Bukavu (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 10 November 1959
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 8,115 (3,134 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.archidiocesebukavu.com/
Mailing Address: Archeveche, Avenue Mbaki 18, Commune d'Ibanda, Sud-Kivu; B.P. 3324 [par Chuangugu 02]; B.P. 162, Bukavu, Rep. Democratique du Congo
Telephone: 998.090.336

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu
- Latin Name: de Kivu
- Erected: 26 December 1929
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville
- Latin Name: Costermanpolitanus
- Name Changed: 10 January 1952
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu
- Latin Name: Bukavuensis
- Name Changed: 6 January 1954
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edouard Louis Antoine Leys, M. Afr. † (19 Dec 1929 Appointed - Aug 1944 Resigned)
Richard Cleire, M. Afr. † (14 Dec 1944 Appointed - 10 Jan 1952 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Kasongo)
Xavier Geeraerts, M. Afr. † (10 Jan 1952 Appointed - 8 Mar 1957 Resigned)
Louis Van Steene, M. Afr. † (8 Mar 1957 Succeeded - 24 May 1965 Resigned)
Aloys Mulindwa Mutabesha Mugoma Mweru † (18 Dec 1965 Appointed - 15 Sep 1993 Resigned)
Christophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo, S.J. † (14 Mar 1995 Appointed - 29 Oct 1996 Died)
Emmanuel Kataliko † (3 Mar 1997 Appointed - 4 Oct 2000 Died)
Charles Kambale Mbogha, A.A. † (13 Mar 2001 Appointed - 9 Oct 2005 Died)
François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo (26 Apr 2006 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu
26 December 1929	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper Congo {Congo Superiore} (Kivu)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu (erected)
12 June 1947	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Beni nel Congo Belga {Belgian Congo} (Boundaries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu (Boundaries adjusted)
10 January 1952	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Baudouinville (Northern region) Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu (Shabunda, Mwenga, and Fizi)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasongo (erected)
10 January 1952	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Baudouinville (Boundaries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu (Boundaries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Stanley-ville (Boundaries adjusted)
Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville
10 January 1952	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu	Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville
Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu
6 January 1954	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu
30 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu	Vicariate Apostolic of Goma (erected)
Archdiocese of Bukavu
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu	Archdiocese of Bukavu
16 April 1962	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bukavu (Uvira, Fizi, and Mwenga) Diocese of Kasongo (Portions of Kabambare)	Diocese of Uvira (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu

1950 82,984 855,635 9.7% 4 71 75 1,106 72 97 15 ap1951

Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville

Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu

Archdiocese of Bukavu

1959 232,184 1,117,507 20.8% 24 110 134 1,732 168 162 23 ap1960

1970 312,232 803,710 38.8% 23 79 102 3,061 142 170 17 ap1971

1980 485,615 1,104,328 44.0% 29 76 105 4,624 1 135 250 21 ap1981

1990 625,759 1,369,544 45.7% 52 92 144 4,345 1 185 401 24 ap1991

1999 831,562 1,620,943 51.3% 93 79 172 4,834 173 437 30 ap2000

2000 882,591 1,777,558 49.7% 91 71 162 5,448 180 448 30 ap2001

2001 882,591 1,777,558 49.7% 95 71 166 5,316 180 448 30 ap2002

2002 860,599 1,346,216 63.9% 97 90 187 4,602 197 489 33 ap2004

2006 911,538 1,714,707 53.2% 105 90 195 4,674 230 494 32 ap2007

2012 1,050,000 2,012,000 52.2% 153 82 235 4,468 226 502 35 ap2013

2015 1,037,065 2,607,000 39.8% 144 79 223 4,650 146 515 39 ap2016

2018 1,077,799 2,594,740 41.5% 169 81 250 4,311 169 565 41 ap2019

2020 1,099,164 2,799,287 39.3% 169 86 255 4,310 186 623 41 ap2021

2022 1,176,200 2,996,630 39.3% 178 84 262 4,489 217 596 42 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu
1950	82,984	855,635	9.7%	4	71	75	1,106		72	97	15	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville
Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu
Archdiocese of Bukavu
1959	232,184	1,117,507	20.8%	24	110	134	1,732		168	162	23	ap1960
1970	312,232	803,710	38.8%	23	79	102	3,061		142	170	17	ap1971
1980	485,615	1,104,328	44.0%	29	76	105	4,624	1	135	250	21	ap1981
1990	625,759	1,369,544	45.7%	52	92	144	4,345	1	185	401	24	ap1991
1999	831,562	1,620,943	51.3%	93	79	172	4,834		173	437	30	ap2000
2000	882,591	1,777,558	49.7%	91	71	162	5,448		180	448	30	ap2001
2001	882,591	1,777,558	49.7%	95	71	166	5,316		180	448	30	ap2002
2002	860,599	1,346,216	63.9%	97	90	187	4,602		197	489	33	ap2004
2006	911,538	1,714,707	53.2%	105	90	195	4,674		230	494	32	ap2007
2012	1,050,000	2,012,000	52.2%	153	82	235	4,468		226	502	35	ap2013
2015	1,037,065	2,607,000	39.8%	144	79	223	4,650		146	515	39	ap2016
2018	1,077,799	2,594,740	41.5%	169	81	250	4,311		169	565	41	ap2019
2020	1,099,164	2,799,287	39.3%	169	86	255	4,310		186	623	41	ap2021
2022	1,176,200	2,996,630	39.3%	178	84	262	4,489		217	596	42	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Richard Cleire, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Dec 1944 to 10 Jan 1952)
Xavier Geeraerts, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Jan 1952 to 8 Mar 1957)
Emmanuel Kataliko † (Archbishop: 3 Mar 1997 to 4 Oct 2000)
Edouard Louis Antoine Leys, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Dec 1929 to Aug 1944)
Charles Kambale Mbogha, A.A. † (Archbishop: 13 Mar 2001 to 9 Oct 2005)
Aloys Mulindwa Mutabesha Mugoma Mweru † (Priest: 24 Apr 1954; Archbishop: 18 Dec 1965 to 15 Sep 1993)
Christophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo, S.J. † (Archbishop: 14 Mar 1995 to 29 Oct 1996)
Louis Van Steene, M. Afr. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 7 Nov 1955; Vicar Apostolic: 8 Mar 1957; Archbishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 24 May 1965)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 22, Page 315, and Page 316
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 39, Page 460
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 435
Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 436
Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 148
Archdiocese of Bukavu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

✠

Archdiocese of Bukavu

Archidioecesis Bukavuensis