Resignation and appointment of bishop of Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, presented by Bishop Nestor Ngoy Katahwa.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Richard Kazadi Kamba, until now secretary and spokesperson of the Provincial Episcopal Assembly of Lubumbashi, as bishop of the same diocese.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Richard Kazadi Kamba was born on 6 December 1964 in Lubumbashi. He entered the Saint Paul Preparatory Seminary (1985-1986), and studied philosophy at the same seminary in Lubumbashi (1986-1989) and theology at the Catholic University of Kinshasa (1989-1992).

He was ordained a priest on 19 September 1992 for the archdiocese of Lubumbashi.

After priestly ordination, he first obtained a licentiate in theology from the Catholic University of Kinshasa (1992-1994); he then served as parish vicar of Saint Pierre, notary of the ecclesiastical tribunal of Lubumbashi, lecturer in theology at the Saint Paul Seminary and vicar of the Saints Pierre et Paul Cathedral (1994-1995); and Sunday vicar of Muzeyi and chaplain of the Saint Pierre residence for the elderly in Kinshasa (1995-1998). He was awarded a licentiate in philosophy and served as lecturer in theology of catechesis at the Jean XXIII Seminary in Kinshasa (1996-1998); he received a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University (1998-2003) and served as parish vicar of Santo Stefano in Viterbo (2000-2007), and obtained a doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical University Antonianum (2004-2006). He was visiting professor in the Faculty of Theology of the Jesuits in Abidjan (2008-2009); vice-rector (2008-2010) and lecturer in theology, philosophy and social communications at the Saint Paul Major Seminary in Lubumbashi. From 2010 to the present, he has served as secretary and spokesperson of the Provincial Episcopal Assembly of Lubumbashi, and director general of the Institut Supèrieur Interdiocésain Monseigneur Mololwa, and of the Interdiocesan Centre of Lubumbashi.

In addition, from 2010 to 2012 he served as president of the Preparatory Commission for the Second Diocesan Synod of Lubumbashi; from 2012, president of the Commission for the Implementation of the same Synod, and since 2019, technical secretary of the preparatory committee for the Third National Eucharistic Congress of Lubumbashi.