Established on 2 April 1856 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Southeastern Szechwan, its archiepiscopal see is the Cathedral of St. Joseph, located in the provincial-level city of Chongqing, which lies in the eastern part of the mission territory, hence the designation of Eastern Szechwan Mission. The archdiocese has been vacant without an apostolic administrator since 2001.
Map of Eastern Szechwan Mission, prepared by Adrien Launay[fr], 1889.
In 1950, it pastorally served 37,608 Catholics (0.3%) on 135,187 square miles in 42 parishes with 85 diocesan priests and 120 religious (only 6 males).
Established on 2 April 1856 as Apostolic Vicariate of Southeastern Szechwan (Vicariatus Apostolicus Seciuensis Meridio-Orientalis), renamed on 24 January 1860 as Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Szechwan (Vicariatus Apostolicus Seciuensis Orientalis), on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Szechwan (Sichuan), separating it from North-western Szechwan and its first name was South-eastern Szechwan. There were nine European and ten native priests, the mission being confided to Paris Foreign Missions Society. Eugène-Jean-Claude-Joseph Desflèches (1844–87), Titular Bishop of Sinita, was elected as the first apostolic vicar. Missionaries and Christians were subject to imperial persecutions, but after the Sino-French War of 1860, they obtained entire freedom to preach. In 1860 the mission was divided into two apostolic vicariates: Eastern and Southern Szechwan. The missionaries obtained from Chinese officials a piece of ground in the city of Chongqing (Chungking), as compensation for the losses undergone by the mission. New persecutions broke out: at You-yang, Jean-Honoré Eyraud was put in jail and François Mabileau and Jean-François Rigaud were murdered; at Kien-Kiang, Jean Hue and Michel Tay were killed in 1873; on 8 March 1876, the settlements of the Christians were pillaged at Kiang-pe. Eugène-Paul Coupat[fr], elected coadjutor in 1882, in 1888 succeeded Bishop Desflèches, who was 'promoted' Titular Archbishop of Claudiopolis in Honoriade. In 1886 the buildings of the mission at Chongqing were pillaged and destroyed, the bishop and missionaries had to retire into the Chinese tribunal. In 1891, Célestin Chouvellon[fr], titular Bishop of Dausara, succeeded Bishop Coupat. In 1898, François Fleury was captured by Yu Man-tse[zh] and held prisoner for months.[2]
Renamed on 3 December 1924 after its see as Apostolic Vicariate of Chungking (Vicariatus Apostolicus Ciomchimensis; in French: Tchong-kin-fou).
Eugène-Paul Coupat[fr], M.E.P. (born in France) (20 February 1883 – death 26 January 1890), succeeding as former Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Szechwan (1882.08.28 – 1883.02.20) and Titular Bishop of Thagaste (1882.08.28 – 1890.01.26)
Laurent Blettery[ru], M.E.P. (born in France) (2 September 1890 – 17 August 1891 not possessed), Titular Bishop of Zela (1890.09.02 – 1891.08.17 not possessed); died 1898
Célestin-Félix-Joseph Chouvellon[fr], M.E.P. (born France) (25 September 1891 – death 11 May 1924), Titular Bishop of Dausara (1891.09.25 – 1924.05.11)
Apostolic Vicar of Chungking
Louis-Gabriel-Xavier Jantzen[fr], M.E.P. (last incumbent born in France) (16 February 1925 – 11 April 1946 see below), Titular Bishop of Tremithus (1926.02.16 – 1946.04.11)
Metropolitan Archbishop of Chungking
Louis-Gabriel-Xavier Jantzen, M.E.P. (see above 11 April 1946 – retired 24 October 1950), emeritate as Titular Archbishop of Phasis (1950.10.24 – death 1953.08.28)
Metropolitan Archbishops of Chongqing
uncanonical, i.e. without papal mandate: Shi Mingliang[no] (1963 –?), died 1978
without papal mandate: Simon Liu Zongyu[no] (1981 – 1992.09.30), died 1992