Antoine Kambanda was born on 10 November 1958 in Nyamata, in the Archdiocese of Kigali. Because of inter-ethnic violence his family left Rwanda, and he attended primary schools in Burundi and Uganda and secondary school in Kenya. He returned to Rwanda after studies in philosophy and two years of theology, completing his theology at the Major Seminary in Nyakibanda, and was ordained a priest on 8 September 1990 by St John Paul II during the Pope's pastoral visit to Rwanda. After three years as professor and prefect at the minor seminary of Ndera, he took a doctorate in moral theology at the Alphonsianum in Rome (1993–1999).
All the members of his family were killed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, except for one brother who lives in Italy; Kambanda was studying in Rome at the time. Back in Rwanda from 1999 he directed the diocesan Caritas of Kigali and its Commission for Justice and Peace, taught moral theology at Nyakibanda, and served as rector of the major seminary of philosophy in Kabgayi (2005–2006) and then of St Charles Borromeo Major Seminary in Nyakibanda from 2006. On 7 May 2013 Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Kibungo; he received episcopal consecration on 20 July 2013. On 19 November 2018 Francis appointed him Archbishop of Kigali, succeeding Thaddée Ntihinyurwa; he was installed on 27 January 2019.
Pope Francis created him a cardinal in the consistory of 28 November 2020, assigning him the titular church of San Sisto. He is the first cardinal in Rwanda's history. His work since the genocide has centred on reconciliation, listening and forgiveness, and on the family as the place where peace is first learned. He is a member of the Dicastery for Evangelization and of the Dicastery for Culture and Education. He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
Consequential Quotes
Listening is the basis of reconciliation, because often conflicts arise from fear and suspicion of the other, from the thought that the other is a threat. But when we listen, we realize that the other is not a threat and that we can do things together.
Forgiveness is a fruit of listening, which leads us to understand the other and his suffering, the reasons which led him to commit violence.
In Rwanda and in Africa in general, we have got the challenge of building peace; stable countries that have peace can work for development.
We pray that social communication may be enlightened by the light of Christ to contribute to peacebuilding and fraternity in our world today, particularly in our continent of Africa, but also in the whole world.
Major Works & Initiatives
Director of Caritas and of the Justice and Peace Commission, Kigali
Directed the diocesan Caritas of Kigali from 1999 to 2005 and directed the diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace, while teaching moral theology at Nyakibanda — work at the centre of the Church's post-genocide reconciliation ministry.
Rector of St Charles Borromeo Major Seminary, Nyakibanda
Rector of the major seminary of philosophy in Kabgayi in 2005–2006, then rector of St Charles Borromeo Major Seminary in Nyakibanda from 2006 until his appointment as a bishop in 2013.
First cardinal of Rwanda
Created cardinal on 28 November 2020 with the titular church of San Sisto — the first cardinal in Rwanda's history — and named a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples on 16 December 2020.
Member of the Dicastery for Culture and Education
Appointed a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education in October 2021, which became part of the Dicastery for Culture and Education in 2022; the Holy See bio lists him as a member of that dicastery and of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.