The Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya died on Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Versailles, at the age of 81. At the beginning of July, his health deteriorated and he was hospitalized in France. A biblical theologian, he was a member of the Council of Cardinal until 2018, when as archbishop of Kinshasa, he decided to dedicate himself to work for peace in his country, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pope Francis sent the Following Telegram of Condolence:
To His Em. Cardinal Fridolin AMBONGO BESUNGU Archbishop of Kinshasa KINSHASA Having learned with sadness of the death of Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop Emeritus of Kinshasa, I extend my deep condolences to you as well as to his family, to the Auxiliary Bishops and to the faithful of the dioceses of Inongo, Kisangani and Kinshasa of which he has was successively the Pastor. I ask the Father of all mercy to welcome in his peace and in his light this exegete, this man of science, this great spiritual man and this Pastor intensely devoted to the service of the Church, wherever he has been called. Attentive to the needs of the faithful, filled with courage and determination, Cardinal Monsengwo dedicated his life as priest and bishop to the inculturation of the faith and the preferential option for the poor. He thus embodied the prophetic mission of the Church. Man in love with justice, peace and unity, he was strongly involved in integral human development in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cardinal Monsengwo has been a great figure listened to and respected in the ecclesial, social and political life of the nation and has always been committed to the dialogue and reconciliation of his people. His contribution was significant for the advancement of the country. Faithful and close collaborator in recent years, he has never ceased to make his contribution to the life of the universal Church. As a token of comfort, I address the Apostolic Blessing to you, as well as to the Auxiliary Bishops, priests, consecrated persons, the family of the deceased Cardinal and his relatives, the diocesans and all those who will take part in the celebration. funeral. Cardinal Monsengwo has been a great figure listened to and respected in the ecclesial, social and political life of the nation and has always been committed to the dialogue and reconciliation of his people. His contribution was significant for the advancement of the country. Faithful and close collaborator in recent years, he has never ceased to make his contribution to the life of the universal Church.
FRANCISCUS PP.
Biography:
Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), was born on 7 October 1939 in Mongobele. After studying at the seminary in Africa, he came to Rome to study theology at the Pontifical Urbanian University.
He was ordained a priest on 21 December 1963.
He also studied at the Pontifical Biblical Institute of Rome and of Jerusalem. He subsequently moved back to Africa and began teaching Sacred Scripture at the theological faculty in Kinshasa and at John XXIII Major Seminary.
On 13 February 1980 he was appointed titular Bishop of Aquae Novae of Proconsulari and Auxiliary of Inongo. He was consecrated on 4 May 1980.
On 7 April 1981 he was appointed Auxiliary of Kisangani.
On 1 September 1988 he was appointed Archbishop of Kisangani.
In 1984, he was elected president of the Episcopal Conference. During the 1990s, he took an active role in his country’s political situation, helping to guide the country in the delicate transition from Zaire to the Democratic Republic of Congo and promoting peace.
On 6 December 2007 he was appointed Archbishop of Kinshasa.
During Lent of 2012 he was called to preach the spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia in which Pope Benedict XVI took part.
On 30 June 2012 he was nominated President Delegate of the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held in the Vatican on 7-28 October 2012, on the theme "The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith".
He participated in the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2014) on The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization and appointed by Pope Francis in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly on The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World (October 2015).
On 13 April 2013 he was made a member of the Council of cardinals established to advise Pope Francis in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia,‘Pastor Bonus’.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of 20 November 2010, of the Title of Santa Maria "Regina Pacis" in Ostia Mare (Saint Mary "Regina Pacis" at Ostia Mare).
Member of:
Congregations: for Catholic Education; Evangelization of Peoples;
Pontifical Council for Culture.
He was ordained a priest on 21 December 1963.
He also studied at the Pontifical Biblical Institute of Rome and of Jerusalem. He subsequently moved back to Africa and began teaching Sacred Scripture at the theological faculty in Kinshasa and at John XXIII Major Seminary.
On 13 February 1980 he was appointed titular Bishop of Aquae Novae of Proconsulari and Auxiliary of Inongo. He was consecrated on 4 May 1980.
On 7 April 1981 he was appointed Auxiliary of Kisangani.
On 1 September 1988 he was appointed Archbishop of Kisangani.
In 1984, he was elected president of the Episcopal Conference. During the 1990s, he took an active role in his country’s political situation, helping to guide the country in the delicate transition from Zaire to the Democratic Republic of Congo and promoting peace.
On 6 December 2007 he was appointed Archbishop of Kinshasa.
During Lent of 2012 he was called to preach the spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia in which Pope Benedict XVI took part.
On 30 June 2012 he was nominated President Delegate of the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held in the Vatican on 7-28 October 2012, on the theme "The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith".
He participated in the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2014) on The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization and appointed by Pope Francis in the XIV Ordinary General Assembly on The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World (October 2015).
On 13 April 2013 he was made a member of the Council of cardinals established to advise Pope Francis in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia,‘Pastor Bonus’.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory of 20 November 2010, of the Title of Santa Maria "Regina Pacis" in Ostia Mare (Saint Mary "Regina Pacis" at Ostia Mare).
Member of:
Congregations: for Catholic Education; Evangelization of Peoples;
Pontifical Council for Culture.
Source: Vatican.va and Vatican News
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