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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with 50–55 million Catholics (55–60% of 100 million), is a cornerstone of Africa’s Catholic boom, where the Catholic population grows by 1.7% annually (2022–2023). The Archdiocese of Kinshasa, elevated in 1959, leads with the Zairean Rite, a Vatican-approved African liturgy incorporating local music and dance. The DRC’s 48 dioceses and strong seminaries (over 1,200 priests in Kinshasa alone) reflect a robust local Church.