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Gentil|Diocese of Port-Gentil]] * [[Apostolic Vicariate of Makokou]]
==Statistics==
At the end of 2020 the Catholic Church in Gabon counted:
* 98 parishes; * 229 priests; * 198 religious sisters; * 6 hospitals and care homes.<ref>[https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/gabon Catholics And Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-03]</ref>
==See also== *[[Apostolic Nunciature to Gabon]] *[[Religion in Gabon]] *[[Evangelical Church of Gabon]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/GA.htm G Catholic website] *[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/ga.html Catholic Hierarchy website ] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120713090802/http://www.eglisecatholique.ga/fr/index.php ''Eglise Catholique'' archive]
{{Africa topic|Catholic Church in|groupstyle=background-color:gold|titlestyle=background-color:gold}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Catholic Church in Gabon}} [[Category:Catholic Church in Gabon| ]] [[Category:Catholic Church by country|Gabon]] [[Category:Catholic Church in Africa|Gabon]]