HAITI


For more on religious history see EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HAITI


PORT-AU-PRINCE

Catholicism was introduced in future Haiti in the early 16th century, at the moment
of the Spanish conquest of the island of Hispaniola.
The hierarchy which was established by the French in the 17th century - formally
still subject to Santo Domingo - was nearly completely destroyed during the period
of the wars of independence ca 1800. For nearly 60 years the languishing catholic
community then was under the care of isolated European priests, most of whom only
came to the island to escape Rome's authority and were more concerned with political
intrigues than with spiritual work.
In attempts to bring these nearly schismatic priests back under its authority, Rome
from time to time sent a delegate to Haiti (1), but it was only in 1861 - after an
agreement with the new republican government had been reached - that the hierarchy
- consisting of the Metropolitan See of Port-au-Prince and four suffragans (Cap-
Haitien, Les Cayes, Les Gonaïves and Port-de-Paix) - could actually be restored. 

(1) Among them :

    - Pierre Glory, Titular Bishop of Macri in Mauretania Sitifensis (1778 -
      1821), Vicar Apostolic of Haiti in 1820 - 1821, whose quarrels with
      Jeremiah O'Flynn - self proclaimed pastor of Port-au-Prince - resulted
      in his expulsion by the Haitian government.
    - John England, Bishop of Charleston (US) (1786 - 1842, B 1820 - 1842),
      Papal Legate to Haiti, conducted negociations for the reestablishment
      of an hierarchy between 1831 and 1837.
    - Eugène Tisserand, Prefect Apostolic, tried to resume normal missionary
      activities in 1843 - 1845.  
    
Apostolic Delegate to Haiti

1861 - 1863   Martial Guillaime Marie Testard du 
              Cosquer, Apostolic Administrator of 
              the Dioceses of Cap-Haitien, Les Cayes,
              Les Gonaïves and Port-de-Paix                  1820 - 1869        

Archbishops

(Except Tonti - who was Italian - all French)

1863 - 1869   Martial Guillaime Marie Testard du 
              Cosquer, also Apostolic Administrator of 
              the Dioceses of Cap-Haitien, Les Cayes,
              Les Gonaïves and Port-de-Paix                  s.a.   
1870 - 1885   Alexis Jean Marie Guilloux, also 
              Apostolic Administrator of the Dioceses 
              of Cap-Haitien, Les Cayes and Les Gonaïves
              (1870 - 1874), of Les Cayes and Les 
              Gonaïves (1874 - 1885)                         1819 - 1885
1886 - 1890   Constant Mathurin Hillion, also 
              Apostolic Administrator of the 
              Dioceses of Les Cayes and Les Gonaïves         1830 - 1890
1890 - 1893   vacant
1893 - 1902   Giulio Tonti, also Apostolic Administrator
              of the Diocese of Les Gonaïves                 1844 - 1918
1903 - 1930   Julien Jean Guillaume Conan, also
              Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese
              of Les Gonaïves                                1860 - 1944
1930 - 1955   Joseph Marie Le Gouaze                         1883 - 1964



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