François Abeli Muhoya Mutchapa

François Abeli Muhoya Mutchapa (born 9 February 1974) is a Congolese Catholic prelate who is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kindu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 18 November 2020. Before that, from 6 January 2002 until he was appointed bishop, he was a priest of the same Roman Catholic diocese. He was appointed bishop on 18 November 2020 by Pope Francis. He was consecrated as bishop and installed at Kindu, Democratic Congo on 6 February 2021.

Background and education François Abeli Muhoya Mutchapa was born on 9 February 1974 in Kindu, Diocese of Kindu, Maniema Province, Democratic Congo. He attended primary school in his home area. He studied at the Petit Séminaire Notre-Dame des Apôtres in Kindu from 1987 until 1991. He spent his one-year preparatory period in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kasongo from 1991 until 1992. He studied philosophy from 1992 until 1995 at the Monsignor Cleire Grand Séminaire in Kasongo. From 1999 until 2000, he studied theology at the Grand Séminaire de Murhesa Saint Pie X, in Bukavu. Later, from 2013 until 2020, he studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy where he was awarded a Licentiate and a Doctorate in the history and cultural heritage of the Catholic Church.

Priest On 6 January 2002, he was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kindu. He served as priest until 18 November 2020.