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	(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[edit]

Established on 3 April 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 (11 February 1924), Apostolic Prefecture of Coquilhatville (28 January 1926) and Apostolic Prefecture of Basankusu (28 July 1926).
27 January 1936: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Lisala
Lost territory on 14 June 1951 to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Isangi
10 November 1959: Promoted as Diocese of Lisala, becoming a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro
Lost territory on 25 November 1964 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 (4 January 1921 – 27 January 1936) (previously Apostolic Prefect of then Apostolic Prefecture of Kasaï Supérieur)

Bishop Egidio de Böck, C.I.C.M. (27 January 1936 – 20 December 1944)
Bishop François van den Berghe, C.I.C.M., Titular Bishop of Boseta (20 December 1944 – 10 November 1959), previously coadjutor vicar apostolic (9 February 1943 – 20 December 1944)

François van den Berghe, C.I.C.M. (see above 10 November 1959 – 25 November 1964)
Louis Nganga a Ndzando (25 November 1964 – 6 July 1997), previously Auxiliary bishop (18 April 1961 – 25 November 1964); also Apostolic Administrator of Molegbe (1967 – 5 September 1968)
Louis Nkinga Bondala, C.I.C.M. (6 July 1997 – 11 February 2015), previously coadjutor bishop (13 March 1996 – 6 July 1997); also Apostolic Administrator of Molegbe (23 May 2007 – 14 November 2009)
Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, C.I.C.M. (11 February 2015 – 23 November 2019), Appointed Archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro
Joseph-Bernard Likolo Bokal’Etumba (15 February 2021 – present)