AFRICA/D.R. CONGO - Bishop Nicolas Djomo of Tshumbe elected new President of the Congolese Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - During the 44 Plenary Assembly of the Congolese Bishops’ Conference, celebrated in Kinshasa on July 10, the new governing body was elected with the new President, Bishop Nicolas Djomo of Tshumbe at the head, succeeding Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo of Kinshasa. The rest of the members are: Bishop Joseph Banga of Buta, Vice-President (succeeding Bishop Tharcisse Tshibangu of Mbuji-Mayi), and Adjunct Secretaries Msgr. Donatien Nshole of the Diocese of Inongo, and Msgr. Felicien Mwanama of the Diocese of Luiza.
The Plenary Assembly, which was attended by almost 50 Congolese Bishops, began on July 7 at the General Secretariat of the Bishops’ Conference in Kinshasa-Gombe. As is customary at the opening session, the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giovanni d’Aniello delivered a message to the Bishops. The Assembly, in turn, wrote to the Holy Father Benedict XVI and to Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. In addition to the members of the governing body of the Bishops’ Conference, the majority of the Presidents of its 11 committees terminated their service time as well. The committees met June 26-28 to draft a statement on the main issues effecting the Church, the social situation, and the pastoral life of the country. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 11/7/2008)