Fridolin Ambongo Besungu

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Stored: Fridolin Ambongo Besungu

His Eminence Fridolin Ambongo Besungu
Bishop of Archdiocese of Kinshasa
Home diocese: Archdiocese of Kinshasa
Other diocese 1: Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro
Other diocese 2: Diocese of Bokungu-Ikela
Other diocese 3: Diocese of Kole (Apostolic Administrator)
Ordination: 14 August 1988 by Archbishop Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba
Consecration: 6 March 2005 by Archbishop Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba
Rank: Cardinal
Created cardinal: 5 October 2019 by Pope Francis
Personal details
Born: Fridolin Ambongo Besungu
24 January 1960
Boto, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Died:
Nationality: Congolese
Education: Saint Eugène de Mazenod Institute, Alphonsian Academy (Rome)
Motto: "Omnia Omnibus" (Everything to Everyone)
Role: Diocesan
Theology: Conservative
Region: Africa
Rite: Roman Rite
Conclave Eligibility: Eligible


Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap., born (1960-01-24) January 24, 1960 (age 65), is a Congolese prelate of the Roman Catholic Church and a Capuchin Franciscan, serving as Archbishop of Kinshasa since 2018 and president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) since 2023.[1] Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019, Ambongo is a prominent advocate for social justice, peace, and environmental protection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), notably negotiating the 2016 St. Sylvester Framework Agreement for democratic elections and criticizing resource exploitation, which led to death threats.[2] His motto, “Omnia Omnibus” (Everything to Everyone, 1 Corinthians 9:22), reflects his commitment to serving all, evident in his 2024 SECAM leadership rejecting *Fiducia Supplicans* blessings for same-sex couples as culturally inappropriate for Africa and his 2025 calls for dialogue to end DRC conflicts.[3] At 65, Ambongo is one of 19 African cardinal-electors in the 2025 papal conclave, starting May 7, where his mediation skills and conservative stance position him as a noted candidate.[4][5]

A Capuchin since 1981, Ambongo has served as Bishop of Bokungu-Ikela (2004–2016), Archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro (2016–2018), and a member of the Council of Cardinals since 2020.[6] His leadership during the 2024 Synod on Synodality emphasized pastoral care for polygamous relationships, proposing a draft SECAM document for 2025, and his 2025 homily urged immediate peace talks to address the DRC’s eastern conflicts.[7] In April 2025, he traveled to Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral rites and engaged in pre-conclave meetings, reinforcing his call for a Church rooted in synodality and African realities.[4] Despite facing a 2024 judicial investigation in the DRC for alleged seditious remarks, his influence as a voice for the Global South remains strong.[4]

Biography

Birth and early life

Fridolin Ambongo Besungu was born on January 24, 1960, in Boto, Nord-Ubangi Province, DRC, to a Catholic family of eleven siblings; his father was a rubber tree tapper.[1] Raised in a rural, Christian-majority region, he attended local schools before entering the seminary of Bwamanda, drawn to the Capuchin Franciscans’ simplicity and service.[6] His early life amid Congo’s political instability shaped his commitment to justice.[2]

At age 21, Ambongo joined the Capuchins, inspired by their work with the poor.[1] His family’s faith and Congo’s socio-economic challenges influenced his focus on human dignity.[8]

Education

Ambongo studied philosophy at the Bwamanda seminary and theology at the Saint Eugène de Mazenod Institute in Kinshasa (1984–1988), earning a bachelor’s degree in theology.[1] He pursued a licentiate in moral theology at the Alphonsian Academy in Rome, defending his dissertation, *La réhabilitation de l’humain, base de développement vrai au Zaïre*, in 1995.[6] His studies focused on human dignity and development.[8]

Fluent in Lingala, French, Italian, and English, Ambongo’s education equipped him for leadership in the DRC’s multilingual context and global Church.[2] His Roman training reinforced his commitment to Catholic social teaching.[3]

Priesthood

Ordained a Capuchin priest on August 14, 1988, by Archbishop Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba, Ambongo served as a parish priest in Bobito (1988–1989) and professor of moral theology at the Catholic University of Congo and Mazenod Institute (1995–2005).[1] He held roles as major superior and vice-provincial of the Capuchin vice-province in the DRC.[6] His ministry emphasized education and social justice.[8]

His priesthood included advocating for the poor, which drew government scrutiny.[4] His academic and pastoral roles built his reputation as a bold, principled leader.[2]

Bishop

Appointed Bishop of Bokungu-Ikela on November 22, 2004, by Pope John Paul II, Ambongo was consecrated on March 6, 2005, by Archbishop Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba.[1] He served as Apostolic Administrator of Kole (2008–2015), Archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro (2016–2018), and Coadjutor Archbishop of Kinshasa (2018), succeeding Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya.[9] Elevated to cardinal in 2019, he received the titular church of San Gabriele Arcangelo all’Acqua Traversa.[6]

As bishop, Ambongo led SECAM’s 2024 rejection of *Fiducia Supplicans*, negotiated peace agreements, and faced a 2024 DRC judicial investigation for alleged seditious remarks.[3][4] In 2025, he attended Pope Francis’ funeral and conclave preparations.[4]

Diocese Role Start Date End Date Notes
Diocese of Bokungu-Ikela Bishop 22 November 2004 12 November 2016 Apostolic Administrator, 2016–2018
Diocese of Kole Apostolic Administrator 30 October 2008 9 August 2015 Concurrent with Bokungu-Ikela
Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro Archbishop 12 November 2016 6 February 2018 Apostolic Administrator, 2016
Archdiocese of Kinshasa Coadjutor Archbishop 6 February 2018 1 November 2018 Succeeded as Archbishop, 2018
Archdiocese of Kinshasa Archbishop 1 November 2018 Present Elevated to cardinal in 2019

Significant events

  • Joined Capuchin Franciscans, 1981.[1]
  • Ordained priest, 1988.[1]
  • Earned licentiate in moral theology, 1995.[6]
  • Appointed Bishop of Bokungu-Ikela, 2004.[1]
  • Received death threats for environmental advocacy, 2015.[2]
  • Negotiated St. Sylvester Framework Agreement, 2016.[2]
  • Named Archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro, 2016.[1]
  • Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Kinshasa, 2018.[1]
  • Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis, 2019.[1]
  • Appointed to Council of Cardinals, 2020.[6]
  • Hosted Pope Francis’ DRC visit, 2023.[2]
  • Elected SECAM president, 2023.[1]
  • Led SECAM rejection of *Fiducia Supplicans*, 2024.[3]
  • Faced DRC judicial investigation, 2024.[4]
  • Proposed SECAM polygamy document, 2024.[8]
  • Urged DRC peace talks, February 2025.[7]
  • Attended Pope Francis’ funeral and conclave preparations, April 2025.[4]

Books

Written about the bishop

  • No specific biographies dedicated to Cardinal Ambongo were identified.

Written by the bishop

  • No books authored by Cardinal Ambongo were identified. He has issued pastoral letters and statements through the Archdiocese of Kinshasa and SECAM, but no published books are documented.

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 "Fridolin Ambongo Besungu". Wikipedia. 2025-04-23. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fridolin_Ambongo_Besungu. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Papabile of the day: Cardinal Ambongo’s blend of tradition and reform". Catholic Herald. 2025-04-27. https://thecatholicherald.com/papabile-of-the-day-cardinal-ambongos-blend-of-tradition-and-reform/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Cardinal Explains How African Rejection of ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ Was Handled". National Catholic Register. 2024-01-22. https://www.ncregister.com/news/cardinal-ambongo-fiducia-supplicans-africa. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope". Vatican News. 2025-04-29. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/conclave-who-will-elect-the-next-pope.html.  Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "web15" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ "Who will be the next Pope?". BBC. 2025-04-24. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g4gddg3gvo. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 "Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu". Vatican Press. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_ambongo-besungu_f.html. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Cardinal Ambongo: 'No more time to lose to start peace talks in DRC'". Vatican News. 2025-02-10. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-02/cardinal-ambongo-peace-talks-drc.html. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu". The College of Cardinals Report. 2024-11-23. https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/cardinal-fridolin-ambongo-besungu/. 
  9. ↑ "Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bambof.html. 
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