Archdiocese of Cotonou

• 26 June 1883: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Dahomey from the Apostolic Vicariate of Benin Coast, Nigeria. • 25 May 1901: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Dahomey. • 13 May 1948: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Ouidah. • 14 September 1955: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cotonou. • 1983: Foundation of the organisation Charity Service for the Integral Development of Man (SCDIH; ) as the social arm of the diocese. It is a member of Caritas Benin. ==Special churches==

The seat of the archbishop is the cathedral of (Our Lady of Mercy) in Cotonou. (Basilica of the Immaculate Conception) is a minor basilica in Cotonou. ==Bishops==

• Metropolitan Archbishops of Cotonou, in reverse chronological order • Roger Houngbédji: 25 June 2016 – present • : 21 August 2010 – 25 June 2016; formerly bishop of Dassa-Zoume, Benin • Marcel Honorat Léon Agboton: 5 March 2005 – 21 August 2010 • Nestor Assogba: 29 October 1999 – 5 March 2005 • Isidore de Souza: 27 December 1990 – 13 March 1999 • : 28 June 1971 – 27 December 1990 • Bernardin Gantin: 5 January 1960 – 28 June 1971; appointed Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; future cardinal Coadjutor archbishop • Isidore de Souza (1981-1990) Auxiliary bishop • Bernardin Gantin (1956-1960), appointed Archbishop here; future cardinal Other priests of this diocese who became bishops • Lucien Monsi-Agboka, appointed Bishop of Abomey in 1963 • , appointed Bishop of N'Dali in 1999 • , appointed Bishop of Abomey in 2007 ==Suffragan dioceses==

• Abomey • Dassa-Zoumé • Lokossa • Porto Novo ==See also==