Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu


Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu
Bishop Emeritus of Kisantu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa
SeeRoman Catholic Diocese of Kisantu
Appointed10 June 1994
Installed22 September 1994
Term ended21 November 2020
PredecessorAntoine Mayala ma Mpangu
SuccessorJean-Crispin Kimbeni Ki Kanda
Orders
Ordination26 September 1976
Consecration25 September 1994
by Cardinal Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi
RankBishop
Personal details
Born
Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu

(1950-07-21) 21 July 1950
Kinshasa, Archdiocese of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Styles of
Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu
Reference style
Spoken styleHis Lordship
Religious styleBishop

Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu (born 21 July 1950) is a Congolese Catholic prelate who was the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kisantu in DRC, from 10 June 1994 until his health-related early resignation on 21 November 2020. Prior to then, from 26 September 1976 until he was appointed bishop, he was a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa. He was appointed bishop by Pope John Paul II on 10 June 1994. He was installed at Kisantu on 25 September 1994. His health-related resignation request was accepted by Pope Francis and took effect on 21 November 2020.

Background and priesthood

He was born on 21 July 1950 at Kinshasa, Archdiocese of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Congo. He studied philosophy and theology at seminary. He was ordained a priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa on 26 September 1976. He served as priest until 10 June 1994.[1]

Bishop

On 10 June 1994, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kisantu. He was consecrated as bishop on 25 September 1994 at the Kisantu Diocesan Cathedral at Kisantu. The Principal Consecrator was Cardinal Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi, Archbishop of Kinshasa assisted by Gabriel Kembo Mamputu, Bishop of Matadi, and Joachim Mbadu Kikhela Kupika, Bishop of Boma.[1] While bishop, he was a member of the team of Catholic bishops selected by the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CENCO) to mediate a peace deal between the Congolese government and the opposition parties in the 2016 to 2017 time frame.[2]

Pope Francis accepted the health-related resignation request from the pastoral care of the Episcopal See of Kisantu, presented by Bishop Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu on 21 November 2020.[1][3][4] There was a period when Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa served as apostolic administrator at Kisantu (21 November 2020 - 6 August 2022).[3][5] On 11 June 2022, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Jean-Crispin Kimbeni Ki Kanda to succeed at Kisantu. He was installed there on 6 August 2022.[1][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d David M. Cheney (25 February 2024). "MicroData Summary for Bishop Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu (born 21 July 1950) Bishop Emeritus of Kisantu". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Kansas City. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  2. ^ Catholic News Service (25 January 2017). "Congo's bishops hope to save peace pact, but see no will to act quickly". National Catholic Reporter. Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b Cyprien Ziola (4 December 2020). "Diocese of Kisantu: Resignation of Monsignor Nsielele zi Mputu". Journal de Kisantu. Kisantu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  4. ^ Agenzia Fides (23 November 2020). "Africa/DR Congo: Resignation of bishop of Kisantu, Democratic Republic of the Congo". Agenzia Fides. Vatican City. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  5. ^ Job Kakule (22 November 2020). "DRC: Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo will now manage the dioceses of Kinshasa and Kisantu". Great Lakes News. Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  6. ^ Jude Atemanke (14 June 2022). "Pope Francis Appoints Two Auxiliary Bishops in DR Congo Local Ordinaries". ACI Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 29 July 2025.

Succession table