Roman Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni (Latin: Butemben(sis) – Benen(sis)) is a diocese located in the cities of Butembo and Beni in the ecclesiastical province of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Diocese of Butembo-Beni Dioecesis Butembensis-Benensis
Location
Country	Democratic Republic of Congo
Metropolitan	Bukavu
Statistics
Area	45,000 km2 (17,000 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2006) 1,463,000 993,000 (67.9%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku

History

• 9 April 1934: Established as Mission “sui iuris” of Beni in Belgian Congo from the Apostolic Vicariate of Stanley Falls
• 9 February 1938: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Beni in Belgian Congo
• 10 November 1959: Promoted as Diocese of Beni in Congo
• 7 July 1960: Renamed as Diocese of Beni
• 7 February 1967: Renamed as Diocese of Butembo-Beni

Bishops

Ordinaries, in reverse chronological order

• Bishops of Butembo-Beni (Latin Rite)
  • Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku (since 3 April 1998)
  • Bishop Emmanuel Kataliko (17 May 1966 – 3 March 1997), appointed Archbishop of Bukavu
• Bishop of Beni (Latin Rite)
  • Bishop Henri Joseph Marius Piérard, A.A. (7 July 1960 – 17 May 1966); see below
• Bishop of Beni in Congo (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Henri Joseph Marius Piérard, A.A. (10 November 1959 – 7 July 1960); see above & below
• Vicar Apostolic of Beni in Belgian Congo (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Henri Joseph Marius Piérard, A.A. (9 February 1938 – 10 November 1959); see above & below
• Ecclesiastical Superior of Beni in Belgian Congo (Roman rite)
  • Father Henri Joseph Marius Piérard, A.A. (22 June 1934 – 9 February 1938); see above

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

• Charles Kambale Mbogha, A.A. (priest here, 1969-1972), appointed Bishop of Wamba in 1990

See also

• Roman Catholicism in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sources

• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy