AFRICA/DR CONGO – Seminary formation in the Diocese of Wamba suspended

Kinshasa – The refusal of the clergy and some lay people to recognize Emmanuel Ngona Ngotsi as Bishop of the Diocese of Wamba has led to the decision to suspend the formation of the diocese’s seminarians.
Msgr. Ngona was already appointed Bishop of Wamba on January 17, 2024, but was unable to take possession of the diocese due to protests from the clergy and numerous lay people. Despite various attempts at dialogue by the Holy See through the Dicastery for Evangelization , the Apostolic Nunciature, and the National Episcopal Conference of Congo , the situation could not be resolved. For this reason, on April 15 of this year, in a communication signed by Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization , and Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Missionary Dicastery, addressed to Archbishop Mitja Leskovar, Apostolic Nuncio to the Democratic Republic of Congo, it was decided to temporarily suspend the formation of future priests in the Diocese of Wamba. After noting “the difficult situation of the Diocese of Wamba,” the Dicastery for Evangelization stated: “Since such a problematic environment is currently not conducive to the formation of future priests, this Dicastery, taking into account Your Excellency’s repeated request, has decided to temporarily suspend all formation activities in the Preparatory Seminary and the Minor Seminary at the end of the current academic year, that is, June 30, 2025.”
The Apostolic Administrator of Wamba, Bishop Sosthène Ayikuli Udjuwa of Mahagi-Nioka, subsequently announced the Dicastery’s decision. According to the regulations, Bishop Ayikuli recalled that “seminarians who wish to continue their priestly formation may contact other Congolese bishops, who may accept them after appropriate discernment. The formators and professors of the two seminaries will assume other duties in the service of the Church, unrelated to formation.”

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