“Man passionate about justice, peace and unity, he was intensely involved in integral human development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo…”
“A great figure, listened to and respected, of the ecclesial, social and political life of the nation and always committed to dialogue and reconciliation of his people. His contribution was significant to the country’s advancement…”
“Faithful and close collaborator these last years, he never ceased to bring his contribution to the life of the universal Church…”
In these ways, Pope Francis offered in a telegram his “heartfelt condolences” for the death of Congolese Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya , who passed away on July 11th in France at age 81.
The biblical theologian was member of the Council of Cardinal until 2018, until, as Archbishop of Kinshasa, the African cardinal chose to work toward peacemaking efforts in his nation.
In the Pontiff’s telegram, he asked “the Father of all mercy to receive 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 was called.”
“Attentive to the needs of the faithful, full of courage and determination, Cardinal Monsengwo consecrated his life as priest and Bishop to the inculturation of the faith and to the preferential option for the poor.”
Thus, the Pontiff stated, the cardinal “embodied the prophetic mission of the Church” and said the late cardinal’s contribution was significant to the country’s advancement.
“Faithful and close collaborator these last years, he never ceased to bring his contribution to the life of the universal Church,” the Pope said, before giving his Apostolic Blessing to all mourning the late cardinal and who will be involved in his funeral celebration.
Earlier this month, the cardinal’s health took a downturn and he was hospitalized in France.
Here is the full Vatican-provided telegram published today, July 13:
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The Holy Father’s Telegram
To H.E. Monsignor Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu
Archbishop of Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Having learnt with sadness of the death of Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop Emeritus of Kinshasa, I express my heartfelt condolences to you and to his family, to the Auxiliary Bishops and to the faithful of the dioceses of Inongo, of Kisangani and of Kinshasa of which he was successively the Pastor. I ask the Father of all mercy to receive 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 was called. Attentive to the needs of the faithful, full of courage and determination, Cardinal Monsengwo consecrated his life as priest and Bishop to the inculturation of the faith and to the preferential option for the poor. Thus he embodied the prophetic mission of the Church. Man passionate about justice, peace and unity, he was intensely involved in integral human development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cardinal Monsengwo was a great figure, listened to and respected, of the ecclesial, social and political life of the nation and always committed to dialogue and reconciliation of his people. His contribution was significant to the country’s advancement. Faithful and close collaborator these last years, he never ceased to bring his contribution to the life of the universal Church. As a token of comfort, I address to you the Apostolic Blessing as well as to the Auxiliary Bishops, the priests, the consecrated persons and the family of the deceased Cardinal and his relatives, to the diocesans and to all the persons that will take part in the celebration of the funeral.
Franciscus PP.
[Original text: French] [Exaudi’s translation by Virginia M. Forrester]
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Here is the Vatican-provided biography of the African Cardinal:
MONSENGWO PASINYA Card. Laurent
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).
Cardinal Monsengwo Pasinya died on 11 July 2021.
