Archdiocese of Bukavu

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Bishop(s) François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo, Archbishop Suffragan Dioceses Butembo-Beni Goma Kasongo Kindu Uvira

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 10 November 1959 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of Square Kilometers: 8,815 (3,404 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Archeveche, Avenue Mbaki 18, B.P. 3324, Bukavu, Kivu, Rep. Democratique du Congo Telephone: (081)31.80.621

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu
  • Latin Name: de Kivu
  • Erected: 26 December 1929
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville
  • Latin Name: Costermanpolitanus
  • Name Changed: 10 January 1952
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu
  • Latin Name: Bukavuensis
  • Name Changed: 6 January 1954
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Jean-Joseph Hirth, M. Afr. † (12 Dec 1912 Appointed - 25 Oct 1920 Resigned)
• Edoardo Luigi Antonio Leys, M. Afr. † (6 Jan 1930 Succeeded - Aug 1944 Resigned)
• Richard Cleire, M. Afr. † (14 Dec 1944 Appointed - 10 Jan 1952 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Kasongo)
• Xavier Geeraerts, M. Afr. † (17 Jan 1952 Appointed - 8 Mar 1957 Resigned)
• Louis Van Steene, M. Afr. † (8 Mar 1957 Succeeded - 24 May 1965 Resigned)
• Aloys Mulindwa Mutabesha Mugoma Mweru † (18 Dec 1965 Appointed - 15 Sep 1993 Resigned)
• Christophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo, S.J. † (14 Mar 1995 Appointed - 29 Oct 1996 Died)
• Emmanuel Kataliko † (3 Mar 1997 Appointed - 4 Oct 2000 Died)
• Charles Kambale Mbogha, A.A. † (13 Mar 2001 Appointed - 9 Oct 2005 Died)
• François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo (26 Apr 2006 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu
26 December 1929	Erected		Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu (erected)
10 January 1952	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Baudouinville Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasongo (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville
10 January 1952	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu	Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville
Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu
6 January 1954	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu
30 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu	Vicariate Apostolic of Goma (erected)
Archdiocese of Bukavu
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu	Archdiocese of Bukavu
16 April 1962	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bukavu Diocese of Kasongo	Diocese of Uvira (erected)

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Kivu
1950	82,984	855,635	9.7%	4	71	75	1,106		72	97	15	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Costermansville
Vicariate Apostolic of Bukavu
Archdiocese of Bukavu
1959	232,184	1,117,507	20.8%	24	110	134	1,732		168	162	23	ap1960
1970	312,232	803,710	38.8%	23	79	102	3,061		142	170	17	ap1971
1980	485,615	1,104,328	44.0%	29	76	105	4,624	1	135	250	21	ap1981
1990	625,759	1,369,544	45.7%	52	92	144	4,345	1	185	401	24	ap1991
1999	831,562	1,620,943	51.3%	93	79	172	4,834		173	437	30	ap2000
2000	882,591	1,777,558	49.7%	91	71	162	5,448		180	448	30	ap2001
2001	882,591	1,777,558	49.7%	95	71	166	5,316		180	448	30	ap2002
2002	860,599	1,346,216	63.9%	97	90	187	4,602		197	489	33	ap2004
2006	911,538	1,714,707	53.2%	105	90	195	4,674		230	494	32	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops

• Richard Cleire, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Dec 1944 to 10 Jan 1952)
• Xavier Geeraerts, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 17 Jan 1952 to 8 Mar 1957)
• Jean-Joseph Hirth, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Dec 1912 to 25 Oct 1920)
• Emmanuel Kataliko † (Archbishop: 3 Mar 1997 to 4 Oct 2000)
• Edoardo Luigi Antonio Leys, M. Afr. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 19 Dec 1929; Vicar Apostolic: 6 Jan 1930 to Aug 1944)
• François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo (Priest: 19 Aug 1984; Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Nov 2004; Archbishop: 26 Apr 2006 - )
• Charles Kambale Mbogha, A.A. † (Archbishop: 13 Mar 2001 to 9 Oct 2005)
• Aloys Mulindwa Mutabesha Mugoma Mweru † (Priest: 24 Apr 1954; Archbishop: 18 Dec 1965 to 15 Sep 1993)
• Christophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo, S.J. † (Archbishop: 14 Mar 1995 to 29 Oct 1996)
• Louis Van Steene, M. Afr. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 7 Nov 1955; Vicar Apostolic: 8 Mar 1957; Archbishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 24 May 1965)