Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kananga

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kananga (Latin: Archidioecesis Kanangana) is the Metropolitan See for the Ecclesiastical province of Kananga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Special churches

The episcopal cathedral is the Cathédrale Saint Joseph Mikalayi in Kazumba.

There is also a Pro-Cathedral, the Pro-cathédrale Saint Clément in Kananga.

Established on 26 July 1901 as the Mission sui juris of Upper Kassai (French: Kasaï Supérieur), on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Belgian Congo (French: Congo Belge)
18 March 1904 promoted as the Apostolic Prefecture of Upper Kassai
13 June 1917, again promoted as the Apostolic Vicariate of Upper Kasai, hence entitled to a titular bishop
Lost territory repeatedly, to establish :
- On 18 July 1922, the Apostolic Prefecture of Lulua Katanga,
- On 18 May 1936, the Apostolic Prefecture of Tshumbe, and
- On 13 April 1937, the Apostolic Prefecture of Ipamu.
25 April 1939: Lost territory to the Apostolic Prefecture of Ipamu .
10 March 1949: Renamed as the Apostolic Vicariate of Luluabourg
Lost territories on 23 March 1953 to establish both Apostolic Vicariate of Kabinda and Apostolic Prefecture of Mweka
On 25 April 1959, lost territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Luebo
10 November 1959: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Luluabourg
On 22 November 1963, lost territory to establish the then Apostolic Administration of Mbuji-Mayi
Lost territories on 26 September 1967, to Diocese of Luebo (as transfer), and establish the Diocese of Luiza
14 June 1972: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kananga

Fr. Emeri Cambier, Sceutists (C.I.C.M.) (1904 – 1918)
Fr. Egide de Boeck, C.I.C.M. (1913 – 1916), later Apostolic Vicar of Nieuw-Antwerpen (Congo-Kinshasa) (1921.01.04 – 1936.01.27), Titular Bishop of Azotus (1921.03.10 – 1944.12.20), Apostolic Vicar of Lisala (Congo-Kinshasa) (1936.01.27 – 1944.12.20)
Fr. Ernest Handekijn (1916 – 1917.06.13)

Bishop Auguste Declercq, C.I.C.M. (1918.08.24 – 1938.10.29), Titular Bishop of Thignica (1918.08.24 – death 1939.11.23)
Bishop Louis-Georges-Firmin Demol, C.I.C.M. (1938.10.29 – 1948.04.22), Titular Bishop of Vescera (1936.01.27 – 1969.07.02); succeeding as previous Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Kasaï Supérieur (1936.01.23 – 1938.10.29)

Bishop Bernard Mels, C.I.C.M. (1949.03.10 – 1959.11.10 see below), Titular Bishop of Belali (1949.03.10 – 1959.11.10); also Apostolic Administrator of Mweka (Congo-Kinshasa) (1953 – 1957)

Archbishop Bernard Mels, C.I.C.M. (see above 1959.11.10 – 1967.09.26); later Archbishop-Bishop of Lwiza (Congo-Kinshasa) (1967.09.26 – 1970.10.03), finally Titular Archbishop of Pulcheriopolis (1970.10.03 – 1986.05.17)
Archbishop Martin-Léonard Bakole wa Ilunga (1967.09.26 – 1972.06.14 see below), previously Titular Bishop of Sullectum (1966.06.21 – 1967.09.26) & Auxiliary Bishop of Luluabourg (1966.06.21 – 1967.09.26)

Archbishop Martin-Léonard Bakole wa Ilunga (see above 1972.06.14 – 1997.03.03)
Archbishop Godefroid Mukeng’a Kalond, C.I.C.M. (1997.03.03 – 2006.05.03), previously Bishop of Lwiza (1971.08.30 – 1997.03.03)
Archbishop Marcel Madila Basanguka (since 2006.12.09 - ...), previously Titular Bishop of Gigthi (2004.02.27 – 2006.12.09) & Auxiliary Bishop of Kananga (2004.02.27 – 2006.12.09)

Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own Archdiocese and the following Suffragan dioceses, generally daughters (see above) :

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