St. Paul's Cathedral, Abidjan
| St. Paul's Cathedral, Abidjan Cathédrale Saint-Paul d'Abidjan | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan. |
| Year consecrated | 1985 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. |
| Geographic coordinates | 5°19′58″N 4°01′12″W / 5.332778°N 4.02°W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Aldo Spirito |
| Style | Modern |
| Groundbreaking | May 11, 1980 |
| Completed | 1985 |
| Construction cost | US $11.7 million |
| Capacity | 5,000 (3,500 seating and 1,500 standing) |
St Paul's Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Saint-Paul d'Abidjan) is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in the city of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The cathedral, which was designed by the Italian architect Aldo Spirito, serves as the mother church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan.
The first stone of the cathedral was consecrated on May 11, 1980, by Pope John Paul II during his first pastoral visit to Côte d'Ivoire. He further dedicated the building upon completion on August 10, 1985, during a second visit to the country to lay the foundation for the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro. The cost of implementing this modern architectural edifice, reputedly the second largest church on the African continent (as of 2002), and one of the largest cathedrals in the world, was estimated at $12 million. Architecturally, the cathedral is unique and modern, built to meet the aspirations of the people of Côte d'Ivoire.