Léonidas Nitereka

Léonidas Nitereka (born 1 September 1960) is a Burundian Catholic prelate who is the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rutana, in Burundi, since 15 February 2025. Before that, he served as a priest of the Diocese of Bururi, in Burundi from 17 August 1986 until 15 February 2025. He was appointed bishop by Pope Francis. His episcopal consecration took place on 12 April 2025 at Rutana by the hands of Dieudonné Datonou, Titular Archbishop of Vico Equense.

Background and education Léonidas Nitereka was born on 1 September 1960 at Martyazo, Diocese of Bururi, Makamba Province, Burundi. He studied philosophy at the Saint Curé d'Ars Major Seminary in Bujumbura. He then studied theology at the Saint John Paul II Major Seminary in Gitega. He graduated with a Doctorate in Anthropological Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, in Rome, Italy in 2006.

Priest On 17 August 1986, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Bururi in Burundi. He served in that capacity until 15 February 2025. While a priest, he served in various capacities and locations including as: