Kisantu (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jean-Crispin Kimbeni Ki Kanda, Bishop
Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 10 November 1959
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kinshasa
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 31,000 (11,973 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Eveche, B.P. 25, Inkisi, Bas-Congo, Rep. Democratique du Congo
Telephone: 827.205.311

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu
- Latin Name: Kisantuensis
- Erected: 1 April 1931
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Alphonse Verwimp, S.J. † (23 Jun 1931 Appointed - 27 Oct 1960 Retired)
Pierre Kimbondo † (24 Jun 1961 Appointed - 27 Apr 1973 Resigned)
Antoine Mayala ma Mpangu † (27 Apr 1973 Succeeded - 31 Mar 1993 Died)
Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu (10 Jun 1994 Appointed - 21 Nov 2020 Resigned)
Jean-Crispin Kimbeni Ki Kanda (11 Jun 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu
1 April 1931	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Western region)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu (erected)
24 May 1950	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Boundries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Boundries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu (Boundries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Léopoldville (Boundries adjusted)
5 July 1957	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kikwit Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu	Prefecture Apostolic of Kenge (erected)
5 December 1958	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu Vicariate Apostolic of Léopoldville
Diocese of Kisantu
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu	Diocese of Kisantu
24 June 1961	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kisantu (Regions east of the rivers Lubishi and Bombi)	Diocese of Popokabaka (erected)

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 Kisantu

1950 183,000 440,000 41.6% 34 34 5,382 22 10 ap1951

Diocese of Kisantu

1970 238,654 365,847 65.2% 46 61 107 2,230 128 231 95 ap1971

1980 304,728 433,532 70.3% 42 37 79 3,857 93 216 21 ap1981

1990 473,213 572,136 82.7% 67 55 122 3,878 209 297 24 ap1991

1999 600,000 800,000 75.0% 89 40 129 4,651 561 285 23 ap2000

2000 650,000 900,000 72.2% 94 38 132 4,924 580 305 23 ap2001

2001 650,000 900,000 72.2% 96 36 132 4,924 353 319 24 ap2002

2002 650,000 900,000 72.2% 97 21 118 5,508 416 300 24 ap2003

2003 600,000 900,000 66.7% 95 47 142 4,225 235 695 25 ap2004

2004 601,000 900,500 66.7% 100 49 149 4,033 190 706 25 ap2005

2006 650,000 950,600 68.4% 106 53 159 4,088 325 293 25 ap2007

2013 830,000 1,080,000 76.9% 111 56 167 4,970 344 303 29 ap2014

2016 898,472 1,168,836 76.9% 124 58 182 4,936 372 304 31 ap2017

2019 687,510 1,284,675 53.5% 123 73 196 3,507 232 197 34 ap2020

2021 1,051,720 1,368,200 76.9% 123 113 236 4,456 303 450 35 ap2022

2023 1,123,960 1,462,820 76.8% 129 119 248 4,532 297 434 35 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu
1950	183,000	440,000	41.6%	34		34	5,382	22	10		ap1951
Diocese of Kisantu
1970	238,654	365,847	65.2%	46	61	107	2,230	128	231	95	ap1971
1980	304,728	433,532	70.3%	42	37	79	3,857	93	216	21	ap1981
1990	473,213	572,136	82.7%	67	55	122	3,878	209	297	24	ap1991
1999	600,000	800,000	75.0%	89	40	129	4,651	561	285	23	ap2000
2000	650,000	900,000	72.2%	94	38	132	4,924	580	305	23	ap2001
2001	650,000	900,000	72.2%	96	36	132	4,924	353	319	24	ap2002
2002	650,000	900,000	72.2%	97	21	118	5,508	416	300	24	ap2003
2003	600,000	900,000	66.7%	95	47	142	4,225	235	695	25	ap2004
2004	601,000	900,500	66.7%	100	49	149	4,033	190	706	25	ap2005
2006	650,000	950,600	68.4%	106	53	159	4,088	325	293	25	ap2007
2013	830,000	1,080,000	76.9%	111	56	167	4,970	344	303	29	ap2014
2016	898,472	1,168,836	76.9%	124	58	182	4,936	372	304	31	ap2017
2019	687,510	1,284,675	53.5%	123	73	196	3,507	232	197	34	ap2020
2021	1,051,720	1,368,200	76.9%	123	113	236	4,456	303	450	35	ap2022
2023	1,123,960	1,462,820	76.8%	129	119	248	4,532	297	434	35	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Jean-Crispin Kimbeni Ki Kanda (Bishop: 11 Jun 2022 - )
Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu (Bishop: 10 Jun 1994 to 21 Nov 2020)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Pierre Kimbondo † (Priest: 8 Aug 1943; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Aug 1956; Bishop: 24 Jun 1961; Archbishop (Personal Title): 8 Nov 1971 to 27 Apr 1973)
Antoine Mayala ma Mpangu † (Priest: 14 Jul 1957; Coadjutor Bishop: 30 Aug 1971; Bishop: 27 Apr 1973 to 31 Mar 1993)
Alphonse Verwimp, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 23 Jun 1931; Bishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 27 Oct 1960)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 24, Page 40, and Page 41
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 648, and Page 649
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 284, and Page 285
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 110
Diocese of Kisantu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377

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Diocese of Kisantu

Dioecesis Kisantuensis