Papeete (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jean-Pierre Edmond Cottanceau, SS.CC., Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 21 June 1966
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: French Polynesia
Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Square Kilometers: 2,675 (1,033 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.catholic.pf
Mailing Address: Archevêché, B.P. 94, Vallee de la Mission, 98713 Papeete, Iles Tahiti, Polynesie Francaise
Telephone: 40.50.23.51
Fax: 40.42.40.32

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania
- Erected: 2 June 1833
- Vicariate
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Vicariate Apostolic of Tahiti {Isole Tahiti}
- Latin Name: Insularum Tahiti
- Name Changed: 9 May 1848
- Vicariate
- Country: French Polynesia
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jérôme (Étienne) Rouchouze, SS.CC. † (14 Jun 1833 Appointed - 13 Mar 1843 Died)
Joseph (François-de-Paul) Baudichon, SS.CC. † (13 Aug 1844 Appointed - 9 May 1848 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Marquesas Islands {Isole Marchesi}, French Polynesia)
Florentin-Étienne Jaussen Tepano, SS.CC. † (9 May 1848 Appointed - 12 Feb 1884 Resigned)
Marie-Joseph (Maxime Justin Félix) Verdier, SS.CC. † (12 Feb 1884 Succeeded - 26 Feb 1908 Resigned)
André-Etienne-Athanase Hermel, SS.CC. † (26 Feb 1908 Succeeded - 20 Feb 1932 Died)
Julien Marie Amédée Nouailles, SS.CC. † (26 Apr 1932 Appointed - 14 Aug 1937 Died)
Paul-Laurent-Jean-Louis Mazé, SS.CC. † (8 Nov 1938 Appointed - 5 Mar 1973 Retired)
Michel-Gaspard Coppenrath † (5 Mar 1973 Succeeded - 4 Jun 1999 Retired)
Hubert Coppenrath † (4 Jun 1999 Succeeded - 31 Mar 2011 Retired)
Jean-Pierre Edmond Cottanceau, SS.CC. (15 Dec 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania
2 June 1833	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of South Sea Islands / Oceania / Islands of the Great Ocean	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania (erected) Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Oceania (erected)
14 January 1838	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania (added New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji)
9 May 1848	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania	Vicariate Apostolic of Marquesas Islands {Isole Marchesi} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Tahiti {Isole Tahiti}
9 May 1848	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania	Vicariate Apostolic of Tahiti {Isole Tahiti}
27 November 1922	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Tahiti {Isole Tahiti} (Cook and Manihiki)	Prefecture Apostolic of Cook e Manihiki (erected)
Archdiocese of Papeete
21 June 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Tahiti {Isole Tahiti}	Archdiocese of Papeete
22 February 1974	Territory Added		Archdiocese of Papeete (Pitcairn Island (in Polynesia))

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

Vicariate Apostolic of Tahiti {Isole Tahiti}

1950 12,500 58,000 21.6% 21 21 595 15 18 72 ap1951

Archdiocese of Papeete

1970 25,349 96,869 26.2% 6 29 35 724 59 49 72 ap1971

1980 44,500 139,200 32.0% 6 25 31 1,435 4 51 58 69 ap1981

1990 70,000 191,000 36.6% 11 17 28 2,500 10 50 62 75 ap1991

1999 82,000 226,000 36.3% 14 16 30 2,733 19 56 49 82 ap2000

2000 83,000 230,000 36.1% 15 18 33 2,515 20 55 50 82 ap2001

2001 83,000 230,000 36.1% 14 16 30 2,766 23 49 52 83 ap2002

2002 83,000 231,000 35.9% 11 14 25 3,320 24 40 54 82 ap2003

2003 89,000 237,000 37.6% 12 15 27 3,296 30 38 53 82 ap2004

2004 89,000 236,693 37.6% 14 14 28 3,178 30 43 44 55 ap2005

2013 104,000 268,270 38.8% 19 7 26 4,000 44 38 35 57 ap2014

2016 105,780 276,944 38.2% 17 10 27 3,917 46 36 35 57 ap2017

2019 107,220 280,100 38.3% 20 9 29 3,697 45 35 36 57 ap2020

2021 107,960 282,300 38.2% 20 9 29 3,722 45 19 36 57 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Tahiti {Isole Tahiti}
1950	12,500	58,000	21.6%		21	21	595		15	18	72	ap1951
Archdiocese of Papeete
1970	25,349	96,869	26.2%	6	29	35	724		59	49	72	ap1971
1980	44,500	139,200	32.0%	6	25	31	1,435	4	51	58	69	ap1981
1990	70,000	191,000	36.6%	11	17	28	2,500	10	50	62	75	ap1991
1999	82,000	226,000	36.3%	14	16	30	2,733	19	56	49	82	ap2000
2000	83,000	230,000	36.1%	15	18	33	2,515	20	55	50	82	ap2001
2001	83,000	230,000	36.1%	14	16	30	2,766	23	49	52	83	ap2002
2002	83,000	231,000	35.9%	11	14	25	3,320	24	40	54	82	ap2003
2003	89,000	237,000	37.6%	12	15	27	3,296	30	38	53	82	ap2004
2004	89,000	236,693	37.6%	14	14	28	3,178	30	43	44	55	ap2005
2013	104,000	268,270	38.8%	19	7	26	4,000	44	38	35	57	ap2014
2016	105,780	276,944	38.2%	17	10	27	3,917	46	36	35	57	ap2017
2019	107,220	280,100	38.3%	20	9	29	3,697	45	35	36	57	ap2020
2021	107,960	282,300	38.2%	20	9	29	3,722	45	19	36	57	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Pascal Chang-Soi, SS.CC. (Apostolic Administrator: 22 Mar 2013 to 28 Aug 2015)
Jean-Pierre Edmond Cottanceau, SS.CC. (Apostolic Administrator: 28 Aug 2015; Archbishop: 15 Dec 2016 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph (François-de-Paul) Baudichon, SS.CC. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Aug 1844 to 9 May 1848)
Hubert Coppenrath † (Deacon: 22 Dec 1956; Priest: 27 Jun 1957; Coadjutor Archbishop: 21 Nov 1997; Archbishop: 4 Jun 1999 to 31 Mar 2011)
Michel-Gaspard Coppenrath † (Deacon: 12 Jun 1954; Priest: 29 Jun 1954; Coadjutor Archbishop: 16 Feb 1968; Archbishop: 5 Mar 1973 to 4 Jun 1999)
Antoine-Magloire Doumer, SS.CC. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 9 May 1848 to 24 Dec 1878)
André-Etienne-Athanase Hermel, SS.CC. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 15 May 1905; Vicar Apostolic: 26 Feb 1908 to 20 Feb 1932)
Florentin-Étienne Jaussen Tepano, SS.CC. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 May 1848 to 12 Feb 1884)
Paul-Laurent-Jean-Louis Mazé, SS.CC. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Nov 1938; Archbishop: 21 Jun 1966 to 5 Mar 1973)
Julien Marie Amédée Nouailles, SS.CC. † (Vicar Apostolic: 26 Apr 1932 to 14 Aug 1937)
Jérôme (Étienne) Rouchouze, SS.CC. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jun 1833 to 13 Mar 1843)
Marie-Joseph (Maxime Justin Félix) Verdier, SS.CC. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 9 Jan 1883; Vicar Apostolic: 12 Feb 1884 to 26 Feb 1908)