Léon Kalenga Badikebele facts for kids
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Léon Kalenga Badikebele (born 17 July 1956 – died 12 June 2019) was an important leader in the Catholic Church. He worked as a diplomat for the Pope, helping to build relationships between the Holy See (the government of the Catholic Church) and different countries. From 2008, he held the special title of Apostolic Nuncio. He served as the Pope's representative in Argentina from 2018 until he passed away in 2019.
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Who Was Léon Kalenga Badikebele?
Early Life and Priesthood
Léon Kalenga Badikebele was born in a place called Kamina. This was in the Belgian Congo on 17 July 1956. He decided to become a priest. He was ordained, which means he officially became a priest, on 5 September 1982. This happened for the Diocese of Luebo.
A Diplomat for the Pope
In 1988, he joined a special school in Rome. It was called the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy. This school trains priests to become diplomats. On 27 February 1990, he began working for the Holy See. This was his start as a diplomat for the Pope.
His first jobs took him to many different countries. He worked in places like Haiti and Guatemala. He also served in Zambia, Brazil, and Egypt. Later, he worked in Zimbabwe and Japan.
Important Roles as Nuncio
On 1 March 2008, Pope Benedict XVI gave him a very important role. He was named an Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana. This means he became the Pope's official representative in Ghana. He also became an Archbishop, which is a high rank in the Church. He chose a special motto: "Fortes in fide." This Latin phrase means "Strong in Faith." He received his special blessing as an Archbishop on 1 May. This blessing was given by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
Later, on 22 February 2013, Pope Benedict named him Nuncio to El Salvador. A little later, on 13 April, Pope Francis also named him Nuncio to Belize. This meant he represented the Pope in both countries.
On 17 March 2018, Pope Francis gave him another important job. He was appointed the Apostolic Nuncio to Argentina. This was his last diplomatic role.
Later Life and Passing
Léon Kalenga Badikebele passed away in Rome. This was on 12 June 2019. He had been ill for some time. Pope Francis himself led his funeral service. This special Mass took place on 15 June. Many other diplomats from the Holy See were there. They were in Rome for a meeting.
See also
In Spanish: Léon Kalenga Badikebele para niños
