Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mbandaka–Bikoro, Congo-Kinshasa

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Mbandaka–Bikoro / Mbandakan(us)–Bikoroën(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Basankusu, Bokungu–Ikela, Budjala, Lisala, Lolo, Molegbe

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1924.02.11: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Tsuapa (from Apostolic Vicariate of Nouvelle-Anvers)
1926.01.28: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Coquilhatville / de Coquilhatville (Latin) (gained territory from Apostolic Vicariate of Nouvelle-Anvers)
1927.04.27: Exchanged territory with Apostolic Vicariate of Léopoldville
1931.01.03: Lost territory to establish Mission sui juris of Bikoro
1932.03.15: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Coquilhatville / de Coquilhatville (Latin)
1950.05.24: Lost territory to Apostolic Vicariate of Léopoldville
1951.06.14: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Isangi
1959.11.10: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Coquilhatville / Coquilhatvillen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Basankusu, Bikoro, Lisala and Molegbe)
1961.09.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Ikela and gained suffragan see Ikela
1962.07.02: Gained suffragan see Lolo
1964.11.25: Gained suffragan see Budjala
1966.05.30: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mbandaka / Mbandakan(us) (Latin)
1975.04.12: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mbandaka–Bikoro / Mbandakan(us)–Bikoroën(sis) (Latin) (gained territory from the suppressed Diocese of Bikoro and lost suffragan see Bikoro)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2019.11.23 – ...):

Archbishop Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, C.I.C.M. (59)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, C.I.C.M. (59)
(2019.11.23 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa)

Cor unum anima una

Born:	1964.05.25 (Kanya Mbonda, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1996.06.20
Consecrated Bishop:	2015.04.19

Bishop of Lisala (Congo-Kinshasa) (2015.02.11 – 2019.11.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (2019.11.23 – ...)

Archbishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap. (64) (later Cardinal)
(2016.11.12 – 2018.02.06)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Gabriele Arcangelo all’Acqua Traversa
Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa)
President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar
Member of Council of Cardinals

Omnia omnibus

Born:	1960.01.24 (Boto, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1988.08.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.03.06
Created Cardinal:	2019.10.05

Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (2004.11.22 – 2016.11.12)

Apostolic Administrator of Kole (Congo-Kinshasa) (2008.10.30 – 2015.05.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (2016.03.05 – 2016.11.12)

Vice-President of National Episcopal Conference of Congo (2016.06.24 – 2020.10.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (2016.11.12 – 2018.02.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (2016.11.12 – 2018.02.06)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (2018.02.06 – 2018.11.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (2018.11.01 – ...)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Gabriele Arcangelo all’Acqua Traversa (2019.10.05 [2022.12.03] – ...)

Member of Council of Cardinals (2020.10.15 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa) (2020.11.23 – 2022.06.11)

First Vice-President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (2022.08.01 – 2023.02.15)

President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (2023.02.15 – ...)

Bishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap. (64) (later Cardinal)
(Apostolic Administrator 2016.03.05 – 2016.11.12)

Archbishop Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba
(1991.10.11 – 2016.03.06)

Born:	1941 (Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1969.09.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.06.07
Died:	2016.03.06 († 74)

Titular Bishop of Simidicca (1980.11.29 – 1982.03.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (1980.11.29 – 1982.03.18)

Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (1982.03.18 – 1991.10.11)

Apostolic Administrator of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (1991.10.11 – 1993)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (1991.10.11 – 2016.03.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Molegbe (Congo-Kinshasa) (1997 – 1998.06.27)

Cardinal Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, C.I.C.M.
(Apostolic Administrator 1990.07.07 – 1991.10.11)

Archbishop Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, C.I.C.M. (later Cardinal)
(1977.11.11 – 1990.07.07)

Un seul cœur, un seul esprit

Born:	1930.12.03 (Mazalaga, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1958.07.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.11.07
Created Cardinal:	1991.06.28
Died:	2007.01.06 (Louvain, Belgium † 76)

Titular Archbishop of Menefessi (1976.07.08 – 1977.11.11)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (1976.07.08 – 1977.11.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (1977.11.11 – 1990.07.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (1990.07.07 – 1991.10.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (1990.07.07 – 2007.01.06)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Lucia a Piazza d’Armi (1991.06.28 – 2007.01.06)

President of National Episcopal Conference of Congo (2000 – 2004)

Archbishop Pierre Wijnants, M.S.C.
(1975.04.12 – 1977.11.11)

Born:	1914.02.08 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1939.08.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1964.06.29
Died:	1978.08.22 († 64)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Coquilhatville (Congo-Kinshasa) (1964.04.21 – 1966.05.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka (Congo-Kinshasa) (1966.05.30 – 1975.04.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (1975.04.12 – 1977.11.11)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Mbandaka (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Pierre Wijnants, M.S.C.
(1966.05.30 – 1975.04.12)

(see above)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Coquilhatville (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Pierre Wijnants, M.S.C.
(1964.04.21 – 1966.05.30)

(see above)

Archbishop Hilaire Marie Vermeiren, M.S.C.
(1959.11.10 – 1963.04.08)

Born:	1889.04.13 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1912.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.07.25
Died:	1967.08.18 († 78)

Titular Bishop of Gibba (1947.04.10 – 1959.11.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Congo-Kinshasa) (1947.04.10 – 1959.11.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Coquilhatville (Congo-Kinshasa) (1959.11.10 – 1963.04.08)

Titular Archbishop of Pedachtoë (1963.04.08 – 1967.08.18)

Vicars Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Roman Rite)

Bishop Hilaire Marie Vermeiren, M.S.C. (later Archbishop)
(1947.04.10 – 1959.11.10)

(see above)

Bishop Edoardo van Goethem, M.S.C.
(1932.03.15 – 1946)

Born:	1873.03.10 (Belgium)
Consecrated Bishop:	1933.04.25
Died:	1949.05.26 († 76)

Prefect Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Congo-Kinshasa) (1924.02.25 – 1932.03.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Congo-Kinshasa) (1932.03.15 – 1946)

Titular Bishop of Corone (1932.11.29 – 1949.05.26)

Prefects Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Roman Rite)

Fr. Edoardo van Goethem, M.S.C. (later Bishop)
(1924.02.25 – 1932.03.15)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, C.I.C.M. (later Cardinal) (1976.07.08 – 1977.11.11)