Roman Catholic Diocese of Lisala

Diocese of Lisala

*Dioecesis Lisalaensis*
Diocese of Lisala; Dioecesis Lisalaensis
Location
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Metropolitan	Mbandaka-Bikoro
Statistics
Area	70,000 km2 (27,000 sq mi)
Population; - Total; - Catholics (including non-members)	(as of 2004); 1,400,000; 767,232 (54.8%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Joseph-Bernard Likolo Bokal’Etumba
Bishops emeritus	Louis Nkinga Bondala, C.I.C.M.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lisala (Latin: Lisalaën(sis)) is a Latin Catholic diocese in the Ecclesiastical province of Mbandaka-Bikoro in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, named after its see, located in the city of Lisala.

History[]

Established on April 3, 1919, as Apostolic Vicariate (missionary, exempt pre-diocesan jurisdiction) of Nouvelle-Anvers, on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Léopoldville
Repeatedly lost territory, to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Tsuapa (1924.02.11), Apostolic Prefecture of Coquilhatville (1926.01.28) and Apostolic Prefecture of Basankusu (1926.07.28).
January 27, 1936: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Lisala
Lost territory on 1951.06.14 to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Isangi
November 10, 1959: Promoted as Diocese of Lisala, becoming a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro
Lost territory on 1964.11.25: Lost territory to establish Roman Catholic Diocese of Budjala

Nearly all (originally missionary) members of Latin Rite congregation Scheutists (C.I.C.M.)
Vicars Apostolic of Nouvelle-Anvers (Latin Rite)

Bishop Egidio de Böck, C.I.C.M., Titular Bishop of Azotus (1921.01.04 – 1936.01.27 see below) (previously Apostolic Prefect of then Apostolic Prefecture of Kasaï Supérieur)

Bishop , C.I.C.M. (see above 1936.01.27 – 1944.12.20)
Bishop François van den Berghe, C.I.C.M., Titular Bishop of Boseta (1944.12.20 – 1959.11.10 see below), previously coadjutor vicar apostolic (1943.02.09 – 1944.12.20)

François van den Berghe, C.I.C.M. (see above 1959.11.10 – 1964.11.25)
Louis Nganga a Ndzando (1964.11.25 – 1997.07.06), previously Auxiliary bishop (1961.04.18 – 1964.11.25); also Apostolic Administrator of Molegbe (1967 – 1968.09.05)
, C.I.C.M. (1997.07.06 - 2015.02.11), previously coadjutor bishop (1996.03.13 – 1997.07.06); also Apostolic Administrator of Molegbe (2007.05.23 – 2009.11.14)
, C.I.C.M. (2015.02.11 - 2019.11.23), Appointed Archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro
(2021.02.15 - ...)