Célestin Hakizimana

Célestin Hakizimana (born 14 August 1963) is a Rwandan Catholic prelate. He serves as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gikongoro since 2014. He was appointed bishop on 26 November 2014 by Pope Francis. He contemporaneously was the Apostolic Administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cyangugu, Rwanda, from 16 March 2018 until 25 March 2021.

Early years and education He was born on 14 August 1963 in Kigali, Archdiocese of Kigali, in Rwanda. He attended elementary school in Jari “Sainte Famille” in Kigali. He then studied at Saint Vincent Minor Seminary Rulindo from 1977 until 1983 for his secondary school education. In 1983 he entered Ndera Major Seminary in Kigali, studying there until 1984. He continued his studies at the Rutongo Preparatory Seminary in the Archdiocese of Kigali. He then studied at Nyakibanda Major Seminary in the Diocese of Butare. Later, he studied at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy in Naples. He graduated with a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology from the Faculty of St. Thomas, in Capodimonte (Naples), Italy.

Bishop On 26 November 2014 Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Gikongoro Diocese. He was consecrated and installed at Gikongoro on 24 January 2015 by the hands of Archbishop Thaddée Ntihinyurwa, Archbishop of Kigali assisted by Bishop Smaragde Mbonyintege, Bishop of Kabgayi and Bishop Philippe Rukamba, Bishop of Butare. From 16 March 2018 until 25 March 2021 Bishop Célestin Hakizimana served as Apostolic Administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cyangugu, Rwanda. That administatorship ceased when Bishop Edouard Sinayobye was installed at Cyangugu as the Ordinary, on 25 March 2021.