Advertisement

Pope Francis Erects New Catholic Diocese in Chad, Appoints Pioneer Local Ordinary

Mons. Samuel Mbairabé Tibingar, appointed Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Koumra in Chad on 12 August 2023. Credit: Cloche TV Tchad
Jude Atemanke

By Jude Atemanke

Koumra, 14 August, 2023 / 8:45 pm (ACI Africa).

Pope Francis has erected the Diocese of Koumra as a new Episcopal See in Chad and appointed Mons. Samuel Mbairabé Tibingar as its pioneer Bishop.

The latest administrative changes in the North Central African nation were made public by the Holy See Press office in its Saturday, August 12 publication. 

The newly erected Diocese that is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of N’Djaména coincides with the civil province of Mandoul, of which Koumra is its principal city.

Koumra  Diocese measures 17,330 square kilometers and has a population of 900,000 of which 124,083 are Catholics representing 4.86 percent of the total population, according to the Holy See report. 

Mons. Mbairabé, who until his appointment has been the vicar general of the Archdiocese of N’Djaména, was born in July 1972  in Sarh.

Advertisement

He was ordained a Priest for N’Djaména Archdiocese in November 2005 after completing his  theological and philosophical studies at St. Luke de Bakara Interdiocesan Major Seminary in N’Djaména.

Mons. Mbairabé holds a Licentiate in sacred scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and a doctorate from the Theological Faculty of Central Italy in Florence.

Since his Priestly ordination, the Bishop-elect has served in various capacities, including deputy Parish Priest of the Cathedral of N’Djaména; Parish Priest of St. Paul de Kabalaye in N’Djaména ; and collaborator in the Santi Martino e Giusto parish in Lucardo Alto, Florence.

He also served as formator at the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Sarh, and then rector in 2017.

After his Episcopal Ordination, the Bishop-elect is to oversee the newly erected Diocese with St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus Church as the Cathedral.

More in Africa

Kenya

“We are all equal”: Congolese Cardinal Calls for Reforms for “disadvantaged” Women in Church, Society

Read the article
Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

Trending

You may also like

The Vatican and Microsoft have created a 3D digital model of St. Peter’s Basilica using the latest in artificial intelligence to offer a new way to experience the nearly 2,000-year history of the tomb of St. Peter. / Credit: Microsoft La Basilica Di San Pietro: AI-Enhanced Experience

Discover the History of St. Peter’s Basilica in New Microsoft Oline AI-enhanced 3D Model

Accessible worldwide at virtual.basilicasanpietro.va, the free interactive platform allows anyone in the world to “visit” the virtual 3D model of...

An external view of the Chapel of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem during the procession of the Franciscan friars after the first vespers of the Ascension solemnity on May 8, 2024. The procession circled the chapel three times. / Credit: Marinella Bandini

Catholics Ascend to Mount Olives, Site of Jesus’ Ascension, Only Day They Can Use Chapel Currently Under Muslim Control

“I’m excited to have come to pray in the actual place of the Ascension... I want to be closer to...

Pope Francis arriving at the meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians and catechists in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Dili, East Timor, Sept. 10, 2024. / Vatican Media

Catholics in East Timor Welcome Pope Francis to their Island "oasis" of Religious Vocations

Speaking in Dili's cathedral, Pope Francis challenged East Timor's Catholic leaders to renew evangelization efforts, declaring that the nation's position...