Wenceslas Kalibushi
Mgr. Wenceslas Kalibushi | |
|---|---|
| Bishop Emeritus of Nyundo, Rwanda | |
 Wenceslas Kalibushi (front) and Aloys Bigirumwami in Uden, Netherlands in 1968 | |
| Installed | 2 January 1997 |
| Term ended | 20 December 1997 |
| Other post(s) | Bishop of Nyundo, Rwanda (1977-1997) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 25 July 1947 |
| Consecration | 27 March 1977 by Archbishop Vincent Nsengiyumva |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 June 1919 Byimana, Rwanda |
| Died | 20 December 1997 (aged 78) |
Wenceslas Kalibushi (29 June 1919 – 20 December 1997) was a Rwandan Catholic bishop.
Wenceslas Kalibushi was born on 29 June 1919 at Byimana, Rwanda. He was ordained a priest on 25 July 1947. On 9 December 1976 he was appointed bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nyundo, and he was consecrated by Archbishop Vincent Nsengiyumva on 27 March 1977. His principal co-consecrators were Archbishop André Perraudin and Bishop Aloys Bigirumwami.[1]
Kalibushi was one of the few priests to speak out against government actions during the lead-up to the Rwandan genocide. On 28 December 1993 he and the priests of Kibuye and Gisenyi issued a letter that criticized the government for issuing arms to civilians.[2] His letter asked the authorities to "clearly explain to the public the utility of the arms that had been distributed during recent days."[3] Perhaps because of Kalibushi's willingness to support Tutsis and his criticism of the government, his compound at Nyundo was one of the first targets of the Hutu extremists.[4]
The morning after the death of President Juvénal Habyarimana, on 7 April 1994 a number of Tutsi families came to Nyundo for safety. A large, hostile and armed crowd arrived, and the killing began, including women and children who took refuge in the chapel.[5] On the morning of 8 April the militia captured the bishop, stripped him and threatened to kill him, but were stopped by an army officer.[4] Bishop Kalibushi was taken to Gisenyi and was later released at the request of the Vatican.[5] On 3 May Mgr. Vincent Nsengiyumva wrote a letter to the Christians of Nyundo reassuring them that Kalibushi was safe and sound, and that rumors that he had fled to Nairobi were false.[6]
Kalibushi retired on 2 January 1997 and died on 20 December 1997.[1]
References[edit]
Citations
- ^ a b Cheney 2012.
- ^ Longman 2010, p. 184.
- ^ Dupaquier & Mugenzi 2010, p. 248.
- ^ a b Longman 2010, p. 189.
- ^ a b Melvern 2006, p. 170.
- ^ Desouter 2000, p. 117.
Sources
- Cheney, David M. (8 September 2012). "Bishop Wenceslas Kalibushi". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
- Desouter, Serge (2000). Rwanda le procès du FPR. Editions L'Harmattan. p. 117. ISBN 978-2-296-59948-2. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
- Dupaquier, Jean-François; Mugenzi, Richard (2010-09-01). L'agenda du génocide: Le témoignage de Richard Mugenzi, ex-espion rwandais (in French). KARTHALA Editions. ISBN 978-2-8111-0413-9. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
- Longman, Timothy (2010). Christianity and Genocide in Rwanda. Cambridge University Press. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-521-19139-5. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
- Melvern, Linda (2006). Conspiracy to murder: the Rwandan genocide. Verso. ISBN 978-1-84467-542-5. Retrieved 2013-04-02.