Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lubumbashi, Congo-Kinshasa

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Lubumbashi / Lubumbashien(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Kalemie–Kirungu, Kamina, Kilwa–Kasenga, Kolwezi, Kongolo, Manono, Sakania–Kipushi

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1910.08.05: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Katanga / Katangæn(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Tanganyika)
1922.07.18: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Lulua Katanga
1925.05.12: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Luapula Supérieur
1932.03.22: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Katanga / Katangæn(sis) (Latin)
1959.11.10: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Elisabethville / Elisabethapolitan(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Baudouinville, Kamina, Kongolo and Sakania)
1962.08.24: Gained suffragan see Kilwa
1966.05.30: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lubumbashi / Lubumbashien(sis) (Latin)
1971.03.11: Gained suffragan see Kolwezi
1971.04.24: Gained suffragan see Manono
1976.11.13: Lost territory to Diocese of Sakania
1977.01.21: Lost territory to Diocese of Kilwa

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1985.08)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2021.05.22 – ...):

Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu (62)

President of National Episcopal Conference of Congo

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Lubumbashi (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu (62)
(2021.05.22 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lubumbashi (Congo-Kinshasa)
President of National Episcopal Conference of Congo

Born:	1962.07.09 (Kongolo, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1990.08.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.07.23

Priest of Kongolo (Congo-Kinshasa) (1990.08.05 – 2005.03.18)

Bishop of Kilwa–Kasenga (Congo-Kinshasa) (2005.03.18 – 2021.05.22)

Apostolic Administrator of Kamina (Congo-Kinshasa) (2020.12.03 – 2023.11.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lubumbashi (Congo-Kinshasa) (2021.05.22 – ...)

President of National Episcopal Conference of Congo (2024.07.01 – ...)

Archbishop Jean-Pierre Tafunga Mbayo, S.D.B.
(2010.12.01 – 2021.03.31)

Amour et miséricorde

Born:	1942.07.25 (Panda-Likasi, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1972.09.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1993.01.31
Died:	2021.03.31 (Pretoria, South Africa † 78)

Bishop of Kilwa–Kasenga (Congo-Kinshasa) (1992.10.06 – 2002.06.10)

Bishop of Uvira (Congo-Kinshasa) (2002.06.10 – 2008.07.31)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Lubumbashi (Congo-Kinshasa) (2008.07.31 – 2010.12.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lubumbashi (Congo-Kinshasa) (2010.12.01 – 2021.03.31)

Archbishop Floribert Songasonga Mwitwa
(1998.05.22 – 2010.12.01)

Born:	1937.08.29 (Kalasa, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1963.08.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.08.24
Died:	2020.12.31 (Lubumbashi, Congo-Kinshasa † 83)

Bishop of Kolwezi (Congo-Kinshasa) (1974.04.25 – 1998.05.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lubumbashi (Congo-Kinshasa) (1998.05.22 – 2010.12.01)

Apostolic Administrator of Sakania–Kipushi (Congo-Kinshasa) (2001 – 2004.04.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Manono (Congo-Kinshasa) (2001.12.21 – 2004.04.07)

Archbishop Eugène Kabanga Songasonga
(1967.04.13 – 1998.03.25)

Born:	1932.08.19 (Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1961.08.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.08.13
Died:	2000.01.27 († 67)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lubumbashi (Congo-Kinshasa) (1967.04.13 – 1998.03.25)

Apostolic Administrator of Sakania (Congo-Kinshasa) (1973 – 1975.11.20)

Archbishop Joseph Floribert Cornelis, O.S.B.
(1959.11.10 – 1967.04.13)

Born:	1910.10.06 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1935.07.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1958.12.27
Died:	2001.12.20 († 91)

Titular Bishop of Tunes (1958.11.27 – 1959.11.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Katanga (Congo-Kinshasa) (1958.11.27 – 1959.11.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lubumbashi (Congo-Kinshasa) (1959.11.10 – 1967.04.13)

Titular Archbishop of Capra (1967.04.13 – 1974.11.13)

Archbishop-Bishop of Alagoinhas (Brazil) (1974.11.13 – 1986.05.24)

Vicars Apostolic of Katanga (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Floribert Cornelis, O.S.B. (later Archbishop)
(1958.11.27 – 1959.11.10)

(see above)

Bishop Jean-Félix de Hemptinne, O.S.B.
(1932.03.22 – 1958.02.06)

Born:	1876.12.13 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1901.08.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1932.07.24
Died:	1958.02.06 († 81)

Prefect Apostolic of Katanga (Congo-Kinshasa) (1910.08.06 – 1932.03.22)

Titular Bishop of Milevum (1932.03.22 – 1958.02.06)

Vicar Apostolic of Katanga (Congo-Kinshasa) (1932.03.22 – 1958.02.06)

Prefects Apostolic of Katanga (Roman Rite)

Fr. Jean-Félix de Hemptinne, O.S.B. (later Bishop)
(1910.08.06 – 1932.03.22)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Jean-Pierre Tafunga Mbayo, S.D.B. (2008.07.31 – 2010.12.01)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Saints-Pierre-et-Paul, Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga
Minor Basilica: Basilique Sainte-Marie, Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga

Solwezi (↙), Kolwezi (←), Kamina (↖), Kilwa–Kasenga (↗), Sakania–Kipushi (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 61,828 km²

Population: 2,064,000 Catholics (54.4% of 3,796,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 84 parishes, 20 missions

Personnel: 409 priests (178 diocesan, 231 religious), 1,034 religious (474 brothers, 560 sisters), 106 seminarians