Mbandaka-Bikoro (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, C.I.C.M., Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Name Changed: 12 April 1975
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 114,790 (44,337 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archevêché, 39 Avenue Bolenge, Mbandaka, Rep. Democratique du Congo
Telephone: (082)945.14.51; (085)810.96.96

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Tsuapa
- Latin Name: de Tsuapa
- Erected: 11 February 1924
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville
- Latin Name: de Coquilhatville
- Name Changed: 28 January 1926
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Coquilhatville
- Latin Name: de Coquilhatville
- Elevated: 22 March 1932
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
- Square Kilometers: 185,775 (71,755 Square Miles)
Archdiocese of Coquilhatville
- Latin Name: Coquilhatvillensis
- Elevated: 10 November 1959
- Metropolitan See
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Archdiocese of Mbandaka
- Latin Name: Mbandakana
- Name Changed: 30 May 1966
- Metropolitan See
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edouard van Goethem, M.S.C. † (25 Feb 1924 Appointed - 10 Apr 1947 Resigned)
Hilaire Marie Vermeiren, M.S.C. † (10 Apr 1947 Appointed - 8 Apr 1963 Retired)
Pierre Wijnants, M.S.C. † (21 Apr 1964 Appointed - 11 Nov 1977 Resigned)
Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, C.I.C.M. † (11 Nov 1977 Succeeded - 7 Jul 1990 Appointed, Archbishop of Kinshasa)
Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba † (11 Oct 1991 Appointed - 6 Mar 2016 Died)
Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap. (12 Nov 2016 Appointed - 6 Feb 2018 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Kinshasa)
Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, C.I.C.M. (23 Nov 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Tsuapa
11 February 1924	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Nouvelle-Anvers (Thsuapa)	Prefecture Apostolic of Tsuapa (erected)
28 January 1926	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Nouvelle-Anvers (Southern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Tsuapa
Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville
28 January 1926	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Tsuapa	Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville
27 April 1927	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Léopoldville (Bafalce, Belongo Weti, and Hongo)	Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville
3 January 1931	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Bikoro) Vicariate Apostolic of Léopoldville (Remaining part of Bikoro)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bikoro (erected)
1 March 1931	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Ngoonbe)	Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu
1 March 1931	Territory Added	Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu (Gkota-Bosaka)	Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville
Vicariate Apostolic of Coquilhatville
22 March 1932	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville	Vicariate Apostolic of Coquilhatville
24 May 1950	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Boundries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Boundries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu (Boundries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Léopoldville (Boundries adjusted)
14 June 1951	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu Vicariate Apostolic of Coquilhatville Vicariate Apostolic of Lisala Vicariate Apostolic of Stanley-ville	Prefecture Apostolic of Isangi (erected)
Archdiocese of Coquilhatville
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Coquilhatville	Archdiocese of Coquilhatville
11 September 1961	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Coquilhatville	Diocese of Ikela (erected)
Archdiocese of Mbandaka
30 May 1966	Name Changed	Archdiocese of Coquilhatville	Archdiocese of Mbandaka
Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro
12 April 1975	Name Changed	Diocese of Bikoro (suppressed) (Bikoro, Irebu, Bokongo, Lukolela, Itipo, and Iboko) Archdiocese of Mbandaka	Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro

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 Coquilhatville

1949 80,278 423,945 18.9% 1 52 53 1,514 73 97 ap1951

Archdiocese of Coquilhatville

Archdiocese of Mbandaka

1969 128,721 4 36 40 3,218 61 102 19 ap1971

Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro

1980 177,624 505,000 35.2% 10 55 65 2,732 66 135 36 ap1981

1990 254,722 689,000 37.0% 25 46 71 3,587 68 128 37 ap1991

1996 296,438 839,327 35.3% 48 34 82 3,615 50 116 38 ap2001

2001 350,096 864,000 40.5% 39 24 63 5,557 46 127 32 ap2002

2002 360,000 885,000 40.7% 40 26 66 5,454 42 117 32 ap2003

2003 364,000 898,000 40.5% 38 22 60 6,066 36 110 33 ap2004

2004 364,000 898,000 40.5% 39 23 62 5,870 37 120 33 ap2005

2013 598,000 1,141,000 52.4% 54 35 89 6,719 94 150 34 ap2014

2016 646,000 1,232,000 52.4% 56 31 87 7,425 42 82 34 ap2017

2019 710,000 1,354,000 52.4% 61 36 97 7,319 74 125 35 ap2020

2021 1,620,721 2,448,406 66.2% 60 46 106 15,289 86 124 35 ap2022

2023 1,690,000 2,551,000 66.2% 66 47 113 14,955 87 135 35 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Coquilhatville
1949	80,278	423,945	18.9%	1	52	53	1,514	73	97		ap1951
Archdiocese of Coquilhatville
Archdiocese of Mbandaka
1969	128,721			4	36	40	3,218	61	102	19	ap1971
Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro
1980	177,624	505,000	35.2%	10	55	65	2,732	66	135	36	ap1981
1990	254,722	689,000	37.0%	25	46	71	3,587	68	128	37	ap1991
1996	296,438	839,327	35.3%	48	34	82	3,615	50	116	38	ap2001
2001	350,096	864,000	40.5%	39	24	63	5,557	46	127	32	ap2002
2002	360,000	885,000	40.7%	40	26	66	5,454	42	117	32	ap2003
2003	364,000	898,000	40.5%	38	22	60	6,066	36	110	33	ap2004
2004	364,000	898,000	40.5%	39	23	62	5,870	37	120	33	ap2005
2013	598,000	1,141,000	52.4%	54	35	89	6,719	94	150	34	ap2014
2016	646,000	1,232,000	52.4%	56	31	87	7,425	42	82	34	ap2017
2019	710,000	1,354,000	52.4%	61	36	97	7,319	74	125	35	ap2020
2021	1,620,721	2,448,406	66.2%	60	46	106	15,289	86	124	35	ap2022
2023	1,690,000	2,551,000	66.2%	66	47	113	14,955	87	135	35	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, C.I.C.M. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 8 Jul 1976; Archbishop: 11 Nov 1977 to 7 Jul 1990)
Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba † (Archbishop: 11 Oct 1991 to 6 Mar 2016)
Edouard van Goethem, M.S.C. † (Prefect: 25 Feb 1924; Vicar Apostolic: 29 Nov 1932 to 10 Apr 1947)
Hilaire Marie Vermeiren, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Apr 1947; Archbishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 8 Apr 1963)
Pierre Wijnants, M.S.C. † (Archbishop: 21 Apr 1964 to 11 Nov 1977)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Tsuapa
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 16, Page 153, and Page 154
Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 18, Page 215, and Page 216
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 19, Page 305
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 23, Page 374, and Page 375
Vicariate Apostolic of Coquilhatville
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 24, Page 300
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 42, Page 648, and Page 649
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 43, Page 284, and Page 285
Archdiocese of Coquilhatville
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377