Libreville, Apostolic Vicariate of

LIBREVILLE, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. — It is located in French Equatorial Africa and originated from the Apostolic Vicariate of the Two Guineas (v. GUINEA). Indeed, the beginnings of the evangelization of the territory of the present vicariate date back to 1842. The apostolic vicar resided near the church of S. Maria at L., and thus that mission has the distinction of having been the center of all the others on the western coast of Africa. For this reason, Pius XI granted that church the indulgence «ad instar Portiunculae», to be gained by the faithful on 29 September of each year, the anniversary of the first Mass.

called Gabon. Following successive divisions of the former Apostolic Vicariate of the Two Guineas, the territory was greatly reduced, and in 1886 it was given the name Gabon because it corresponds almost exactly to the territory of the colony of the same name. By decree of 10 July 1947 it was given the name L. It is entrusted to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.

It has an area of approximately 280,000 sq. km. and is crossed by the equator. The climate is particularly unhealthy, humid, and hot. The indigenous population belongs to the Bantu family and is divided into about twenty tribes and subtribes, with a rudimentary social structure in which only the authority of the head of the family is recognized. Polygamy and slavery prevail.

Of a population of 350,000, there are 120,000 indigenous Catholics, distributed among 23 parishes and 787 mission stations, served by 17 diocesan priests and 33 religious, who are assisted by 18 male and 14 female religious congregations. There are 80 educational institutions and 14 charitable and welfare works. Associations of Catholic Action are also present, and the periodical Echos du Gabon is printed there, with approximately 2,000 copies (Ann. Pont., 1951, p. 677).