Diocese of

Basankusu

Congo-Kinshasa

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Basankusu / Basankusuen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mbandaka–Bikoro

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1926.07.28: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Basankusu / Basankusuen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Nouvelle-Anvers)
1948.07.08: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Basankusu / Basankusuen(sis) (Latin)
1951.06.14: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Isangi
1959.11.10: Promoted as Diocese of Basankusu / Basankusuen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Coquilhatville)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.11.11 – ...):

Bishop Libère Pwongo Bope (60)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Basankusu (Roman Rite)

Bishop Libère Pwongo Bope (60)
(2023.11.11 – ...)

Bishop of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa)

Born:	1964.05.21 (Mweka, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1992.01.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.12.16

Priest of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (1992.01.04 – 2023.11.11)

Bishop of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (2023.11.11 – ...)

Bishop Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku (75)
(2001.11.09 – 2023.11.11)

Bishop emeritus of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa)

Sapientia et fortitude eius

Born:	1949.08.15 (Djombo, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1978.08.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.03.20

Priest of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1978.08.20 – 1993.12.06)

Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (1993.12.06 – 2001.11.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1998 – 2001.11.09)

Bishop of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (2001.11.09 – 2023.11.11)

Bishop Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku (75)
(Apostolic Administrator 1998 – 2001.11.09)

Bishop Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M.
(1974.11.18 – 1998.06.27)

Born:	1932.04.12 (Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1964.08.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.04.13
Died:	2011.09.09 († 79)

Bishop of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1974.11.18 – 1998.06.27)

Bishop of Molegbe (Congo-Kinshasa) (1998.06.27 – 2007.05.23)

Bishop Willem van Kester, M.H.M.
(1959.11.10 – 1974.11.18)

Born:	1906.02.01 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1929.05.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.10.11
Died:	1989.04.07 († 83)

Titular Bishop of Legia (1952.06.19 – 1959.11.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1952.06.19 – 1959.11.10)

Bishop of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1959.11.10 – 1974.11.18)

Vicars Apostolic of Basankusu (Roman Rite)

Bishop Willem van Kester, M.H.M.
(1952.06.19 – 1959.11.10)

(see above)

Bishop Gerardo Wantenaar, M.H.M.
(1948.07.08 – 1951.12.03)

Born:	1886.03.19 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1909.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1948.04.14
Died:	1951.12.03 († 65)

Prefect Apostolic of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1927.02.02 – 1948.07.08)

Titular Bishop of Uzalis (1948.07.08 – 1951.12.03)

Vicar Apostolic of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1948.07.08 – 1951.12.03)

Prefects Apostolic of Basankusu (Roman Rite)

Bishop Gerardo Wantenaar, M.H.M.
(1927.02.02 – 1948.07.08)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Saints-Pierre-et-Paul, Basankusu, Équateur

Mbandaka–Bikoro (↙), Budjala (↑), Lisala (↗), Isangi (→), Bokungu–Ikela (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 77,000 km²

Population: 226,430 Catholics (20.1% of 1,127,629 total)

Pastoral Centres: 20 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 46 priests (44 diocesan, 2 religious), 81 religious (8 brothers, 73 sisters), 42 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.01.27

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