Dieudonné Nzapalainga

Dieudonné Nzapalainga (born 14 March 1967) is a Catholic cardinal and the Archbishop of Bangui in the Central African Republic and a professed member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Nzapalainga served as the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Bangui from 2009 until mid-2012 when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as its metropolitan archbishop; since 2013 he has served as the President of the Central African Episcopal Conference.[1]

His Eminence

Dieudonné Nzapalainga

C.S.Sp.
Cardinal, Archbishop of Bangui
Nzapalainga on 16 August 2014.
ChurchCatholic Church
ArchdioceseBangui
SeeBangui
Appointed14 May 2012
Installed29 July 2012
PredecessorPaulin Pomodimo
Other postsPresident of the Central African Episcopal Conference (2013–)
Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Andrea della Valle
Orders
Ordination9 August 1998
Consecration22 July 2012
by Fernando Filoni
Created cardinal19 November 2016
by Pope Francis
RankCardinal Priest
Personal details
Birth nameDieudonné Nzapalainga
Born (1967-03-14) 14 March 1967
Bangassou, Central African Republic
Previous postApostolic Administrator of Bangui (2009–2012)
Motto"A l'image de Dieu I'l les crea"
(Ad Imaginem dei Creavit Illum)
(In the Image of God He created them)
Coat of arms
Ordination history of
Dieudonné Nzapalainga
History
Priestly ordination
Date9 August 1998
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorFernando Filoni
Co-consecratorsJude Thaddeus Okolo
Edouard Mathos
Date22 July 2012
Cardinalate
Elevated byPope Francis
Date19 November 2016
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Dieudonné Nzapalainga as principal consecrator
Zbigniew Tadeusz Kusy15 August 2014
Styles of
Dieudonne Nzapalainga
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal

When Pope Francis made Nzapalainga a cardinal on 19 November 2016 he became the youngest cardinal and the first born after the Second Vatican Council.

Life

Dieudonné Nzapalainga was born in Bangassou on 14 March 1967.

After completing his secondary schooling he commenced his period of formation with the Spiritans and began his time as a postulant at Otéle in Cameroon. Nzapalainga underwent his philosophical studies at Libreville in Gabon and his novitiate with the order in Mbalmayo in Cameroon while later undergoing theological studies in France.[1] He professed his initial vows into the order on 8 September 1993 and made his perpetual profession on 6 September 1997; he was ordained to the diaconate the following day. He was ordained to the priesthood on 9 August 1998 in Bangassou.

The new priest began his pastoral mission in Marseille in France and worked as a chaplain at the Saint Francis de Sales house there while also ministering at the parish of Saint Jerome. In total he served in France from 1998 until 2005 when he returned to the Central African Republic. In March 2006 he was appointed the superior for his region of the order and remained in the post until 2008.[1]

Nzapalainga became the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Bangui following the resignation of Paulin Pomodimo and remained as such until mid-2012.[1] Pope Benedict XVI – on 14 May 2012 – appointed him the Archbishop of Bangui and he later received his episcopal consecration on 22 July 2012 from Cardinal Fernando Filoni before being installed in his new archdiocese on 29 July 2012.[2]

Nzapalainga was elevated to the rank of cardinal priest at a consistory held on 19 November 2016. He was assigned the titular church of Sant'Andrea della Valle.[3] He became the youngest member of the College of Cardinals. He assumed possession of his titular church on 18 December 2016.

References
  1. "Fr. Dieudonné NZAPALAINGA, Archbishop of Bangui (RCA)". Spiritans. 7 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  2. "Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  3. "Titular churches and diaconates of the new cardinals, 19.11.2016" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Paulin Pomodimo		 Archbishop of Bangui
2012–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Giovanni Canestri		 Cardinal Priest of Sant'Andrea della Valle
2016–present
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