Partial oxidation of methane over perovskite catalyst

A process for the partial oxidation of methane, said process comprising contacting methane and oxygen with a perovskite of the formula ABO.sub.3, where A is at least one metal atom capable of occupying the 12-coordinate sites of the perovskite and B is at least one metal atom capable of occupying the 6-coordinate sites of the perovskite, wherein methane and oxygen are contacted with said perovskite under conditions sufficient to convert said methane and oxygen to a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and wherein methane and oxygen are contacted with said perovskite at a temperature of from about 600.degree. C. to about 900.degree. C.