The Rwandan Catholic Church has hailed Pope Francis’ legacy as it mourns his death. The church has organised a mass to mourn and pray for Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday aged 88.

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The service in Kigali will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at Regina Pacis Catholic Church in Remera. Pope Francis’ funeral mass will take place in St Peter’s Square, in Rome, on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m.

Rwanda got first cardinal

"Pope Francis’s legacy for the Catholic Church in Rwanda, and the Rwandan community in general, is significant. It was the first time in the history of Rwanda to have a cardinal. It is Pope Francis who appointed Cardinal Antoine Kambanda in Rwanda. In Africa, there are currently 18 cardinals, including Cardinal Kambanda from Rwanda,” explained Father Vedaste Kayisabe, the Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda.

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Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, the Archbishop of Kigali, was born on November 10, 1958, in Nyamata.

All the members of his family were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, except one brother who currently lives in Italy.

Kambanda attended primary schools in Burundi and Uganda, then completed his secondary education in Kenya. He returned to Rwanda after completing his studies in philosophy and two years of theology. Kambanda completed his theological studies at the Major Seminary in Nyakibanda (Diocese of Butare) and was ordained a priest on September 8, 1990, by Saint John Paul II, during his pastoral visit to Rwanda.

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After his ordination, he served as a professor and prefect at the Minor Seminary of Ndera, Kigali (1990–1993). He then pursued higher studies at the Alphonsianum in Rome, where he obtained his doctorate in moral theology, residing at the Pontifical College of Saint Paul (1993–1999).

Between 1999 and 2005, he held various positions including Director of the Diocesan Caritas of Kigali, Director of the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace, Professor of Moral Theology at the Major Seminary in Nyakibanda, and Spiritual Director of the Major Seminary in Rutongo. From 2005 to 2006, he was Rector of the Major Seminary of Philosophy in Kabgayi, and since 2006, he has been Rector of Saint Charles of Nyakibanda Major Seminary in the Diocese of Butare.

On May 7, 2013, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Kibungo and received episcopal consecration on July 20, 2013. On November 19, 2018, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Kigali. He was named Cardinal by Pope Francis on October 25, 2020.

Kigali Cathedral and proposed Kibeho Basilica projects

Father Kayisabe said Pope Francis died while Cardinal Kambanda, whom he appointed, was implementing a project to construct a new cathedral on a 5.5-hectare piece of land formerly occupied by Nyarugenge Prison. Currently, the Kigali Cathedral is located in Kiyovu in Nyarugenge District, where St Michel Parish is situated. However, the existing cathedral is too small to host major events.

"Bishops and the Cardinal appointed by Pope Francis have many projects. The largest is the construction of the new Kigali Cathedral, which is being led by Cardinal Kambanda,” he said.

Rwanda’s pilgrimage site of Kibeho in Nyaruguru District is also expected to have a new basilica with a seating capacity of 10,000.

The project is overseen by Bishop Célestin Hakizimana, who was appointed on November 26, 2014, by Pope Francis.

Rwandan cardinal eligible for papacy

"Previously in the region, only Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya had cardinals. Rwanda and Burundi had none. Currently, Cardinal Kambanda can elect a new Pope, and he is also eligible to be elected as Pope. At present, in the East African region, only the Cardinals from Rwanda and DR Congo can both elect and be elected as Pope,” said Father Kayisabe.

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Following Pope Francis’s death, the next Pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals, who will gather for the tradition known as the conclave.

Of the 252 cardinals, only 135 are electors, 108 of whom were appointed by Pope Francis, according to the Vatican press office.

In accordance with the rules, the conclave is expected to take place between May 6 and May 11.

Eight bishops appointed by Pope Francis in Rwanda

Father Kayisabe said that during his leadership, Pope Francis appointed eight bishops in the Catholic Church in Rwanda.

"Currently, we have nine bishops because some have retired while others have passed away. So, eight of the nine current bishops were appointed by Pope Francis. Only one of the current bishops was appointed by the previous Pope,” he noted.

On August 12, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Reverend Jean Bosco Ntagungira as the new Bishop of Butare Catholic Diocese.