Biographical note on the Apostolic Administrator of Kibungo
1. His life since his birth
His Eminence Antoine Cardinal KAMBANDA, Archbishop of Kigali and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Kibungo.
His Eminence Antoine Cardinal KAMBANDA was born on 10/11/1958 in Nyamata Parish, Archdiocese of Kigali. He was baptised on 27/11/1958; he was ordained priest by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on 08 September 1990.
2. His life as a Priest
From 1990 to 1993, he was professor and prefect of the minor seminary of Ndera (Kigali), before resuming his higher studies, from 1993 to 1999, in Rome, at the Alphonsian Academy, of the Redemptorists, – whose teaching is inspired by Saint Alphonsus-Marie de Liguori -, where he obtained a doctorate in moral theology. He resides at the Pontifical College of Saint Paul.
From 1999 to 2005, he was director of the diocesan Caritas of Kigali, director of the diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, professor of moral theology at the major theological seminary in Nyakibanda and spiritual director of the major seminary of Rutongo, in the province of Kigali.
He was then rector of the major seminary of philosophy of Kabgayi, in the southern province, from 2005 to 2006, then, from 2006, rector of the major seminary of Saint Charles in Nyakibanda.
3. Bishop of the Diocese of Kibungo
On 07/05/2013, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Kibungo and he took possession on 20/07/2013. On 7 May 2013, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Kibungo[4], then consecrated on 20 July by the Archbishop of Kigali[1], Thaddée Ntihinyurwa, in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to Rwanda Luciano Russo and the Prime Minister of Rwanda Pierre Habumuremyi[2]. He was chosen by the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda to participate in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2015[9].
4. Archbishop of Kigali and Apostolic Administrator of Kibungo
Five years later, on 19 November 2018, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Kigali while asking him to remain Apostolic Administrator of Kibungo.
Two years later, he was elevated to the Cardinalate. Pope Francis who made the announcement on 25 October 2020 during the Sunday Angelus, he was elevated to the rank of Cardinal during the consistory of 28 November 2020 on the feast of Our Lady of KIBEHO.
Diocesan Commission for the Means of Communication and Cultural Activities
To Dieudonné UWAMAHORO