Jurisdiction: | Diocese |
Butare | |
Latin: | Dioecesis Butarensis |
Country: | Rwanda |
Province: | Southern |
Area Km2: | 1,958 |
Population: | 1,269,540 |
Population As Of: | 2021 |
Catholics: | 691,850(est.) |
Catholics Percent: | 54.5% |
Parishes: | 26 |
Denomination: | Catholic Church |
Rite: | Roman Rite |
Bishop Title: | Bishop |
Bishop: | Jean Bosco Ntagungira |
Emeritus Bishops: | Philippe Rukamba |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Butare is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Rwanda. It was erected on 11 September 1961 as the Diocese of Astrida by Pope John XXIII, and was later renamed as the Diocese of Butare on 12 November 1963 by Pope Paul VI. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Kigali.
Philippe Rukamba was appointed Bishop of Butare by Pope John Paul II on 2 January 1997.
A prominent priest of this diocese was Msgr Eulad Rudahunga, serving from 1953 to 2019, and made a Monsignor by Pope John Paul II.
On 12 August 2024, Pope Francis appointed Jean Bosco Ntagungira as bishop.[1]