The Archdiocese of Marseille (Latin: Archidioecesis Massiliensis; French: Archidiocèse de Marseille) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France."Archdiocese of Marseille" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved January 4, 2017"Metropolitan Archdiocese of Marseille" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016 The archepiscopal see is in the city of Marseille, and the diocese comprises the arrondissement of Marseille, a subdivision of the department of Bouches-du-Rhône in the Region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
History
The Church of Marseille is said to have been erected in the first century by St. Lazarus, the young man mentioned in the Gospels who had been raised from the dead by Jesus Christ himself. His family migrated to Provence at some point after the Resurrection.Gospel of John 11-12. Albanès (1899), pp. 1–6. The church of Marseille also possessed relics of Mary Magdalen and Martha, Lazarus' sisters. Lazarus' own remains were in the Cathedral in 1122, along with relics of Saint Peter, his brother Saint Andrew, and Saint Stephen the Protomartyr: Albanès (1884), p. 42.
Revolution The diocese of Marseille was abolished during the French Revolution, under the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790). Its territory was subsumed into the new diocese, called the 'Bouches-du-Rhone', which was part of the Metropolitanate called the 'Metropole des Côtes de la Méditerranée (which included ten new 'departements'). The electors of 'Bouches-du-Rhone' met at Aix beginning on 19 February 1791, and on 23 February elected Abbé Charles Benoît Roux, curé of Eyragues near Arles. He was consecrated in Paris by Constitutional Bishops Gobel, Miroudot and Gouttes. He very much enjoyed the social life of Marseille, but after the execution of Louis XVI on 21 January 1793, Roux joined the counter-revolutionaries. When Marseille was occupied by troops of the Convention, he fled to Aix. He was arrested and imprisoned on 20 September; he was taken to Marseille, where he faced a tribunal of the Revolution which condemned him to death. He was executed on 5 April 1794.
An archdiocese The diocese was raised to the level of an Archdiocese on 31 January 1948 by Pope Pius XII. The suffragans of the archdiocese are: the Archdiocese of Aix, the Diocese of Ajaccio, the Archdiocese of Avignon, the Diocese of Digne, the Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, the Diocese of Gap, and the Diocese of Nice.David M. Cheney, Catholic-Hierarchy: Archdiocese of Marseille. Retrieved: 2016-08-15.
In recent times the Archdiocese of Marseille has suffered from significant shortage of priests, despite having a reported Catholic population of over 700,000 not a single priest was ordained in 2018 or 2019.
Bishops and Archbishops of Marseille
to 1000
Oresius (ca. 314)Oresius participated in the Council of Arles of 314: Duchesne, p. 274, no. 1. Albanès (1884), p. 5. Proculus Venerius (ca. 431–451)Duchesne, p. 274, no. 3. Eustasius (attested in 463)Duchesne, p. 274, no. 4. Graecus Honoratus (ca. 496–500)A disciple of S. Hilarius, Honoratus was a correspondent of Pope Gelasius (492–496). Cannatus (second half of the fifth century)Son of the king and queen of Aix. His name 'Canus Natus' ('born with white hair') is nothing but a bad folk etymology. The only documentary evidence for Cannatus is from liturgical books, the earliest of which is from 1122. Duchesne, p. 275 no. 7. Canus Natus is omitted by Gallia christiana (1716). Albanès, Gallia christiana novissima (1899) includes him (pp. 15–19), but with a question mark and the date 485. Belsunce (1747), I, pp. 201–206. Theodorus (ca. 580s)Theodorus was present at the Council of Mâcon in 585. He was still alive in 591. Duchesne, p. 275. Serenus Petrus of Marseille Abdalong (8th century) Maurontus (ca. 780)A report of the Missus dominicus Vernarius to Charlemagne, praising Maurontus for his efforts on behalf of the abbey of S. Vincent. Albanès, pp. 33–34. Yvo (attested on 12 March 781)Albanès, p. 36. Wadalus (813–818)Albanès, pp. 37–38. Theobertus (ca. 822–841)Duchesne, p. 276, no. 14. Albanès, pp. 38–41. Alboin (attested 843/844)Albanès (1884), p. 28. Albanès (1899), pp. 41–42. Litiduinus (attested in 878 and 879)Duchesne, p. 277, no. 18. Berengarius (attested in 884)Duchesne, p. 277, no. 19. [Gulfaric] (9th century)Albanès (1884), pp. 29–30. Albanès (1899), p. 42. His name is known from a single document, which Albanès knew only from a printed text; the document is an index of other documents, with a very brief summary of the contents and date. A. assumes that the name is correctly copied and that the text is authentic. Gulfaric's name does not appear in the original Gallia christiana (1716). Duchesne, pp. 276–277, no. 16. [Venator] (9th century)Venator's name has the same history as Gulfaric(us). The text quoted by Albanès (1899), p. 42, gives him an episcopacy of at least ten years. Drogon (attested in 923 and 924)Albanès (1884), p. 35. Albanès (1899), pp. 45–46. Pons (977–1008)Pons was the son of Guillaume, Vicomte de Marseille, and nephew of Bishop Honoratus. Albanès, pp. 48–51.
1000–1500
Pons (1008–1073)Albanès (1899), pp. 52–62. Albanès (1884), pp. 39–40 Raymond (1073 – 7 November 1122)Bishop Raymond attended the Council of Vienne on 15 September 1112. Albanès (1899), pp. 62–65. Raymond de Soliers (1122 – 26 April 1151)Albanès (1899), pp. 65–71. Pierre (1151 – 2 April 1170)Albanès (1899), pp. 72–86. Fulco de Thorame (1170 – 31 March 1188)Fouque is mentioned in a charter of 10 September 1170 as Bishop-elect. Albanès (1899), pp. 86–93. Rainier (1188–1214)Albanès (1899), pp. 93–99. Pierre de Montlaur (7 October 1217 – 29 August 1229)Eubel, I, p. 329. Albanès (1899), pp. 100–117. Benoît d'Aligan, O.S.B. (1229–1267)Benedict had been Abbot of Grasse (Crassensis). He resigned the episcopacy in order to enter the Order of Friars Minor. He died on 11 July 1268. Eubel, I, pp. 329–330. Albanès (1899), pp. 117–172. Raymond of Nîmes (23 December 1267 – 15 July 1288)Eubel, I, p. 330. Durand de Trésémines (17 April 1289 – 3 August 1312)Eubel, I, p. 330. Albanès (1899), pp. 194–227. Raymond RobaudiAlbanès (1884), pp. 63–64. (1 January 1313 – 12 September 1319)Eubel, I, p. 330. Albanès (1899), pp. 227–238. Albanès (1884), pp. 63–64. (transferred to Archbishopric of Embrun) Gasbert de la Val (18 September 1319 – 26 August 1323)In 1319 Gasbert, who had been serving as Treasurer General of the Holy Roman Church, became Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church. C. Samaran and G. Mollat, La fiscalité pontificale en France au XIVe siècle (Paris 1905), pp. 167–168. Albanès (1884), pp. 65–66. (transferred to Arles) Aymar Amiel (26 August 1323 – 23 December 1333)Eubel, I, p. 330. Albanès (1899), pp. 245–260. Albanès (1884), pp. 67–69. Jean Artaudi (10 January 1334 – 1335, after July 7)Eubel, I, p. 330. Albanès (1899), pp. 260–295. Albanès (1884), pp. 70–72. Joannes Gasqui (13 October 1335 – 10 September 1344)Eubel, I, p. 330. Albanès (1899), pp. 296–313. Albanès (1884), pp. 73–75. Robert de Mandagot (13 September 1344 – 1358)Eubel, I, p. 330. Albanès (1899), pp. 314–331. Hugh d'Arpajon (4 February 1359 – 31 May 1361) Pierre Fabri (1361, June–September?) Guillaume Sudre, O.P. (27 August 1361 – 1366)Guillaume Sudre was promoted to the Cardinalate by Pope Urban V on 18 September 1366, and promoted to the See of Ostia on 17 September 1367. Eubel, I, p. 20. Albanès, pp. 332–342. [ Philippe de Cabassole ] (1366–1368) AdministratorThe texts gathered by Albanès, pp. 342–346, indicate clearly that Philippe de Cabassole was not the Bishop of Marseille, only the Administrator. Philippe was created Cardinal Priest by Pope Urban V on 22 September 1368. Guillaume de la Voute (9 December 1368 – 1 July 1379)Albanès, pp. 347–364. (transferred to Valence-et-Die, by Clement VII) Aymar de La Voute (1379-1395) Benoît II (1397-1418) Paul de Sade (1418-1420) Avignon Nicolaï (1420-1421) André Boutaric (1433) Barthélémy Rocalli (1433-1445) Louis de Glandevès (1445) Nicola de Brancas (1445-1466) Jean Alardeau (1466-1496) Ogier d'Anglure (1496-1506)
1500 to 1700
Pierre Baudonis (1506) Antoine Dufour (1506-1509) Claude de Seyssel (1511-1517) Innocent Cibo (1517-1530) Jean-Baptiste Cibo (1530-1550) Cristoforo Guidalotti Ciocchi del Monte (1550-1556) Pierre Ragueneau (1556-1572) Frédéric Ragueneau (1572-1603) Jacques Turricella (1605-1618) Arthur d'Épinay de Saint-Luc (1619-1621) Nicolas Coëffeteau (1621) François de Loménie (1624-1639) Eustache Gault (1639-1640) Jean-Baptiste Gault (1640-1643) Étienne de Puget (1644-1668) Toussaint de Forbin-Janson (1668–1679) Jean-Baptiste d'Estampes de Valençay (12 January 1680 – 6 January 1684)He was the grand-nephew of Cardinal Achille d'Estampes. Ritzler, V, p. 260, with n. 3. Albanès, pp. 640–643. Charles Gaspard Guillaume de Vintimille du Luc (21 January 1692 – 14 May 1708)Vintimille was nominated by Louis XIV to Marseille in 1684, but due to the bad relations between the King and Pope Innocent XI, the bulls of appointment (preconisation) and consecration were never issued during that pontificate. Albanès, p. 645. It was not until 1692 that Pope Innocent XII signed the bulls. Vintimille was nominated by Louis XIV on 10 February 1708 to the diocese of Aix. He was promoted to the diocese of Paris on 17 August 1729 by Louis XV. Ritzler, V, p. 93; p. 260 and n. 4.
1700 to 1948
Bernard de Poudenx (14 May 1708 – 19 January 1709)Poudenx was nominated by Louis XIV on 10 February 1708. Ritzler, V, p. 260 and n. 5. Henri François Xavier de Belsunce de Castelmoron (19 February 1710 – 4 June 1755)Belsunce was granted the pallium as a special favor on 6 August 1731. Ritzler, V, p. 260, with n. 6. Jean-Baptiste de Belloy (4 August 1755 – 21 September 1801)Belloy had been Bishop of Glandèves in 1751–1755. He was nominated by Louis XV on 22 June 1755. He resigned at the request of Pope Pius VI on 21 September 1801. He was named Archbishop of Paris on 10 April 1802, and died in Paris on 10 June 1808. Ritzler, VI, pp. 226, 280–281. Charles Benoît Roux (Constitutional Bishop) (1791–1794) [1801–1817] Diocese of Marseille suppressed, by the Concordat of 1801. Charles-Fortuné de Mazenod<ref></</ref> (1823–1837) Charles-Joseph-Eugene de Mazenod (1837–1861) Patrice CruiceAlbanès (1884), pp. 185–187. (18 Jun 1861 – 1 Sep 1865) Charles-Philippe PlaceAlbanès (1884), pp. 188–189. (6 Jan 1866 – 13 Jun 1878) Joseph Robert (13 Jun 1878 – 19 Nov 1900) Cardinal Pierre Andrieu (5 Apr 1901 – 2 Jan 1909) Joseph-Marie Fabre (29 Apr 1909 – 9 Jan 1923 ) Daniel Champavier (19 Jan 1923 – 2 Feb 1928 ) Maurice-Louis Dubourg (17 Dec 1928 – 9 Dec 1936 ) Jean Delay (14 Aug 1937 – 5 Sep 1956 ) first Archbishop of Marseille (31 January 1948)
Archbishops of Marseille since 1948 Marc-Armand Lallier (28 September 1956 – 26 August 1966 ) Georges Jacquot (1 November 1966 – 25 September 1970 ) Cardinal Roger Etchegaray (22 December 1970 – 13 April 1985 ) Cardinal Robert Coffy (13 April 1985 – 22 April 1995 ) Cardinal Bernard Panafieu (22 April 1995 – 12 May 2006 ) Georges Pontier (12 May 2006 – 8 August 2019) Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline (8 August 2019 –)
See also Catholic Church in France Église Saint-Joseph (Marseille) List of Catholic dioceses in France Maurice Dubourg
References
Bibliography
Reference works
pp. 573–575. (Use with caution; obsolete) (in Latin) pp. 329–330. (in Latin) p. 187. p. 237-238. pp. 234. pp. 260. p. 280.
Studies [uncritical of Christian mythology, uses hagiography as history]
second edition (in French)
External links Centre national des Archives de l'Église de France, L’Épiscopat francais depuis 1919 , retrieved: 2016-12-24. Diocesan website