Dieudonné Nzapalainga was born on 14 March 1967 in Mbomou, in the diocese of Bangassou, Central African Republic, the fifth of ten children of a poor farming family, his father a Catholic and his mother a Protestant. He studied at the Saint Louis minor seminary in Bangassou, at the Saints Apôtres philosophy seminary in Otélé, Cameroon, and at the Daniel Brottier Spiritan seminary in Libreville, Gabon. He made his first vows as a Spiritan on 8 September 1993 and his perpetual vows on 6 September 1997, and was ordained a priest on 9 August 1998. After a licentiate in theology at the Jesuits' Centre Sèvres in France, he served from 1998 to 2005 in Marseille as chaplain to orphans of the Fondation des Apprentis d'Auteuil and assistant priest at St Jérôme.
Returning home in 2005, he was regional superior of the Spiritans and a parish priest in Bangui, then apostolic administrator of the archdiocese from 2009. Benedict XVI appointed him metropolitan archbishop of Bangui on 14 May 2012; he was consecrated on 22 July 2012 and has presided over the Central African episcopal conference since July 2013. As Seleka and anti-Balaka violence tore the country apart, he co-founded the Interfaith Platform for Peace in 2013 with Imam Omar Kobine Layama and Pastor Nicolas Guérékoyame-Gbangou, sheltered the imam in his own home, and travelled the country preaching reconciliation; Time named the three among its 100 most influential people in 2014. In November 2015 he hosted Pope Francis in Bangui, where Francis opened the first Holy Door of the Holy Year of Mercy. Francis created him cardinal on 19 November 2016, the first from Central Africa. The peace he preaches remains fragile: violence and insecurity persist, and he has had to negotiate armed men out of towns and rebuke peacekeepers who failed civilians. He was a cardinal elector in the 2025 conclave.
Consequential Quotes
When I open my doors to receive a brother, I am doing what God asks me to do.
If each side tried to make an effort, life could resume its course like before, when there was no reason to distinguish between Christians and Muslims.
In protecting civilians, this peacekeeping mission has only half fulfilled its role — I think its manner of acting has to be corrected.
We will continue as religious leaders to speak to the hearts and consciences to discourage war and violence and encourage dialogue and to seek ways to know each other better and work together.
God is the source of peace and he has given us this peace in his son Jesus. Jesus Christ asks us to be peacemakers. He also invites us to forgiveness and reconciliation.
Major Works & Initiatives
Interfaith Platform for Peace in Central Africa
Co-founded the Platform with Imam Omar Kobine Layama, president of the Islamic Council, and Pastor Nicolas Guérékoyame-Gbangou, president of the Evangelical Alliance, to preach peace jointly across a country sliding into intercommunal war.
A roof for the imam
Sheltered Imam Layama and his family in his own residence for months after the imam fled his home with one small bag on 5 December 2013.
Bangui's Holy Door
Hosted Pope Francis in Bangui on 29–30 November 2015, where Francis opened the first Holy Door of the Holy Year of Mercy — in a war zone, before Rome.
Je suis venu vous apporter la paix
His 150-page memoir of life as a Spiritan, archbishop and peacemaker, co-authored with French journalist Laurence Desjoyaux; published in Italian as My Struggle for Peace.
Controversies
On the record
No significant public controversies reported.