Diocese of Molegbe
| Diocese of Molegbe Dioecesis Molegbensis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Metropolitan | Mbandaka-Bikoro |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 79,000 km2 (31,000 sq mi) |
| Population Total Catholics |
(as of 1997) 3,761,732 1,879,566 (50.0%) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Joseph Mopepe Ngongo |
| Bishops emeritus | Joseph-Bernard Likolo Bokal'Etumba |
Diocese of Molegbe — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Molegbe (Latin: Molegben(sis)) is a suffragan Latin diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Mbandaka-Bikoro in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Its cathedral episcopal see is Cathédrale Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue (St. Anthony of Padua) in the city of Molegbe.
Description
The Diocese of Molegbe encompasses a territory of approximately 79,000 square kilometers surrounding the commune of Molegbe, Nord-Ubangi province.[1] In 2021, 944,440 Catholics lived in the diocese, representing 53.2 percent of the region's total population.[1]
History
- Established on 7 April 1911 as Apostolic Prefecture of Belgian Ubanghi, on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Belgian Congo.
- 28 January 1935: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Belgian Ubanghi, since entitled to a titular bishop.
- Promoted on 10 November 1959 as Diocese of Molegbe, becoming a suffragan diocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro.[1]
Ordinaries
- Apostolic Prefects of Belgian Ubanghi
- Fr. Fulgenzio da Gerard-Montes, OFMCap (1911 – 1930?)
- Fr. Basilio Ottavio Tanghe, OFMCap (16 October 1931 – 28 January 1935)
- Apostolic Vicars of Belgian Ubanghi
- Basilio Ottavio Tanghe, OFMCap (28 January 1935 – 16 December 1947), Titular Bishop of Tigava (28 January 1935 – 16 December 1947)
- Jean Ghislain Delcuve, OFMCap (10 June 1948 – 13 November 1958), Titular Bishop of Bargylia
- Léon Théobald Delaere, OFMCap (13 November 1958 – 10 November 1959), Titular Bishop of Fessei (13 November 1958 – 10 November 1959)
- Bishops of Molegbe
- Léon Théobald Delaere, OFMCap (10 November 1959 – 3 August 1967), later Titular Bishop of Rusibisir (3 August 1967 – 14 September 1976)
- Apostolic Administrator Louis Nganga a Ndzando (1967 – 5 September 1968), Bishop of Lisala (Congo-Kinshasa) (25 November 1964 – 6 July 1997)
- Joseph Kesenge Wandangakongu (5 September 1968 – 18 October 1997)
- Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, CICM (27 June 1998 – 23 May 2007)
- Dominique Bulamatari (24 November 2009 – 1 August 2023)[1]
- Sede vacante (since 1 August 2023)
- Joseph-Bernard Likolo Bokal'Etumba, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lisala, has headed the diocese as Apostolic Administrator (1 August 2023 - 6 July 2025)
- Joseph Mopepe Ngongo, Bishop-Elect. Consecration and installation scheduled on 6 July 2025.
See also
Source and External links
Canonical status and jurisdiction
Roman Catholic Diocese of Molegbe is a diocese of the catholic church of the Catholic Church.[2]
External links
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Back to citation occurrence 1.2 Back to citation occurrence 1.3 Isenjia, Silas (1 August 2023). "Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of 68-Year-Old Bishop in DR Congo". ACI Africa. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- Back to citation Roman Catholic Diocese of Molegbe, official website