Catholicism in Burundi

Burundi is a landlocked country in Africa’s Great Lakes region. The country has been plagued by ethnic conflict, with the Church playing a vital role in building peace and reconciliation.

By ACN Staff

Sisters of Mary of Schoenstatt working in the Diocese of Muying. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Maxime François-Marsal, ACN’s head of projects for French-speaking countries in Central Africa, recently returned from a project trip to Burundi. Burundi is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The country was a colony first of Germany and then Belgium after the First World War. On his return, Maxime spoke about his time in Burundi and the situation for the Church there.

A prayer group at the parish of Rusengo. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Burundi has three main ethnicities: the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. Maxime explained that the lines between ethnic groups are blurred, with the three groups often overlapping with language, religion, and customs. Despite this, Burundi, like neighbouring Rwanda, has been plagued by ethnic violence, with three genocides since the country gained independence in 1962.

Burundians cherish their cultural roots. For example, traditional drumming, previously reserved for the likes of royal use, is maintained and cherished in Burundi. Religion, specifically Christianity, also plays a vital role in Burundi. Over 90% of the population are Christians. Despite this, there are some challenges, as Maxime explains:

“For instance, many new religious movements have been born in Burundi, but such communities often lack knowledge about religious life and the Christian faith in general, which makes it a challenge. Having been evangelised barely 125 years ago, society has not yet deeply embraced the Christian faith and still relies on customs and traditions derived from indigenous religions.”

Holy Mass at the sanctuary of Muyaga. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

The people of Burundi are, however, committed to the Faith. Many prayer groups are formed, and they frequently start building chapels with their own hands, as Maxime explained:

“During my trip to Burundi, I visited such a church built by the hands of the faithful. It inspired me a lot, that although Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world with more than 80 per cent of the population living in poverty, its people are very generous and committed to the church and they are eager for religious experiences to change their daily lives.”

The Catholic Faith is flourishing in Burundi. Two-thirds of the population are Catholics, and vocations are overflowing with the country’s fifth seminary under construction with the support of ACN. The Church plays a vital role in promoting peace and reconciliation in the country as it recovers from genocides and ethnic conflicts.

Over the last ten years, ACN has supported over 200 projects in Burundi. Most of these projects support the formation of priests, religious sisters, and catechists and support pastoral activities. If you would like to help us with this work, please consider making a donation.