Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku

The Most Reverend Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku
Bishop of Butembo-Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Church	Catholic Church
Archdiocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bukavu
See	Roman Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni
Appointed	3 April 1998
Installed	2 August 1998
Predecessor	Emmanuel Kataliko
Successor	Incumbent
Orders
Ordination	21 August 1978
Consecration	2 August 1998 by Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini
Rank	Bishop
Personal details
Born	Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku (1952-01-27) 27 January 1952 (age 73) Lukanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Styles of Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku
Reference style	Your Lordship The Most Reverend
Spoken style	His Lordship
Religious style	Bishop

Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku (born 27 January 1952) is a Congolese Catholic prelate who is the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 3 April 1998. Before that, from 21 August 1978 until he was appointed bishop, he was a priest of that same Roman Catholic diocese. He was appointed bishop on 3 April 1998 by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated and installed at Butembo/Beni on 2 August 1998. ^[1]

Background and priesthood

He was born on 27 January 1952 in Lukanga, Diocese of Butembo-Beni, North Kivu, in the DR Congo. He studied philosophy and theology at seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni on 21 August 1978. He served as priest until 3 April 1998. ^[1]

Bishop

On 3 April 1998, The Holy Father Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop of the diocese of Butembo-Beni. He was consecrated and installed at Butembo-Beni on 2 August 1998 by the hands of Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, Cardinal-Deacon of Santo Spirito in Sassia, assisted by Archbishop Emmanuel Kataliko, Archbishop of Bukavu and Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz, Titular Archbishop of Novaliciana. ^[1]

In 2023, the Diocese of Butembo-Beni, together with Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku celebrated his 25th year (Silver Jubilee) as bishop. The ceremony held in Butembo was presided over by Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa. ^{[2] [3]}

See also

• Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

References

1. David M. Cheney (25 February 2024). "MicroData Summary for Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku (born 27 January 1952) Bishop of Butembo-Beni". Catholic-Hierarchy.org . Kansas City. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
2. Michael Muhindo (2023). "Bishop Melchisedec Paluku Sikuli of Butembo-Beni celebrates silver jubilee of episcopate amidst insurgencies in the mineral rich territory". Roman Catholic Diocese of Kasese . Kasese, Uganda. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
3. Holy See News Service (August 2023). "RDC: Mgr Melchisédech Sikuli, un évêque courageux et sacrifié" (Written in the French Language). Vatican News Service. Vatican City. Retrieved 4 July 2025.

Succession table

Preceded by Emmanuel Kataliko (17 May 1966 - 3 May 1997)

Bishop of Butembo-Beni (since 3 April 1998)

Succeeded by (Incumbent)

External links

• Africa/Democratic Congo: The desecration of a church in Beni has not been confirmed. The Bishop: "explosive situation" As of 8 July 2013.
• “Be missionaries of prayer”: Catholic Bishop in DR Congo to Consecrated Widows As of 9 September 2023.