Pope Francis Appoints Two New Bishops for Dioceses in DR Congo

Basankusu, 12 November, 2023 / 10:12 PM

Pope Francis has appointed Mons. Libère Pwongo Bope and Mons. Léonard Kakudju Muzinga as Bishops for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Basankusu and Kamina Dioceses respectively.

In the latest Papal appointments for Africa, the Holy Father also accepted the resignation of  Bishop Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Basankusu.

The appointment of Mons. Bope, currently serving as the Chancellor Secretary of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa, and that of Mons. Muzinga, who is serving as Parish Priest of St. Paul and Vicar Forane of Lubumbashi Archdiocese, was made public by the Holy See press office on Saturday, November 11.

Born in May 1964 in Mweka, Mons. Bope was ordained a Priest for Kinshasa Archdiocese in January 1992 after completing his Priestly studies.

As a Priest, the Bishop-elect has served in various capacities, including Formator and Professor at the St. André Kaggwa Major Seminary, He has also served as the Academic Secretary in the same Seminary, private secretary to the Archbishop of Kinshasa, chancellor-secretary of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa , and administrator of the St. Paul Evry Parish in France. 

The holder of a Licentiate and Doctorate in Philosophy also served as Rector of the St. André Kaggwa Major Seminary and professor at the Catholic University of Congo (UCC).

Outside the Central African nation, Mons. Bope served as fidei donum missionary in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Parish Priest in the Archdiocese of Bangui.

Once ordained Bishop, he will oversee the 77,000 square-kilometer Catholic Diocese that was erected in February 1959, with a population of 200,247 Catholics according to 2020 statistics.

In the latest Papal appointments, the Holy Father also appointed Bishop Mons. Muzinga the new Local Ordinary of the Congolese Catholic Diocese of Kamina that is in the Ecclesiastical Province of Lubumbashi.

The Congolese Episcopal See has been vacant since December 2020 when Bishop Jean-Anatole Kalala Kaseba retired.

Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu of Lubumbashi Archdiocese has been serving as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese since then. 

Born in March 1970 in Kalemie, Mons. Muzinga was ordained a Priest for the Archdiocese of  Lubumbashi in July 2005.

The Congolese Cleric who is expected to become the fifth Bishop of Kamina Diocese has previously served as Parish vicar of St. Joseph and director of the Institut Technique Saint François Xavier in Likasi.

The Bishop-elect also served as head of youth pastoral care in the Likasi sector, Parish Priest of St. Paul Parish of Lubumbashi Archdiocese, chaplain and referent for Sisters of the Bakhita Family, and episcopal vicar for diocesan works in Lubumbashi 

Since 2023, he has been a member of the diocesan Board for Economic Affairs.

Once ordained Bishop, Mons. Muzinga is expected to oversee the  73,479 square-kilometer Catholic Diocese that was erected in February 1959, with a population of 513,000 Catholics according to 2021 statistics.