Kananga (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Félicien Ntambue Kasembe, C.I.C.M., Archbishop
Marcel Madila Basanguka, Archbishop Emeritus
Godefroid Mukeng’a Kalond, C.I.C.M., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Name Changed: 14 June 1972
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 33,000 (12,746 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archeveche, B.P. 70, Kananga, Rep.Democratique du Congo

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore
- Latin Name: de Kasaï Superiore
- Erected: 18 March 1904
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore
- Latin Name: de Kassai Superiore
- Elevated: 13 June 1917
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg
- Latin Name: Luluaburgensis
- Name Changed: 10 March 1949
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Archdiocese of Luluabourg
- Latin Name: Luluaburgensis
- Elevated: 10 November 1959
- Metropolitan See
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Émeri-Henri-Célestin Cambier, C.I.C.M. † ( 1904 Appointed - 1917 Resigned)
Auguste De Clercq, C.I.C.M. † (24 Aug 1918 Appointed - 29 Oct 1938 Resigned)
Louis-Georges-Firmin Demol, C.I.C.M. † (29 Oct 1938 Succeeded - Dec 1947 Resigned)
Bernard Mels, C.I.C.M. † (10 Mar 1949 Appointed - 26 Sep 1967 Appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Luiza)
Martin-Léonard Bakole wa Ilunga † (26 Sep 1967 Appointed - 3 Mar 1997 Retired)
Godefroid Mukeng’a Kalond, C.I.C.M. (3 Mar 1997 Appointed - 3 May 2006 Retired)
Marcel Madila Basanguka (9 Dec 2006 Appointed - 21 Dec 2022 Resigned)
Félicien Ntambue Kasembe, C.I.C.M. (19 Mar 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore
18 March 1904	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Belgian Congo {Congo Belga} o Indipendente	Prefecture Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore (erected)
30 June 1911	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore (Eastern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Katanga {Katanga Settentrionale} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore
13 June 1917	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore
2 March 1921	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore (Area left of the river Loango)	Prefecture Apostolic of Koango o Kwango
18 July 1922	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore (Lulua and Bec) Prefecture Apostolic of Katanga (Northern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Lulua e Katanga Centrale (erected)
25 May 1936	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore (Bátetelas (including Tshumbe, Lubefu, Lodja, and Kotato-Kombe))	Prefecture Apostolic of Tshumbe (erected)
13 April 1937	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore (Basongo-Brabant) Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Niadi and Kamtseha-Loange)	Prefecture Apostolic of Ipamu (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg
10 March 1949	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore	Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg
20 March 1952	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg Vicariate Apostolic of Tshumbe
24 March 1953	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg (Sankuru, Mbujimayi (aka Busbimaie), and Lomami)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kabinda (erected)
24 March 1953	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg (Region contained by the rivers Sankuru, Lombele, Lulua, Lele, Luele, Lueme, and Kasai)	Prefecture Apostolic of Mweka (erected)
26 February 1954	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Kabinda (Katende)	Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg
25 April 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg	Vicariate Apostolic of Luebo (erected)
Archdiocese of Luluabourg
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg	Archdiocese of Luluabourg
1963	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Luluabourg
3 May 1966	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kabinda (Gandajika and Mwene-Ditu) Archdiocese of Luluabourg (Bakwanga)	Diocese of Mbujimayi (erected)
3 May 1966	Territory Added	Diocese of Kabinda (Yangala)	Archdiocese of Luluabourg
26 September 1967	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Luluabourg (Southern Part)	Diocese of Luiza (erected)
26 September 1967	Territory Added	Diocese of Luebo (Kabuluanda)	Archdiocese of Luluabourg
26 September 1967	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Luluabourg (Ndekesha)	Diocese of Luebo
19 July 1969	Territory Added		Archdiocese of Luluabourg Diocese of Luiza
Archdiocese of Kananga
14 June 1972	Name Changed	Archdiocese of Luluabourg	Archdiocese of Kananga
24 August 1972	Territory Added	Diocese of Mweka (Bena-Tshiadi)	Archdiocese of Kananga

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 Luluabourg

1950 386,558 1,500,000 25.8% 26 155 181 2,135 48 225 ap1951

Archdiocese of Luluabourg

1970 526,520 1,059,943 49.7% 8 174 182 2,892 214 215 13 ap1971

Archdiocese of Kananga

1980 578,000 1,186,000 48.7% 23 65 88 6,568 92 170 16 ap1981

1990 726,000 1,453,000 50.0% 83 42 125 5,808 87 235 22 ap1991

1999 1,001,000 2,001,000 50.0% 98 27 125 8,008 72 276 48 ap2000

2000 1,250,000 2,100,000 59.5% 105 25 130 9,615 77 280 48 ap2001

2001 1,320,000 2,200,000 60.0% 103 26 129 10,232 76 286 49 ap2002

2002 1,320,000 2,200,000 60.0% 98 18 116 11,379 56 256 51 ap2003

2003 1,331,000 2,200,000 60.5% 95 23 118 11,279 59 212 51 ap2004

2004 1,335,000 2,200,000 60.7% 93 24 117 11,410 62 262 53 ap2005

2006 1,397,000 2,320,000 60.2% 98 31 129 10,829 74 293 54 ap2007

2011 1,895,000 2,769,000 68.4% 136 47 183 10,355 95 510 62 ap2012

2013 2,001,000 2,924,000 68.4% 147 43 190 10,531 113 541 64 ap2014

2016 2,160,000 3,156,000 68.4% 153 37 190 11,368 105 573 70 ap2017

2019 2,373,000 3,979,000 59.6% 159 37 196 12,107 105 573 70 ap2020

2021 2,531,995 4,245,600 59.6% 114 38 152 16,657 103 309 60 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg
1950	386,558	1,500,000	25.8%	26	155	181	2,135	48	225		ap1951
Archdiocese of Luluabourg
1970	526,520	1,059,943	49.7%	8	174	182	2,892	214	215	13	ap1971
Archdiocese of Kananga
1980	578,000	1,186,000	48.7%	23	65	88	6,568	92	170	16	ap1981
1990	726,000	1,453,000	50.0%	83	42	125	5,808	87	235	22	ap1991
1999	1,001,000	2,001,000	50.0%	98	27	125	8,008	72	276	48	ap2000
2000	1,250,000	2,100,000	59.5%	105	25	130	9,615	77	280	48	ap2001
2001	1,320,000	2,200,000	60.0%	103	26	129	10,232	76	286	49	ap2002
2002	1,320,000	2,200,000	60.0%	98	18	116	11,379	56	256	51	ap2003
2003	1,331,000	2,200,000	60.5%	95	23	118	11,279	59	212	51	ap2004
2004	1,335,000	2,200,000	60.7%	93	24	117	11,410	62	262	53	ap2005
2006	1,397,000	2,320,000	60.2%	98	31	129	10,829	74	293	54	ap2007
2011	1,895,000	2,769,000	68.4%	136	47	183	10,355	95	510	62	ap2012
2013	2,001,000	2,924,000	68.4%	147	43	190	10,531	113	541	64	ap2014
2016	2,160,000	3,156,000	68.4%	153	37	190	11,368	105	573	70	ap2017
2019	2,373,000	3,979,000	59.6%	159	37	196	12,107	105	573	70	ap2020
2021	2,531,995	4,245,600	59.6%	114	38	152	16,657	103	309	60	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Emery Kabongo Kanundowi (Priest: 15 Aug 1969 to 10 Dec 1987)
Léonard Kasanda Lumembu, C.I.C.M.
Bernard Emmanuel Kasanda Mulenga
Sebastien Kenda Ntumba
Marcel Madila Basanguka (Priest: 30 Aug 1981; Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Feb 2004; Archbishop: 9 Dec 2006 to 21 Dec 2022)
Louis Mbwôl-Mpasi, O.M.I.
Godefroid Mukeng’a Kalond, C.I.C.M. (Archbishop: 3 Mar 1997 to 3 May 2006)
Félicien Ntambue Kasembe, C.I.C.M. (Apostolic Administrator: 21 Dec 2022; Archbishop: 19 Mar 2024 - )
Pierre-Célestin Tshitoko Mamba (Priest: 22 Aug 1982 to 7 Jan 2006)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Martin-Léonard Bakole wa Ilunga † (Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Jun 1966; Archbishop: 26 Sep 1967 to 3 Mar 1997)
Émeri-Henri-Célestin Cambier, C.I.C.M. † (Prefect: 1904 to 1917)
Auguste De Clercq, C.I.C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Aug 1918 to 29 Oct 1938)
Louis-Georges-Firmin Demol, C.I.C.M. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 27 Jan 1936; Vicar Apostolic: 29 Oct 1938 to Dec 1947)
Bernard Mels, C.I.C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Mar 1949; Archbishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 26 Sep 1967)
Joseph Ngogi Nkongolo †

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 9, Page 370, and Page 371
Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 41, Page 466
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 633, and Page 634
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 421
Archdiocese of Luluabourg
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 58, Page 524
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 1,063
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 61, Page 748
Archdiocese of Kananga
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 64, Page 557
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 64, Page 560, and Page 561

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Archdiocese of Kananga

Archidioecesis Kanangana