Roman Catholic Diocese of Isiro–Niangara

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Isiro–Niangara (Latin: Isiren(sis) – Niangaraën(sis)) is a diocese located in the cities of Isiro–Niangara in the ecclesiastical province of Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Diocese of Isiro–Niangara Dioecesis Isirensis-Niangaraensis
Location
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Metropolitan	Kisangani
Statistics
Area	60,000 km2 (23,000 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2006) 1,475,128 1,038,778 (70.4%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Sede vacante
Apostolic Administrator	Dieudonné Madrapile Tanzi

Map showing the position of Isiro

History

• 18 December 1911: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Eastern Uélé from the Apostolic Prefecture of Uélé
• 6 May 1924: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Uélé
• 14 December 1926: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Niangara
• 10 November 1959: Promoted as Diocese of Niangara
• 23 March 1970: Renamed as Diocese of Isiro – Niangara

Bishops

Ordinaries, in reverse chronological order

• Bishops of Isiro–Niangara (Latin Rite), below
  • Bishop Julien Andavo Mbia (1 February 2003 - 16 July 2024)
  • Bishop Charles Kambale Mbogha, A.A. (6 December 1995 – 13 March 2001), appointed Archbishop of Bukavu
  • Bishop Emile Aiti Waro Leru’a (25 September 1989 – 24 March 1994)
  • Bishop Ambroise Uma Arakayo Amabe (19 February 1976 – 1 April 1989)
  • Bishop François Oddo de Wilde, O.P. (23 March 1970 – 19 February 1976); see below
• Bishop of Niangara (Latin Rite), below
  • Bishop François Oddo de Wilde, O.P. (10 November 1959 – 23 March 1970); see above & below
• Vicars Apostolic of Niangara (Roman rite), below
  • Bishop François Oddo de Wilde, O.P. (11 March 1948 – 10 November 1959); see above
  • Bishop Robert Costanzo Lagae, O.P. (18 December 1924 – February 1948)
• Prefects Apostolic of Eastern Uélé (Latin Rite), below
  • Fr. Emilio Rolin, O.P. (1922 – 1924)
  • Fr. Reginaldo van Schoote, O.P. (16 January 1912 – 28 April 1922)

Coadjutor bishop

• Ambroise Uma Arakayo Amabe (1972-1976)

Another priest of this diocese who became bishop

• Dieudonné Madrapile Tanzi, appointed Bishop of Isangi in 2016

See also

• Roman Catholicism in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sources

• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy