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Democratic Republic of the Congo: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "{{Country | country_name = Democratic Republic of the Congo | continent = Africa | region = Central Africa | area_sq_km = 2344858 | population = 108000000 | catholic_population = 54000000 | catholic_percentage = 50 | rank_among_religions = 1 | catholicism_status = Majority religion, secular state | official_languages = French | capital_city = Kinshasa | date_catholicism_introduced = 15th century | ecclesiastical_provinces_count = 6 | dioceses_count = 47 |...") |
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The DRC’s history includes the Kongo Kingdom, Belgian colonization (1885–1960), and independence in 1960, followed by conflicts like the Congo Crisis and civil wars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Democratic Republic of the Congo |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Democratic-Republic-of-the-Congo |publisher=Britannica |date=2024-10-15 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> Catholicism was introduced in the late 15th century by Portuguese missionaries in the Kongo Kingdom, with systematic evangelization under Belgian rule in the 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Encyclopedia: Congo |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04237a.htm |publisher=New Advent |date=1913-01-01 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> The Church played a key role in education and mediation during post-independence conflicts, maintaining influence in modern DRC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DRC’s Catholic History |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/congo-democratic-republic-catholic-church |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |date=2003-01-01 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> | The DRC’s history includes the Kongo Kingdom, Belgian colonization (1885–1960), and independence in 1960, followed by conflicts like the Congo Crisis and civil wars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Democratic Republic of the Congo |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Democratic-Republic-of-the-Congo |publisher=Britannica |date=2024-10-15 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> Catholicism was introduced in the late 15th century by Portuguese missionaries in the Kongo Kingdom, with systematic evangelization under Belgian rule in the 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Encyclopedia: Congo |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04237a.htm |publisher=New Advent |date=1913-01-01 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> The Church played a key role in education and mediation during post-independence conflicts, maintaining influence in modern DRC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DRC’s Catholic History |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/congo-democratic-republic-catholic-church |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |date=2003-01-01 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> | ||
== | === Predecessor states === | ||
The DRC’s territory was historically part of the Kongo Kingdom, Luba, and Lunda empires before European colonization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kongo Kingdom |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kongo-Kingdom |publisher=Britannica |date=2024-10-15 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> The Belgian Congo, established in 1885 under King Leopold II’s Congo Free State and later Belgian colonial rule, directly preceded the DRC’s independence in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belgian Congo |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/belgian-congo |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |date=2003-01-01 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> Catholic missions, notably by the [[White Fathers]], were integral to colonial administration and education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DRC’s Catholic History |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/congo-democratic-republic-catholic-church |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |date=2003-01-01 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> | |||
=== Successor states === | |||
The DRC, established as an independent nation in 1960, has no direct successor states, as it remains a unified country despite internal conflicts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Democratic Republic of the Congo |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Democratic-Republic-of-the-Congo |publisher=Britannica |date=2024-10-15 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> Temporary separatist movements, like Katanga (1960–1963), were reintegrated, and the Church played a mediating role in maintaining national unity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Katanga Secession |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/katanga-secession |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |date=2003-01-01 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> | |||
==Demographics== | |||
The DRC’s 108 million people include 50% Catholics (54 million), 20% Protestants, 10% Kimbanguists, 10% traditional beliefs, and 10% Muslims.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2020/04/15/religion-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |date=2020-04-15 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> Ethnic groups are primarily Bantu (80%), including Luba, Kongo, and Mongo. Catholicism is strongest in urban [[Kinshasa]] and [[Lubumbashi]], but rural areas show syncretism with traditional practices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholicism in the DRC |url=https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/democratic-republic-congo |publisher=Catholics & Cultures |date=2020-06-15 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> | The DRC’s 108 million people include 50% Catholics (54 million), 20% Protestants, 10% Kimbanguists, 10% traditional beliefs, and 10% Muslims.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2020/04/15/religion-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |date=2020-04-15 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> Ethnic groups are primarily Bantu (80%), including Luba, Kongo, and Mongo. Catholicism is strongest in urban [[Kinshasa]] and [[Lubumbashi]], but rural areas show syncretism with traditional practices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholicism in the DRC |url=https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/democratic-republic-congo |publisher=Catholics & Cultures |date=2020-06-15 |access-date=2025-05-20}}</ref> | ||