Lubumbashi (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Fulgence Muteba Mugalu, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Name Changed: 30 May 1966
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 61,828 (23,881 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.archidioceselubumbashi.org/
Mailing Address: Archevêché, 852 Av. Kapenda, Commune Lubumbashi, B.P. 72, Lubumbashi, Rep. Democratique du Congo
Telephone: (099)70.31.991; (081)45.30.970

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Katanga
- Latin Name: Katangaensis
- Erected: 5 August 1910
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Katanga
- Latin Name: Katangaensis
- Elevated: 22 March 1932
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Archdiocese of Elisabethville
- Latin Name: Elisabethapolitanus
- Elevated: 10 November 1959
- Metropolitan See
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
- Square Kilometers: 80,000 (30,900 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean-Félix de Hemptinne, O.S.B. † (6 Aug 1910 Appointed - 6 Feb 1958 Died)
José Floriberto Cornelis, O.S.B. † (27 Nov 1958 Appointed - 13 Apr 1967 Resigned)
Eugène Kabanga Songasonga † (13 Apr 1967 Appointed - 25 Mar 1998 Resigned)
Floribert Songasonga Mwitwa † (22 May 1998 Appointed - 1 Dec 2010 Resigned)
Jean-Pierre Tafunga Mbayo, S.D.B. † (1 Dec 2010 Succeeded - 31 Mar 2021 Died)
Fulgence Muteba Mugalu (22 May 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Katanga
5 August 1910	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Belgian Congo {Congo Belga}	Prefecture Apostolic of Katanga (erected)
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)
12 May 1925	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Katanga (Southern portion)	Prefecture Apostolic of Luapula Superiore (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Katanga
22 March 1932	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Katanga	Vicariate Apostolic of Katanga
Archdiocese of Elisabethville
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Katanga	Archdiocese of Elisabethville
Archdiocese of Lubumbashi
30 May 1966	Name Changed	Archdiocese of Elisabethville	Archdiocese of Lubumbashi
7 November 1970	Territory Added		Diocese of Kabinda Diocese of Kamina Diocese of Kongolo Archdiocese of Lubumbashi Diocese of Mbujimayi
13 November 1976	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Lubumbashi (Kipuski)	Diocese of Sakania
21 January 1977	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Lubumbashi	Diocese of Kilwa

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 Katanga

1950 72,502 210,000 34.5% 67 67 1,082 97 124 3 ap1951

Archdiocese of Elisabethville

1965 171,527 400,000 42.9% 39 98 137 1,252 67 273 37 ap1966

Archdiocese of Lubumbashi

1968 237,655 550,324 43.2% 53 96 149 1,595 165 270 37 ap1971

1980 518,000 906,000 57.2% 31 90 121 4,280 123 271 50 ap1981

1987 686,200 1,440,612 47.6% 53 93 146 4,700 1 137 305 58 ap1991

1999 442,153 849,005 52.1% 62 68 130 3,401 226 367 55 ap2000

2000 957,655 1,075,358 89.1% 66 103 169 5,666 283 356 61 ap2001

2001 960,455 1,078,623 89.0% 70 85 155 6,196 263 404 75 ap2002

2002 966,491 1,964,266 49.2% 74 91 165 5,857 280 315 75 ap2003

2003 974,962 2,244,576 43.4% 77 99 176 5,539 280 332 75 ap2004

2004 884,700 1,973,785 44.8% 82 104 186 4,756 309 371 75 ap2005

2013 1,524,000 2,771,000 55.0% 92 138 230 6,626 328 516 72 ap2014

2016 1,648,912 2,997,648 55.0% 158 154 312 5,284 311 462 75 ap2017

2019 1,809,000 3,290,000 55.0% 167 196 363 4,983 356 465 75 ap2020

2021 1,930,360 3,510,720 55.0% 171 196 367 5,259 356 465 75 ap2022

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 Katanga
1950	72,502	210,000	34.5%		67	67	1,082		97	124	3	ap1951
Archdiocese of Elisabethville
1965	171,527	400,000	42.9%	39	98	137	1,252		67	273	37	ap1966
Archdiocese of Lubumbashi
1968	237,655	550,324	43.2%	53	96	149	1,595		165	270	37	ap1971
1980	518,000	906,000	57.2%	31	90	121	4,280		123	271	50	ap1981
1987	686,200	1,440,612	47.6%	53	93	146	4,700	1	137	305	58	ap1991
1999	442,153	849,005	52.1%	62	68	130	3,401		226	367	55	ap2000
2000	957,655	1,075,358	89.1%	66	103	169	5,666		283	356	61	ap2001
2001	960,455	1,078,623	89.0%	70	85	155	6,196		263	404	75	ap2002
2002	966,491	1,964,266	49.2%	74	91	165	5,857		280	315	75	ap2003
2003	974,962	2,244,576	43.4%	77	99	176	5,539		280	332	75	ap2004
2004	884,700	1,973,785	44.8%	82	104	186	4,756		309	371	75	ap2005
2013	1,524,000	2,771,000	55.0%	92	138	230	6,626		328	516	72	ap2014
2016	1,648,912	2,997,648	55.0%	158	154	312	5,284		311	462	75	ap2017
2019	1,809,000	3,290,000	55.0%	167	196	363	4,983		356	465	75	ap2020
2021	1,930,360	3,510,720	55.0%	171	196	367	5,259		356	465	75	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

José Floriberto Cornelis, O.S.B. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Nov 1958; Archbishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 13 Apr 1967)
Jean-Félix de Hemptinne, O.S.B. † (Prefect: 6 Aug 1910; Vicar Apostolic: 15 Mar 1932 to 6 Feb 1958)
Eugène Kabanga Songasonga † (Priest: 21 Aug 1961; Archbishop: 13 Apr 1967 to 25 Mar 1998)
Floribert Songasonga Mwitwa † (Priest: 14 Aug 1963 to 25 Apr 1974; Archbishop: 22 May 1998 to 1 Dec 2010)
Jean-Pierre Tafunga Mbayo, S.D.B. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 31 Jul 2008; Archbishop: 1 Dec 2010 to 31 Mar 2021)
Tharcisse Tshibangu Tshishiku † (Priest: 9 Aug 1959 to 1 Sep 1970)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Katanga
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 2, Page 682, and Page 683
Vicariate Apostolic of Katanga
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 24, Page 301
Archdiocese of Elisabethville
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377
Archdiocese of Lubumbashi
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 62, Page 781, to Page 783

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Archdiocese of Lubumbashi

Archidioecesis Lubumbashiensis