AFRICA/BURUNDI - The Pope creates the Ecclesiastical Province of Bujumbura and appoints first Metropolitan Archbishop

Saturday, 25 November 2006

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, on 25 November 2006, created the new ecclesiastical province of Bujumbura, with territory taken from the ecclesiastical Province of Gitega (Burundi). The Ecclesiastical Province includes the suffragan dioceses of Bubanza and Bururi. The Holy Father appointed first Metropolitan Archbishop of Bujumbura, Bishop Evariste Ngoyagoye, until now bishop of the same diocese.
Statistics - Burundi, situated in the region of Africa’s Great Lakes Tanganyka and Victoria, has an area of 27,834 sq km and a population of 6,690,000, 85% Hutu, 14% Tutsi and 1% Twa, grouped in 15 administrative provinces. With a population 61.83% Catholic, Burundi is one of the most Catholic countries in Africa. The over 4,100,000 Catholics are gathered in 131 parishes. There are 300 local priests, and the number continues to rise, and about 1,000 religious men and women.
Until now Burundi had one Ecclesiastical Province Gitega, with 6 suffragan dioceses. After the division to provinces are as follows:
1. Ecclesiastical province of Gitega
remains with 3 suffragan dioceses: Muyinga, Ngozi and Ruyigi.
2. Ecclesiastical Province of Bujumbura
2 suffragan dioceses: Bubanza, taken from territory of Bujumbura, and closely connected with the capital; Bururi, taken from Gitega, maintains relations with Bujumbura, through communication. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 25/11/2006; Righe 22; Parole 273)


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