Benin priest dies during All Saints' Day mass
Father Éric Ahissou, 48, died on November 1, 2026, while leading a service in Cotonou.
Father Éric Ahissou, the parish priest of Notre-Dame de la Visitation de Gbèdagba in Cotonou, died on Sunday, November 1, 2026, while celebrating the All Saints' Day mass.
The 48-year-old priest, who was ordained in August 2010, reportedly experienced a possible indisposition during the service. The exact circumstances of his death were not specified by Sunday evening.
Ahissou had previously served in the diocese of Montauban, France, where he also studied canon law. On September 26, 2021, he was installed as administrator for the parish of Lavilledieu-du-Temple and seven other nearby communes.
Why it mattersThe death of Father Éric Ahissou affects the Catholic community in Cotonou.