The Roman Catholic Diocese of Basankusu (Latin: Basankusuen(sis)) is a Latin suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Mbandaka-Bikoro in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Diocese of Basankusu Dioecesis Basankusuensis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Metropolitan | Mbandaka-Bikoro |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 70,000 km2 (27,000 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2006) 584,000 230,331 (39.4%) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku |
Its cathedral episcopal see is Cathédrale Saints-Pierre-et-Paul (Saints Peter and Paul) in the town of Basankusu.
History
edit- Established on 28 July 1926, as Apostolic Prefecture of Basankusu on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Nouvelle-Anvers
- 8 January 1948: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Basankusu
- Lost territory on 14 June 1951 to establish the then Apostolic Prefecture of Isangi (now a diocese)
- Promoted on 10 November 1959, as Diocese of Basankusu, ceasing to be exempt
Ordinaries
edit(all Latin Rite, mostly -initially missionary- members of Latin congregations)
- Apostolic Prefects of Basankusu
- Gerardo Wantenaar, Mill Hill Missionaries (M.H.M.) (2 February 1927 – 8 January 1948 see below)
- Apostolic Vicars of Basankusu
- Gerardo Wantenaar, M.H.M., Titular Bishop of Uzalis (8 July 1948 – 3 December 1951) (see above 8 January 1948 – 3 December 1951)
- Willem van Kester, M.H.M., Titular Bishop of Legia (19 June 1952 – 10 November 1959 see below)
- Bishops of Basankusu
- Willem van Kester, M.H.M. (see above 10 November 1959 – 18 November 1974)
- Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, Scheutists (C.I.C.M.) (18 November 1974 – 27 June 1998), appointed Bishop of Molegbe
- Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku (9 November 2001 - ...), previously Apostolic Administrator (1998 – 9 November 2001) while Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Democratic Republic of Congo) (6 December 1993 – 9 November 2001)