Mugera Church in Burundi Elevated to Basilica by the Vatican

Bujumbura, August 4, 2025 – In a landmark announcement that blends faith, diplomacy, and national pride, the Catholic Church of Burundi is set to receive a sacred distinction: the elevation of Mugera Church to the rank of a Basilica.

On Monday, President Évariste Ndayishimiye, affectionately called Neva-Wacu by his people, welcomed His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny to the Kiriri Palace. Cardinal Czerny, responsible for humanitarian action at the Vatican, conveyed a message of encouragement from the Holy See, applauding Burundi’s:

• Generous hospitality toward Congolese refugees

• Continued efforts in pacifying the Great Lakes and the Sahel region

Accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio to Burundi, Monsignor Dieudonné Datonou, Cardinal Czerny also shared the upcoming arrival of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, scheduled to visit Burundi from August 12 to 17, 2025.

A Historic Honor: Mugera to Become a Basilica

During his upcoming visit, Cardinal Parolin will solemnly announce the elevation of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Mugera to the rank of Basilica, a rare and symbolic recognition in the Catholic world.

The significance of Mugera is deeply rooted in Burundian history:

• It was the second Catholic mission founded in Burundi on February 11, 1899 (after Muyaga in Cankuzo)

• Formerly served as the first cathedral church of Burundi

• Declared a National Sanctuary, where bishops of Burundi, in the presence of Prince Louis Rwagasore, dedicated Burundi’s quest for independence to the Holy Virgin Mary

This elevation follows a formal request made by President Ndayishimiye during his March 2022 visit to the Vatican, initially approved by Pope Francis I, and now reaffirmed by Pope Leo XIV.

Strengthening Vatican–Burundi Relations

This upcoming visit will also mark:

60 years of diplomatic ties between Burundi and the Holy See

The opening of a Diplomatic Mission of Burundi to the Vatican, as confirmed by Mons. Datonou

Beyond the Basilica declaration, Cardinal Parolin will:

• Inaugurate a monument in Minago

• Unveil a memorial at the Apostolic Nunciature, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Apostolic Nuncio Michael Courtney, who was killed in Minago on December 29, 2003

A Nation of Faith, A Church of Peace

With over 80% of its population identifying as Christians, Burundi stands among the most devout Catholic nations in the Great Lakes region. President Ndayishimiye took the moment to praise the Catholic Church for its enduring role in:

• Promoting peace across the region

• Supporting the most vulnerable communities

Notably, insiders suggest that Burundi will be among the first destinations of newly elected Pope Leo XIV on his future visit to Africa, an honor that reflects the deepening spiritual and diplomatic connection between the Vatican and the Burundian state.