Basankusu (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Libère Pwongo Bope, Bishop
Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 10 November 1959
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 77,000 (29,741 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: B.P. 68, Basankusu; Eveche de Basankusu, c/o Procure des Missions Sainte Anne, B.P. 1800, Kinshasa 1, Rep. Democratique du Congo
Telephone: (084)300.45.18; (082)006.37.10

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu
- Latin Name: de Basankusu
- Erected: 28 July 1926
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu
- Latin Name: Basankusuensis
- Elevated: 8 January 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
- Square Kilometers: 70,000 (27,037 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Gérard Wantenaar, M.H.M. † (2 Feb 1927 Appointed - 3 Dec 1951 Died)
Willem van Kester, M.H.M. † (19 Jun 1952 Appointed - 18 Nov 1974 Resigned)
Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M. † (18 Nov 1974 Appointed - 27 Jun 1998 Appointed, Bishop of Molegbe)
Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku (9 Nov 2001 Appointed - 11 Nov 2023 Resigned)
Libère Pwongo Bope (11 Nov 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu
28 July 1926	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Nouvelle-Anvers (Lulonga)	Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu (erected)
1 March 1931	Territory Added	Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Ngoonbe)	Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu
1 March 1931	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu (Gkota-Bosaka)	Prefecture Apostolic of Coquilhatville
Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu
8 January 1948	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu	Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu
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)
Diocese of Basankusu
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu	Diocese of Basankusu

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 Basankusu

1950 36,872 200,000 18.4% 42 42 877 45 ap1951

Diocese of Basankusu

1957 47,623 205,000 23.2% 1 53 54 881 61 18 ap1960

1970 69,183 220,000 31.4% 5 42 47 1,471 50 23 ap1971

1980 91,600 267,000 34.3% 5 31 36 2,544 37 33 ap1981

1990 280,609 568,000 49.4% 13 24 37 7,584 39 32 20 ap1991

1998 170,485 420,000 40.6% 37 8 45 3,788 14 29 20 ap2003

2003 182,846 459,046 39.8% 27 3 30 6,094 10 30 20 ap2004

2004 202,273 568,162 35.6% 32 3 35 5,779 10 30 20 ap2005

2006 230,331 584,000 39.4% 33 3 36 6,398 10 31 20 ap2007

2012 228,000 592,000 38.5% 29 2 31 7,354 13 48 20 ap2013

2015 246,000 639,000 38.5% 29 2 31 7,935 10 51 20 ap2016

2018 327,795 1,302,460 25.2% 37 2 39 8,405 10 55 20 ap2019

2020 200,247 997,230 20.1% 40 1 41 4,884 1 60 20 ap2021

2022 207,210 1,031,930 20.1% 42 1 43 4,818 7 70 20 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu
1950	36,872	200,000	18.4%		42	42	877		45		ap1951
Diocese of Basankusu
1957	47,623	205,000	23.2%	1	53	54	881		61	18	ap1960
1970	69,183	220,000	31.4%	5	42	47	1,471	50	23		ap1971
1980	91,600	267,000	34.3%	5	31	36	2,544	37	33		ap1981
1990	280,609	568,000	49.4%	13	24	37	7,584	39	32	20	ap1991
1998	170,485	420,000	40.6%	37	8	45	3,788	14	29	20	ap2003
2003	182,846	459,046	39.8%	27	3	30	6,094	10	30	20	ap2004
2004	202,273	568,162	35.6%	32	3	35	5,779	10	30	20	ap2005
2006	230,331	584,000	39.4%	33	3	36	6,398	10	31	20	ap2007
2012	228,000	592,000	38.5%	29	2	31	7,354	13	48	20	ap2013
2015	246,000	639,000	38.5%	29	2	31	7,935	10	51	20	ap2016
2018	327,795	1,302,460	25.2%	37	2	39	8,405	10	55	20	ap2019
2020	200,247	997,230	20.1%	40	1	41	4,884	1	60	20	ap2021
2022	207,210	1,031,930	20.1%	42	1	43	4,818	7	70	20	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M. † (Bishop: 18 Nov 1974 to 27 Jun 1998)
Willem van Kester, M.H.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Jun 1952; Bishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 18 Nov 1974)
Gérard Wantenaar, M.H.M. † (Prefect: 2 Feb 1927; Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jan 1948 to 3 Dec 1951)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 48, and Page 49
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 23, Page 374, and Page 375
Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 40, Page 308, and Page 309
Diocese of Basankusu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377

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Diocese of Basankusu

Dioecesis Basankusuensis