{{short description|Rwandan prelate of the Catholic Church (born 1958)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | image = His Eminence Antoine cardinal Kambanda, GCLJ.jpg | caption = | honorific_prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Antoine Kambanda | title = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kigali|Archbishop of Kigali]]<br />[[Order of Saint Lazarus (statuted 1910)|Spiritual Protector and Chaplain General<br />of the Order of Saint Lazarus]] | church = [[Roman Catholic Church]] | appointed = 19 November 2018 | term_start = 27 January 2019 | archdiocese = Kigali | see = Kigali | predecessor = [[Thaddée Ntihinyurwa]] | other_post = [[San Sisto Vecchio|Cardinal-Priest of San Sisto]] (2020-) | ordination = 8 September 1990 | ordained_by = [[Pope John Paul II]] | consecration = 20 July 2013 | consecrated_by = Thaddée Ntihinyurwa | cardinal = 28 November 2020 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Francis]] | rank = [[Cardinal-Priest]] | birth_name = Antoine Kambanda | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1958|11|10}} | birth_place = [[Nyamata]], [[Rwanda]] | motto = ''Ut vitam habeant''<br>(That they may have life) | alma_mater = [[Nyakibanda Major Seminary]]<br>[[Alphonsian Academy]] | coat_of_arms = [[File:Coat of arms of Antoine Kambanda (cardinal).svg|150px]] | previous_post = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kibungo|Bishop of Kibungo]] (2013-18) }}
'''Antoine Kambanda''' (born 10 November 1958) is a [[Banyarwanda|Rwandan]] prelate of the [[Catholic Church]] who has been [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kigali|Archbishop of Kigali]] since 2019. He was [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kibungo|Bishop of Kibungo]] from 2013 to 2018.
[[Pope Francis]] raised him to the rank of [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] on 28 November 2020, making him the first cardinal from [[Rwanda]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Cardinal Kambanda : par mon cardinalat, " le Pape est dans les périphéries " |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/fr/afrique/news/2020-12/kambanda-cardinal-le-pape-est-dans-les-peripheries.html |access-date=6 December 2020 |work=Vatican News |date=2 December 2020 |language=fr}}</ref> He is current Spiritual Protector and [[Chaplain general|Chaplain General]] of the ''Orléans obedience'' of the [[Order of Saint Lazarus (statuted 1910)|Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem]].
==Early years== Antoine Kambanda was born on 10 November 1958 in Rwanda. Because of inter-ethnic violence, his family moved briefly to Burundi and then to Uganda, where he attended elementary, and then to Kenya, where he attended high school.<ref name=hendey>{{cite interview | url = https://www.patheos.com/blogs/lisahendey/2014/07/rwandan-bishop-kambanda-reflects-on-the-genocide-in-his-country/ | work = Patheos | access-date = 20 November 2018 | date = 15 July 2014 | title = Rwandan Bishop Kambanda Reflects on the Genocide in His Country | first = Lisa | last= Hendey }}</ref> Later he returned to his homeland, where he attended the junior Seminary in [[Rutongo]], [[Kigali]], (1983–1984) and the [[Saint Charles Borromeo Major Seminary of Nyakibanda]] in [[Butare]] (1984–1990).<ref name=fides>{{cite web | url=https://www.fides.org/en/news/6745-AFRICA_RWANDA_New_rector_appointed_for_St_Charles_National_Major_Seminary_in_Nyakibanda#.UUsPqBfBPTc |date=17 February 2006 |title=New rector appointed for St. Charles National Major Seminary in Nyakibanda|work=Agenzia Fides|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> On 8 September 1990, he was ordained a priest in [[Kabgayi]] by [[Pope John Paul II]]. After that he was Prefect of Studies from 1990 to 1993 in the minor seminary of St. Vincent in [[Ndera]], Kigali. He then attended the [[Alphonsian Academy]] in Rome from 1993 to 1999, where he obtained a doctorate in moral theology.<ref name=fides/> His parents and five of his six siblings, along with many other relatives and friends, were killed in 1994 during the [[Rwandan genocide|genocide against the Tutsi]].<ref name=hendey/>
==Priest== Kambanda was appointed Director of the diocesan office of [[Caritas (charity)|Caritas]] in Kigali in 1999. He then became director of the Development Committee of the Diocese of Kigali, head of the "Justice and Peace" Commission of the diocese, and professor of moral theology and visitor at the Nyakibanda Major Seminary.<ref name=fides/> Speaking in 2004 of the 1994 [[Rwandan genocide]], Kambanda acknowledged that while some members of the Catholic clergy had tried to protect the people, others had been complicit in the killings.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3561365.stm |last=Walker |first=Robert |journal=BBC News |date=1 April 2004 |title=Rwanda's religious reflections |access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref> Kambanda noted the need for the Catholic Church itself to undergo reconstruction to shake off the effects of the genocide. He has said "the use of the sacrament of penance for reconciliation and healing of ethnic hatred and the reconciliation with oneself, with God and with the others, would be significant to develop a faith characterized by trust that overcomes the fear of the other."<ref>{{cite web |date= 26 July 2006 | url= https://cpn.nd.edu/assets/165871/kambanda_contextualization_the_struggle_for_peace_in_rwanda_burundi_2006..pdf |title=The Struggle for Peace in Rwanda|last=Kambanda|first=Frère Antoine|work=Catholic Peacebuilding Network|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref>
In September 2005 Cardinal [[Crescenzio Sepe]] appointed him rector of the inter-diocesan major philosophy seminary in Kabgayi. On 10 February 2006 Kambanda was appointed rector of the Saint Charles Borromeo Major Seminary of Nyakibanda.<ref name=fides/> He replaced Monseigneur [[Smaragde Mbonyintege]], who had been named a bishop.<ref>{{cite web |language=fr | url= http://www.eglisecatholiquerwanda.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=123 |title=Le Grand Séminaire Saint Charles Borromée de Nyakibanda|publisher=Conférence Episcopale du Rwanda|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref>
In June 2011 he led five hundred Rwandan pilgrims to [[Namugongo]], Uganda, to join the Martyrs Day ceremonies to commemorate the 45 Christian converts who were killed in 1884 by King [[Mwanga II of Buganda]]. In his sermon, he said that the sacrifice the martyrs made had greatly helped the spread of Christianity in Africa by showing missionaries that converts would be willing to die for their faith.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201106070310.html|work= New Times |last=Muramira| first=Gashegu |title=Rwanda: 500 Local Pilgrims Attend Martyrs Day|date=5 June 2011|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref>
==Bishop and cardinal== On 7 May 2013, Pope Francis named Kambanda Bishop of Kibungo.<ref>{{cite press release|date=7 May 2013 |language= it | title = Rinunce e Nomine, 07.05.2013 | publisher =Holy See Press Office |url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/05/07/0279/00624.html| access-date = 19 November 2018}}</ref> He succeeded Kizito Bahujimihigo, who resigned in January 2010 amid "serious financial problems" in the diocese and threats on the part of creditor banks to seize diocesan assets.<ref name=croix>{{cite news|url= https://www.la-croix.com/Urbi-et-Orbi/Actualite/Carnet/Mgr-Antoine-Kambanda-nouvel-eveque-de-Kibungo-au-Rwanda-2013-05-09-957914 | language=fr | work=La Croix|title=Mgr Antoine Kambanda, nouvel évêque de Kibungo, au Rwanda|access-date=20 November 2018 |date= 9 May 2013}}</ref> The [[Episcopal Conference of Rwanda]] elected him to attend the Synod of Bishops in 2015.<ref>{{cite news| work=Zenit | access-date= 20 November 2018 | url= https://zenit.org/articles/vatican-releases-full-list-of-synod-participants/ | date= 15 September 2015 | title= Vatican Releases Full List of Synod Participants }}</ref>
On 19 November 2018, Pope Francis named him Archbishop of Kigali.<ref>{{cite press release| publisher= Holy See Press Office | access-date= 20 November 2018 | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2018/11/19/0855/01858.html | date= 19 November 2018 | title= Rinunce e nomine, 19.11.2018 | language=it}}</ref>
On 25 October 2020, Pope Francis announced he would raise him to the rank of [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] at a consistory scheduled for 28 November 2020.<ref>{{cite news| access-date=25 October 2020 | date= 25 October 2020 | url= https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/10/25/pope-francis-new-cardinals-wilton-gregory-washington | title= Pope Francis names 13 new cardinals, including Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington D.C. | first=Gerard | last= O'Connell | publisher =[[America (magazine)|America]] }}</ref> At that consistory, Pope Francis made him Cardinal-Priest of [[San Sisto Vecchio|San Sisto]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Concistoro Ordinario Pubblico: Assegnazione dei Titoli, 28.11.2020| language = it |date=28 November 2020 |website=[[Holy See Press Office]]|access-date=28 November 2020| url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/11/28/0618/01449.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201128155120/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/11/28/0618/01449.html|archive-date= 28 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 16 December, he was named a member of the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]].<ref>{{cite press release | access-date = 16 December 2020 | date= 16 December 2020 | publisher = Holy See Press Office | title = Resignations and Appointments, 16.12.2020 | url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/12/16/201216a.html}}</ref>
In October 2021, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Kambanda as a member of the [[Congregation for Catholic Education]].<ref name="EduR">{{cite web| work=PML Daily |date=4 October 2021 | url=https://www.pmldaily.com/news/2021/10/pope-francis-appoints-rwandan-cardinal-kambanda-member-of-congregation-for-catholic-education.html |title=Pope Francis appoints Rwandan Cardinal Kambanda member of Congregation for Catholic Education | author=Javira Ssebwami |access-date=4 October 2021 | location=Kampala, Uganda}}</ref>
In August 2022, he was appointed by [[Grand Master (order)|Grand Master]] of the ''Orléans obedience'' of the Order of Saint Lazarus [[Jan Dobrzenský z Dobrzenicz]] as Spiritual Protector and Chaplain general of the Order.<ref>{{cite web |language=en | url= http://www.orderofsaintlazarus.com/actualites.php?lng=en&id_rub=1 |title=New Spiritual Protector|publisher=Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem|access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref>
He participated as a [[Cardinal electors in the 2025 papal conclave|cardinal elector]] in the [[2025 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Leo XIV]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html| title=Cardinal Electors|date=6 May 2025|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org|language=en|access-date=6 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html|archive-date=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Cardinals created by Pope Francis]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
;Additional sources *{{cite news| url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/rwandan-bishop-carries-special-concerns-synod-rome | access-date= 20 November 2018| work= National Catholic Reporter |date= 22 October 2015 | title= Rwandan bishop carries special concerns to synod in Rome | first=Joshua J. | last= McElwee}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commons category}} * {{cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_kambanda_a.html|title=Kambanda Card. Antoine|website=[[Holy See Press Office]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129021842/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_kambanda_a.html|archive-date=29 November 2020|url-status=live}}
==Succession table== {{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=Kizito Bahujimihigo}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kibungo|Bishop of Kibungo]]|years=7 May 2013 – 19 November 2018}} {{s-vac}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Thaddée Ntihinyurwa}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kigali|Archbishop of Kigali]]|years=19 November 2018 –}} {{s-inc|rows=3}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Marian Jaworski]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[San Sisto Vecchio|Cardinal-Priest of San Sisto]]|years=28 November 2020 –}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Dominik Duka]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Order of Saint Lazarus (statuted 1910)|Spiritual Protector and Chaplain General of the Order of St. Lazarus]]|years=10 August 2022 –}} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals of the Catholic Church}} {{Cardinals created by Francis}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kambanda, Antoine}} [[Category:1958 births]] [[Category:Rwandan Roman Catholic archbishops]] [[Category:21st-century Rwandan Roman Catholic priests]] [[Category:20th-century Rwandan Roman Catholic priests]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Pontifical Lateran University alumni]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis]] [[Category:Rwandan cardinals]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Kibungo]] [[Category:Roman Catholic archbishops of Kigali]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of Saint Lazarus (statuted 1910)]] [[Category:Academic staff of Nyakibanda Major Seminary]]