Joseph-Bernard Likolo Bokal’Etumba

Joseph-Bernard Likolo Bokal'Etumba (born 29 August 1967) is a Congolese Catholic prelate who is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lisala in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 15 February 2021. Before that, from 30 May 1999 until he was appointed bishop, he was a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa. He was appointed bishop on 15 February 2021 by Pope Francis. He was consecrated as bishop on 29 May 2021. On 1 August 2023, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Molegbe, to serve until a suitable bishop is appointed. He is a member of the Emmanuel Community.

Background and education He was born on 29 August 1967 in Kinshasa, Democratic Congo. From 1987 until 1988 he studied at the Preparatory Seminary in Kinshasa. He studied philosophy at the Saint André Kaggwa Major Seminary, in Kinshasa from 1988 until 1991. He then studied theology at the Saint Jean XXIII Grand Séminaire de Theologie, also in Kinshasa from 1991 until 1996. From 1996 until 1999, he underwent a pastoral internship at the Sainte Angèle Parish in Kinshasa. He then obtained a Licentiate in theology from the Institut Catholique de Paris, France having studied there from 2004 until 2008. He also holds a Doctorate in liturgy from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm in Rome, Italy where he studied from 2008 until 2013.

Priest On 30 May 1999, he was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa. He served as priest until 15 February 2021.

While a priest, he served in various roles including as: