Antoine Kambanda
Antoine Kambanda | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal,Archbishop of Kigali Spiritual Protector and Chaplain General of the Order of Saint Lazarus | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Kigali |
| See | Kigali |
| Appointed | 19 November 2018 |
| Installed | 27 January 2019 |
| Predecessor | Thaddée Ntihinyurwa |
| Other post(s) | Cardinal-Priest of San Sisto(2020-) |
| Previous post(s) | Bishop of Kibungo(2013-18) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 8 September 1990 byPope John Paul II |
| Consecration | 20 July 2013 by Thaddée Ntihinyurwa |
| Created cardinal | 28 November 2020 byPope Francis |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Antoine Kambanda 10 November 1958 |
| Alma mater | Nyakibanda Major Seminary Alphonsian Academy |
| Motto | Ut vitam habeant |
| Coat of arms |  |
Antoine Kambanda(born 10 November 1958) is aRwandanprelate of theCatholic Churchwho has beenArchbishop of Kigalisince 2019. He wasBishop of Kibungofrom 2013 to 2018.
Pope Francisraised him to the rank ofcardinalon 28 November 2020, making him the first cardinal fromRwanda.[1]He is current Spiritual Protector andChaplain Generalof theOrléans obedienceof theMilitary and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem.
Early years
[edit]Antoine Kambanda was born on 10 November 1958 in Rwanda. Because of inter-ethnic violence, his family moved briefly to Burundi and then to Uganda, where he attended elementary, and then to Kenya, where he attended high school.[2]Later he returned to his homeland, where he attended the junior Seminary inRutongo,Kigali,(1983–1984) and theSaint Charles Borromeo Major Seminary of NyakibandainButare(1984–1990).[3] On 8 September 1990, he was ordained a priest inKabgayibyPope John Paul II.After that he was Prefect of Studies from 1990 to 1993 in the minor seminary of St. Vincent inNdera,Kigali. He then attended theAlphonsian Academyin Rome from 1993 to 1999, where he obtained a doctorate in moral theology.[3]His parents and five of his six siblings, along with many other relatives and friends, were killed in 1994 during thegenocide against the Tutsi.[2]
Priest
[edit]Kambanda was appointed Director of the diocesan office ofCaritasin Kigali in 1999. He then became director of the Development Committee of the Diocese of Kigali, head of the "Justice and Peace" Commission of the diocese, and professor of moral theology and visitor at the Nyakibanda Major Seminary.[3]Speaking in 2004 of the 1994Rwandan genocide,Kambanda acknowledged that while some members of the Catholic clergy had tried to protect the people, others had been complicit in the killings.[4]Kambanda noted the need for the Catholic Church itself to undergo reconstruction to shake off the effects of the genocide. He has said "the use of the sacrament of penance for reconciliation and healing of ethnic hatred and the reconciliation with oneself, with God and with the others, would be significant to develop a faith characterized by trust that overcomes the fear of the other."[5]
In September 2005 CardinalCrescenzio Sepeappointed him rector of the inter-diocesan major philosophy seminary in Kabgayi. On 10 February 2006 Kambanda was appointed rector of the Saint Charles Borromeo Major Seminary of Nyakibanda.[3] He replaced MonseigneurSmaragde Mbonyintege,who had been named a bishop.[6]
In June 2011 he led five hundred Rwandan pilgrims toNamugongo,Uganda, to join the Martyrs Day ceremonies to commemorate the 45 Christian converts who were killed in 1884 by KingMwanga II of Buganda.In his sermon, he said that the sacrifice the martyrs made had greatly helped the spread of Christianity in Africa by showing missionaries that converts would be willing to die for their faith.[7]
Bishop and cardinal
[edit]On 7 May 2013, Pope Francis named Kambanda Bishop of Kibungo.[8]He succeeded Kizito Bahujimihigo, who resigned in January 2010 amid "serious financial problems" in the diocese and threats on the part of creditor banks to seize diocesan assets.[9]TheEpiscopal Conference of Rwandaelected him to attend the Synod of Bishops in 2015.[10]
On 19 November 2018, Pope Francis named him Archbishop of Kigali.[11]
On 25 October 2020, Pope Francis announced he would raise him to the rank ofcardinalat a consistory scheduled for 28 November 2020.[12]At that consistory, Pope Francis made him Cardinal-Priest ofSan Sisto.[13]On 16 December he was named a member of theCongregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.[14]
In October 2021, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Kambanda as a member of theCongregation for Catholic Education.[15]
In August 2022, he was appoinded byGrand Masterof theOrléans obedienceof the Order of Saint LazarusJan Dobrzenský z Dobrzeniczas Spiritual Protector and Chaplain general of the Order.[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Cardinal Kambanda: par mon cardinalat," le Pape est dans les périphéries "".Vatican News(in French). 2 December 2020.Retrieved6 December2020.
- ^abHendey, Lisa (15 July 2014)."Rwandan Bishop Kambanda Reflects on the Genocide in His Country".Patheos(Interview).Retrieved20 November2018.
- ^abcd"New rector appointed for St. Charles National Major Seminary in Nyakibanda".Agenzia Fides.17 February 2006.Retrieved21 March2013.
- ^Walker, Robert (1 April 2004)."Rwanda's religious reflections".BBC News.Retrieved21 March2013.
- ^Kambanda, Frère Antoine (26 July 2006)."The Struggle for Peace in Rwanda"(PDF).Catholic Peacebuilding Network.Retrieved21 March2013.
- ^"Le Grand Séminaire Saint Charles Borromée de Nyakibanda"(in French). Conférence Episcopale du Rwanda.Retrieved21 March2013.
- ^Muramira, Gashegu (5 June 2011)."Rwanda: 500 Local Pilgrims Attend Martyrs Day".New Times.Retrieved21 March2013.
- ^"Rinunce e Nomine, 07.05.2013"(Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 7 May 2013.Retrieved19 November2018.
- ^"Mgr Antoine Kambanda, nouvel évêque de Kibungo, au Rwanda".La Croix(in French). 9 May 2013.Retrieved20 November2018.
- ^"Vatican Releases Full List of Synod Participants".Zenit.15 September 2015.Retrieved20 November2018.
- ^"Rinunce e nomine, 19.11.2018"(Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 19 November 2018.Retrieved20 November2018.
- ^O'Connell, Gerard (25 October 2020)."Pope Francis names 13 new cardinals, including Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington D.C."America.Retrieved25 October2020.
- ^"Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli, 28.11.2020".Holy See Press Office(in Italian). 28 November 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 28 November 2020.Retrieved28 November2020.
- ^"Resignations and Appointments, 16.12.2020"(Press release). Holy See Press Office. 16 December 2020.Retrieved16 December2020.
- ^Javira Ssebwami (4 October 2021)."Pope Francis appoints Rwandan Cardinal Kambanda member of Congregation for Catholic Education".PML Daily.Kampala, Uganda.Retrieved4 October2021.
- ^"New Spiritual Protector".Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem.Retrieved10 August2022.
- Additional sources
- McElwee, Joshua J. (22 October 2015)."Rwandan bishop carries special concerns to synod in Rome".National Catholic Reporter.Retrieved20 November2018.
External links
[edit]
- "Kambanda Card. Antoine".Holy See Press Office.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2020.
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