Roman Catholic Diocese of Kikwit
Diocese of Kikwit Dioecesis Kikuitensis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Metropolitan | Kinshasa |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 62,000 km2 (24,000 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2004) 3,809,220 2,004,852 (52.6%) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Édouard Mununu Kasiala, O.C.S.O. |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kikwit (Latin: Kikuiten(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Kikwit in the Ecclesiastical province of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
History
- Established in 1893 as Mission sui iuris of Kwango (or Koango), on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Léopoldville
- Promoted on 31 January 1903 as Apostolic Prefecture of Kwango
- Promoted on 28 March 1928 to Apostolic Vicariate of Kwango, hence entitled to a titular bishop
- Lost territory repeatedly: to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Kisantu on 1931.04.01, and on 1935.01.28 more territory to the same; on 1937.04.13 to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Ipamu and more on 1939.04.25 to the same
- Renamed on 21 February 1955 as Apostolic Vicariate of Kikwit
- Lost territory on 1957.07.05 to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Kenge
- Promoted on 10 November 1959 as Diocese of Kikwit
Incumbents
(all Roman rite, mostly missionary members of Latin congregations)
- Ecclesiastical superiors of the mission sui iuris of Kwango (Koango)
(not available -- 1893-1903)
- Apostolic Prefects of Kwango
- Julien Banckaert (1903 – 1911)
- Stanislas de Vos, Society of Jesus (S.J.) (1911 – 1928)
- Apostolic Vicars of Kwango
- Silvain van Hee, S.J. (1928.03.28 – 1936.02.20), Titular Bishop of Possala (1928.03.28 – 1960.03.26)
- Enrico van Schingen, S.J. (1936.12.17 – 1954.07.02), Titular Bishop of Phelbes (1936.12.17 – 1954.07.02)
- Apostolic Vicar of Kikwit
- André Lefèbvre, S.J. (1955.02.25 – 1959.11.10 see below), Titular Bishop of Raphanea (1955.02.25 – 1959.11.10)
- Bishops of Kikwit
- André Lefèbvre, S.J. (see above 1959.11.10 – 1967.11.29), later Titular Bishop of Thucca Terebenthina (1967.11.29 – 1976.09.15)
- Alexander Mbuka-Nzundu (1967.11.29 – 1985.10.14), previously Titular Bishop of Cataquas &
Auxiliary Bishop of Kikwit (1961.06.24 – 1967.11.29)
- Édouard Mununu Kasiala, Trappists (O.C.S.O.) (1986.03.10 - ...), also Apostolic Administrator of Popokabaka (Congo-Kinshasa) (1991 – 1996.04.22); previously Titular Bishop of Aquæ Flaviæ & Auxiliary Bishop of Kikwit (1984.11.08 – 1986.03.10)
See also
Sources and external links
