AFRICA/DR CONGO - Bishop of Mahagi-Nioka appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Pope Benedict XVI, on November 16, 2010, appointed Fr. Sosthène Ayikuli Udjuwa, currently Diocesan Administrator of Mahagi-Nioka, as Bishop of Mahagi-Nioka (Dem. Rep. Congo).
Fr. Sosthène Ayikuli Udjuwa, was born July 7, 1963 at Faradje (Isiro-Niangara). After primary school, he carried out secondary school studies in Tadu and at the Rungu Minor Seminary (1978-1984). He later studied philosophy in Kisangani (1985-1988) and theology in Bunia (1988-1993). He was ordained a priest on July 15, 1993. After his ordination, he held the following positions: 1993-1997: professor at the Jean XXIII Minor Seminary in Vida (Mahagi-Nioka); 1997-1999: studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University in Kinshasa; 1999-2001: professor at the Theologate of Saint Cyprien in Bunia; 2001-2002: assistant priest in Ariwara, 2002-2009: studies in Rome for a doctorate "in utroque iure" at the Pontifical Lateran University; assistant priest in the Diocese of Palestrina, in 2009: Diocesan Administrator of Mahagi- Nioka.
The Diocese of Mahagi-Nioka, suffragan of the Archdiocese of Kisangani, was erected in 1967. It has an area of 18,490 sq.km. and a population of 1,705,486 inhabitants, of whom 975,688 are Catholics. There are 17 parishes, 86 priests (74 diocesan and 12 religious), 7 lay brothers, 51 seminarians, and 114 religious sisters. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 16/11/2010)