The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Congo of Kinshasa

Kinshasa · RD Congo · Catedral metropolitana

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Congo, located in the centre of Kinshasa, is the seat of the archdiocese of Kinshasa, the largest diocese in the world by number of Catholics. With more than 10 million faithful, the archdiocese of Kinshasa is the heart of the Catholic Church in Central Africa.

Kinshasa: the capital of African Catholicism

Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the largest city in French-speaking Africa with more than 17 million inhabitants. The archdiocese of Kinshasa, built in 1959, is the largest in the continent by number of Catholics: more than 10 million faithful, about 50% of the city's population.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Congo is the mother temple of this immense community. Located in the historic centre of Kinshasa (former Léopoldville), the cathedral was built during the Belgian colonial period and has witnessed the great moments of Congolese history: independence (1960), zairianization (1971-1997), the wars of the Congo (1996- 2003) and democracy.

The Evangelization of the Congo

The evangelization of the Congo began in 1491, when Portuguese missionaries arrived in the kingdom of the Kongo and baptized the Rei Nzinga to Nkuwu (baptized as João I). Since then, Catholicism has been a constant presence in the region, although with periods of interruption and decline. Modern evangelization began at the end of the 19th century, with the Fathers of the Holy Spirit (espiritans) and the Missionaries of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CCM, "parents of Scheut").

The Belgian missionaries - especially the CICM - were the main artists of the evangelization of the Belgian Congo (now RD Congo). They founded parishes, schools, hospitals and training centres that formed the basis of the Congolese Church.

La Virgen del Congo

The advocation of Our Lady of the Congo evokes the ancient relationship between Catholicism and the kingdom of Kongo. The Virgin of the Congo is venerated as the spiritual mother of the Congolese, who accompanied the people from the dawn of evangelization in the 15th century. The Rosary's cofradies are extremely active in Kinshasa, with thousands of groups meeting weekly in parishes.

The Parish Life in Kinshasa

Kinshasa has hundreds of parishes, and ecclesial life is extraordinarily rich. The ecclesial movements - Legion of Mary, Charismatic Renewal, Curtains of Christianity - have a massive presence. The Sunday celebrations are true community parties, with songs, dances and percussion that last for several hours. The Church in Kinshasa is one of the most vibrant in the world.