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The Apostolic Vicariate of Kivu is the name that was given to two vicariates of the
White Fathers , image = Cardinal Lavigerie.jpg , caption = Charles Lavigerie , abbreviation = M.Afr. , nickname = White Fathers , formation = , founder = Archbishop Charles-Martial Allem ...
, a Catholic missionary society in the
Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
Roman Rite
Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
. Both vicariates served lands around
Lake Kivu Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes. It lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, whic ...
during the colonial era. The first vicariate, from 1912 to 1922, served what are now Rwanda and Burundi. The second vicariate, from 1929 to 1952, served territory in the east of the
Belgian Congo The Belgian Congo (french: Congo belge, ; nl, Belgisch-Congo) was a Belgian colony in Central Africa from 1908 until independence in 1960. The former colony adopted its present name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 1964. Colo ...
.


Rwanda and Burundi

The missions in Burundi had been under the Apostolic Vicariate of Unyanyembe, while those of Rwanda were under the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Victoria Nyanza. In 1912 these missions were joined to form the new Apostolic Vicariate of Kivu. On 12 December 1912,
John Joseph Hirth John Joseph Hirth (french: Jean-Joseph Hirth; 26 March 1854 – 6 January 1931) was a Catholic Bishop in German East Africa, known as the founder of the church in Rwanda. Early years John Joseph Hirth was born on 26 March 1854 at Spechbach-le- ...
was appointed the first Vicar Apostolic of Kivu. Hirth established his headquarters at
Kabgayi Kabgayi is just south of Gitarama in Muhanga District, Southern Province, Rwanda, southwest of Kigali. It was established as a Catholic Church mission in 1905. It became the center for the Roman Catholic Church in Rwanda and is the site of t ...
, and worked there until his retirement in 1921. By then there were thirty thousand Christians in the Vicariate. The name was changed to the Apostolic Vicariate of Urundi and Kivu in 1921. On 25 April 1922 the Apostolic Vicariate of Ruanda was created from the former Apostolic Vicariate of Kivu, led by Bishop Léon-Paul Classe. On 14 February 1952 this was divided into the Apostolic Vicariate of Kabgayi and the Apostolic Vicariate of Nyundo. The Apostolic Vicariate of Urundi was also created on 25 April 1922, serving the territory of what is now Burundi and led by Bishop Julien-Louis-Edouard-Marie Gorju. On 14 July 1949 it was renamed to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kitega, and on 10 November 1959 was elevated to the Archdiocese of Gitega.


Congo

The Apostolic Vicariate of Kivu was restored on 26 December 1929 serving the eastern Belgian Congo, led by Bishop Edoardo Luigi Antonio Leys. He was succeeded in 1944 by Bishop Richard Cleire. On 10 January 1952, after losing territory to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kasongo it was renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Costermansville, led by Bishop Xavier Geeraerts. On 6 January 1954 this became the Apostolic Vicariate of Bukavu, which on 10 November 1959 was promoted to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bukavu.


See also

*
Roman Catholicism in Burundi The Catholic Church in Burundi is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. There are about four million Catholics—around two-thirds of the total population. There are seven dioceses, including ...
* Roman Catholicism in Democratic Republic of the Congo *
Roman Catholicism in Rwanda The Catholic Church in Rwanda is part of the worldwide Catholic Church. There are just over five million Catholics in Rwanda—about half of the total population. The country is divided into nine dioceses including one archdiocese. The Rwandan g ...


References

Citations Sources * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kivu, Apostolic Vicariate 1912 establishments in Africa 1922 disestablishments in Africa 1929 establishments in the Belgian Congo 1952 disestablishments in Africa
Kivu Kivu was the name for a large "region" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko that bordered Lake Kivu. It included three "Sub-Regions" ("Sous-Régions" in French): Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu and Maniema, correspondi ...