Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Tsuapa
  • Erected: 11 February 1924
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Prefecture Apostolic of 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
  • 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

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 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

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap. (Apostolic Administrator: 5 Mar 2016; Archbishop: 12 Nov 2016 to 6 Feb 2018; Apostolic Administrator: 27 Feb 2018 to 26 Jan 2020)
• Toussaint Iluku Bolumbu, M.S.C.
• Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, C.I.C.M. (Archbishop: 23 Nov 2019 - )

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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)