Archdiocese of Avignon

The Archdiocese of Avignon (Latin: Archidioecesis Avenionensis; French: Archidiocèse d'Avignon) is a Latin archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The diocese exercises jurisdiction over the territory embraced by the department of Vaucluse, in the Region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It is named for the prefecture of Avignon. The diocese has been led since January 2021 by Archbishop Georges Pontier, whom Pope Francis called out of retirement to serve as Apostolic Administrator. Established in the 4th century as the Diocese of Avignon, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese in 1475, with the suffragan sees of the Diocese of Carpentras, the Diocese of Vaison, and the Diocese of Cavaillon. By the Concordat of 1801 these three dioceses were united to Avignon, together with the Diocese of Apt, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Aix. At the same time, however, Avignon was reduced to the rank of a bishopric and was made a suffragan see of Aix. The Archdiocese of Avignon was re-established in 1822, and received as suffragan sees the Diocese of Viviers (restored in 1822); Diocese of Valence (formerly under Lyon); Diocese of Nîmes (restored in 1822); and Diocese of Montpellier (formerly under Toulouse). On 16 December 2002, the see – officially Archdiocese of Avignon (-Apt, Cavaillon, Carpentras, Orange, and Vaison) – lost its Metropolitan status and became instead a suffragan see of Marseille. In 2009 its name was changed to Archdiocese of Avignon, the secondary titles being suppressed. History There is no evidence that either Saint Rufus, disciple of Saint Paul according to certain traditions the son of Simon of Cyrene, or Saint Justus, likewise held in high honour throughout the territory of Avignon, was venerated in antiquity as bishop of that see. The first bishop known to history is Nectarius, who took part in several councils about the middle of the fifth century. Saint Agricol (Agricolus), bishop between 650 and 700, is the patron saint of Avignon. In 1475 Pope Sixtus IV raised the diocese of Avignon to the rank of an archbishopric, in favour of his nephew Giuliano della Rovere who later became Pope Julius II. Bishops To 1000 1000 to 1474 Archbishops See also Catholic Church in France List of Catholic dioceses in France Timeline of Avignon Notes References Sources Delaunay, Cécile (20 June 2016). "L'Épiscopat francais depuis 1919" (PDF). Centre national des Archives de l'Église de France. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2020. Duprat, E. (1908). "Les origines de l'église d'Avignon". Mémoires de l'Académie de Vaucluse (in French). 8: 373–405. Duprat, E. (1909a). "Les origines de l'église d'Avignon (suite)". Mémoires de l'Académie de Vaucluse (in French). 9: 1–50. Duprat, E. (1909b). "Les origines de l'église d'Avignon (suite et fin)". Mémoires de l'Académie de Vaucluse (in French). 9: 105–168. Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1913). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. 1 (1198–1431) (2nd ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. pp. 123–124. Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1914). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. 2 (1431–1503) (2nd ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. p. 100. Eubel, Conradus, ed. (1923). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. 3 (1503–1592) (2nd ed.). Münster: Libreria Regensbergiana. pp. 126–127. Gagnière, Sylvain; et al. (1979). Histoire d'Avignon (in French). Aix-en-Provence, France: Édisud. ISBN 2-85744-056-1. Gams, Pius Bonifacius (1857). Series episcoporum Ecclesiae catholicae (in Latin). Graz: Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt. pp. 503–505. Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. 4 (1592–1667). Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. pp. 105–106. Girard, Joseph (1958). Évocation du Vieil Avignon (in French). Paris: Les Éditions de Minuit. OCLC 5391399. Palanque, Jean-Rémy (1951). "Les évêchés provençaux à l'époque romaine" (PDF). Provence Historique (in French). 1 (3): 105–143. Ritzler, Remigium; Sefrin, Pirinum, eds. (1952). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. 5 (1667–1730). Münster: Monasterii Sumptibus. p. 109. Ritzler, Remigium; Sefrin, Pirinum, eds. (1958). Hierarchia catholica (in Latin). Vol. 6 (1730–1799). Münster: Monasterii Sumptibus. p. 111. Further reading Albanes, J. H.; Chevallier, Ulisse (1920). Gallia christiana novissima: Avignon : (évêques, archevêques, prévots) (in Latin). Montbéliard: Soc. Anonyme d'Impr. Montbéliardaise. Duchesne, Louis (1907). Fastes épiscopaux de l'ancienne Gaule (in French). Vol. Tome 1: Provinces du Sud-Est. Paris: Albert Fontemoing. pp. 266–270. Girard, Joseph (1931). "Avignon (Diocèse)". Dictionnaire d'Histoire et de Géographie ecclésiastiques (in French). Vol. 5: Athéisme – Azzon. Paris: Letouzey et Ané. Columns 1142–1153. OCLC 163130941. External links Official site of the Diocese of Avignon Diocese of Avignon on the website of the Église catholique en France "Archdiocese of Avignon France". GCatholic.org. Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Avignon" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.