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Cardinal Frédéric
Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, Archbishop of Kinshasa ,
is the second Cardinal of Democratic Republic of
Congo (ex-Zaïre). He succeeded Cardinal Malula,
who died 14 June 1989.
He was born on 3 December 1930 at Mazalonga, Lisala,
in the province of Equatore, in Zaire.
In the diocesan seminary he realized his deep missionary
desire to enter the Congregation of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary (C.I.C.M.), and completed the novitiate
at Katoka, Western Kasaï. As a young priest
his pastoral skills due much attention and his religious
order sent him away to obtain a doctorate.
At the end of his studies, in 1968, he returned
to Kinshasa where he was named Vicar Forane (Dean)
in the parish of St. Peter and at the same time
Vice-provincial of his Congregation. During this
period he was elected at various times president
of the Major Superiors Meeting of the province of
Kinshasa and Vice-president of the Major Superiors
Meeting of Zaire and the head of the C.I.C.M. group
in Africa.
On 8 July 1976 he was elected titular archbishop
of Menefessi and named Coadjutor Archbishop of Mbandaka
(with the right of succession) and ordained on 7
November 1976 by His Eminence Cardinal Malula.
Since July 2000, President of the Bishops' Conference
of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Curial membership:
-Evangelization of Peoples (congregation)
-Family, Culture (councils)
-Council of Cardinals for Study of Organizational
and Economic Affairs of the Holy See.
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