Tribute to the Late Bishop Christophe Munzihirwa: Calls Intensify for Justice and Beatification of a ‘Heroic Pastor’
Twenty-nine years after the assassination of Bishop Christophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo, members of the Fraternity bearing his name are demanding an accelerated beatification process. This Christian community, united by the values he embodied, issued the appeal on Sunday, November 2nd, in Kinshasa. A commemorative mass was held at the Sacré-Cœur parish in honor of the former Bishop of Bukavu, who was killed during the first war in eastern DRC in 1996.
Organizers described the day as “steeped in emotion, prayer, and reflection on the spiritual and patriotic legacy of the martyred Archbishop of Bukavu.”
A Call for Recognition of His Martyrdom
During the thanksgiving mass, celebrated by Father François d’Assise Basinyize Bizimana, parish priest of Sainte Thérèse in Burhiba, Bukavu, multiple voices united in calling for the recognition of Bishop Munzihirwa’s martyrdom and his subsequent beatification.
Modeste Mbonigaba, president of the Christophe Munzihirwa Fraternity, revisited the historical context of the Archbishop’s murder on October 29, 1996, on the road to Nyawera in Ibanda municipality.
A Voice That Disturbed the Warlords
Mbonigaba asserted that Bishop Munzihirwa “did not die from a stray bullet but was deliberately executed” for denouncing an “international conspiracy” and the orchestrated violence of the first Congo war.
“He was killed because he preached the truth, defended the innocent, and denounced the massacres in the refugee camps,” Mbonigaba explained.
He recalled how the Archbishop stood against international media disinformation and the foreign invasion of his country, championing faith and justice:
“Munzihirwa called for peace, love between communities, and patriotic resistance. He was the voice that disturbed the powerful.”
A Spiritual and Civic Legacy
Mbonigaba also highlighted the prelate’s enduring spiritual and civic legacy, noting that his martyrdom inspired a profound moral and popular resistance. He remains a key reference for both the Church and the Congolese nation.
“Those who killed him created a hero,” he concluded, honoring a man whose ideas continue to inspire academic research worldwide.
Testimonies and Support for Beatification
Honorary Minister Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga, present at the ceremony, stated emotionally:
“This is a day of remembrance where we must remind national and international opinion about this great man. It is time for justice to be served for him and for him to be beatified. May he become a blessed one, a model of patriotism, love, and pastoral care, as we do not often see in our country.”
Doctor Jean-Baptiste Sondji, a former colleague of Bishop Munzihirwa, echoed this sentiment, sharing poignant memories of their friendship:
“He is truly an example to follow. I shared many moments with him. He must be beatified; it is the natural order of things.”
A Message That Continues to Inspire
These appeals join a growing chorus of faithful urging for the acceleration of Bishop Munzihirwa’s beatification. In South Kivu, he is widely recognized as “a martyr of faith, courage, and justice“.
For the Christophe Munzihirwa Fraternity, the late prelate’s legacy remains powerfully alive.
“His message of faith, truth, and resistance continues to inspire entire generations of Congolese, convinced that justice will ultimately recognize the greatness of a man who gave his life for peace and human dignity,” the community affirmed.