Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro

Statistics

History

• Established on 1924.02.11 as Apostolic Prefecture of Tsuapa, on colonial territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Nouvelle-Anvers
• 1926.01.28: Renamed after its see as Apostolic Prefecture of Coquilhatstad=Coquilhatville, having gained more territory from the above Apostolic Vicariate of Nouvelle-Anvers
• 1931.01.03: Lost territory to establish the Mission sui juris of Bikoro
• Promoted on 1932.03.22 as Apostolic Vicariate of Coquilhatville
• 1951.06.14: Lost territory to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Isangi
• Promoted on 1959.11.10 as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Coquilhatville
• 1961.09.11: Lost territory to establish the Diocese of Ikela
• 1966.05.30: Renamed with its see as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mbandaka
• 1975.04.12: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mbandaka–Bikoro, having gained territory from the suppressed Diocese of Bikoro whose title was merged in

  Ecclesiastical Province

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Basankusu
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Bokungu–Ikela, originally Ikela
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Budjala
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Lisala
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Lolo
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Molegbe

  Bishops

Ordinaries

• Edoardo van Goethem, Sacred Heart Missionaries

• Edoardo van Goethem, M.S.C., Titular Bishop of Corone
• Hilaire Marie Vermeiren, M.S.C. , Titular Bishop of Gibba

• Hilaire Marie Vermeiren, M.S.C., emeritate as Titular Archbishop of Pedachtoë
• Pierre Wijnants, M.S.C.

• Pierre Wijnants, M.S.C.

• Pierre Wijnants, M.S.C., died 1978
• Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, Scheutists , succeeding as former Titular Archbishop of Menefessi as Coadjutor Archbishop of Mbandaka–Bikoro ; later staying on a while as Apostolic Administrator of Mbandaka–Bikoro while Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa, created Cardinal-Priest of S. Lucia a Piazza d’Armi, President of National Episcopal Conference of Congo
• Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba, also Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Bokungu–Ikela , Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Molegbe ; previously Titular Bishop of Simidicca as Auxiliary Bishop of Diocese of Bokungu–Ikela , succeeding as Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela
• Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Capuchin Franciscans , also Vice-President of National Episcopal Conference of Congo, Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Bokungu–Ikela ; previously Bishop of above Bokungu–Ikela, also Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Kole , Apostolic Administrator of Mbandaka–Bikoro ; next Coadjutor Archbishop of Kinshasa , Archbishop of Kinshasa ; created Cardinal-Priest of San Gabriele Arcangelo all'Acqua Traversa
• Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, C.I.C.M. ; previously, Bishop of Lisala

  Coadjutor bishop

• Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, C.I.C.M. ; future Cardinal