Roman Catholic Diocese of Orléans

Diocese of Orléans

Dioecesis Aurelianensis

Diocèse d'Orléans
Location
CountryFrance
TerritoryLoiret
Ecclesiastical provinceTours
MetropolitanArchdiocese of Tours
Statistics
Area6,811 km2 (2,630 sq mi)
Population
  • Total
  • Catholics
  • (as of 2023)
  • 682,000 (est.)
  • 450,320 (est.)
Parishes261
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established4th Century (?)
CathedralCathedral Basilica of the Holy Cross in Orléans
Patron saintSaint Aignan
Secular priests72 (Diocesan)
21 (Religious Orders)
35 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
PopeLeo XIV
BishopJacques André Blaquart
Metropolitan ArchbishopVincent Jordy
Bishops emeritusAndré Louis Fort Bishop Emeritus (2003-2010)
Map
Website
catholique-orleans.cef.fr

The Diocese of Orléans (Latin: Dioecesis Aurelianensis; French: Diocèse d'Orléans) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in France. The diocese currently corresponds to the Départment of Loiret. The city is 133 kilometers (83 miles) south-southwest of Paris.

The diocese has experienced a number of transfers among different metropolitans. In 1622, the diocese was suffragan of the Archdiocese of Paris; previously the diocese had been a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Sens. From 1966 until 2001 it was under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Bourges, but since the provisional reorganisation of French ecclesiastical provinces, it is now subject to the Archdiocese of Tours.

After the Revolution it was re-established by the Concordat of 1802. It then included the Departments of Loiret and Loir et Cher, but in 1822 Loir et Cher was moved to the new Diocese of Blois.

The current bishop is Jacques André Blaquart, who was appointed in 2010. In 2021, in the Diocese of Orleans, there was one priest for every 4,306 Catholics.