Pope Francis on August 12 appointed Reverend Jean Bosco Ntagungira as the new bishop of Butare Catholic Diocese, according to an Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church announcement. He replaces Monsignor Philippe Rukamba who led the diocese since 1997. Philippe was appointed Bishop of Butare by Pope John Paul II on January 2, 1997. ALSO READ: Bishop Rukamba on the Catholic Church 50 year’s journey The new bishop of Butare was the parish priest of Regina Pacis in Kigali. “The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Butare, Rwanda, presented by Bishop Philippe Rukamba, read the announcement. Who is the new bishop of Butare? Ntagungira was born in April 1964, in Kigali. After attending the Kigali minor seminary and the Rutongo preparatory seminary, he completed his studies in philosophy and theology at Nyakibanda major seminary. He was ordained a priest on August 1, 1993 for the archdiocese of Kigali. After ordination, he first held the office of prefect of studies at Ndera minor seminary (1993-1994). He was awarded a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome (1994-2001), and went on to serve as chancellor of the archdiocese of Kigali and president of the diocesan Commission for Missions and Ecumenism (2001-2002), rector of the Saint Vincent minor seminary of Ndera, office at the Interdiocesan Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Kigali (2002 to date), and parish priest of Regina Pacis in Kigali (2019 to date). Who is Bishop Philippe Rukamba, the outgoing bishop? Rukamba, who is now retiring, was born on May 26, 1948, in Rwinkwavu, currently in Kayonza District, Eastern Province. He was baptized on May 29, 1948. His primary education was in Rwinkwavu, Rulindo, Rwamagana, and Zaza. In 1961, he entered the Minor Seminary of Kabgayi. In 1965, he continued his studies at the Saint-Paul Seminary in Kigali, where he completed his secondary education with a focus on Greek and Latin. On September 14, 1968, he entered the Major Seminary of Nyakibanda to study Philosophy and Theology. He was ordained as a priest on June 2, 1974, by Bishop Aloys Bigirumwami at Nyundo. In 1976, Bishop Joseph Sibomana, then Bishop of the Diocese of Kibungo, sent him to Rome for advanced studies, where he earned a doctorate with a thesis titled Saint Cyprian and Martyrdom. From 1983 to 1991, he served as the Rector of the Minor Seminary of Zaza. From 1991 to 1992, he was the spiritual director at the Major Seminary of Philosophy in Kabgayi. Starting in 1992, he served as the parish priest of Kibungo Cathedral. On January 18, 1997, he was appointed Bishop, and on April 12, 1997, he was consecrated at the Butare Cathedral.
