Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bukavu (Agenzia Fides) - On 29 October the Catholic Church in Congo, particularly the archdiocese of Bukavu will commemorate Archbishop Munzihirwa of Bukavu shot dead in an ambush ten years ago. Cristophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo was a member of the Society of Jesus. He was born in 1926 and ordained a priest in 1958. Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Africa from 1980 to 1986, elected coadjutor bishop of Kasongo in 1986, he was appointed Archbishop of Bukavu in 1994.
He was well known in both the ecclesial field and the political and social field for his commitment to assist Rwandan refugees and to promote respect for human rights, he was also dedicated to following the processes of democratisation in what was then Zaire. Only a few days before his death he launched yet another heartfelt appeal to call attention to the gravity of the situation in the Great Lakes Region, urging missionaries in particularly not to give way to fear and to remain with the people entrusted to their care. The Archbishop was killed in an ambush on Tuesday 29 October 1996, under circumstances still to be clarified, during a military attack on the city close to the border between Rwanda and Burundi. The body of the Archbishop was found the following day.
According to information sent to Fides by the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission of Bukavu, after a novena of prayer in parishes and religious communities from 22 - 27 October, the Archbishop will be commemorated on 28 October with a solemn Mass in the Cathedral at 3pm. The Mass will be preceded by a procession from the square where the Archbishop was killed, now called Munzihirwa Square, and the blessing of a monument in memory of the “Archbishop who, following the example of Christ, shed his blood give voice to the voiceless”.
On the actual date of the incident 29 October, the people of Congo are called to elect a president from two candidates and provincial representatives. The candidates for presidency are out-going president Joseph Cabila and one of the 4 out-going vice presidents, Jean-Pierre Bemba. During the months of waiting for the results of the first vote, there were alternate clashes between supporters and moments of democratic confrontation. However the people will vote in the second round in an atmosphere of calm .
“On the 10th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Christophe Munzihirwa - the Bukavu JP Commission writes- the people of this province, this country and the whole of Africa have a right to know the name of the killer and the weapon used. On behalf of our province we call on those who are elected on 29 October to pay homage to the memory of Archbishop Munzihirwa, to distance themselves from all dishonesty and above all renounce all manipulation which sows death among tranquil citizens”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 27/10/2006 - righe 36, parole 495).
