Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Urujeni Bakuramutsa, has formally presented her letters of credence to Pope Leo XIV, officially assuming her duties as the country’s representative to the Holy See.
Bakuramutsa first held a courtesy meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin before delivering copies of her credentials to Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
The presentation marks a key diplomatic step in Rwanda–Vatican relations, reflecting continued engagement between the two sides in recent years.
Relations between Rwanda and the Vatican have steadily evolved, notably following the 2017 visit by President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame, during which they were received by Pope Francis. The visit included remarks by Pope Francis expressing remorse over the role of some members of the Catholic Church in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, a moment widely viewed as significant for reconciliation.
Cooperation was further strengthened in 2020 when Pope Francis appointed Kigali Archbishop Antoine Kambanda as Rwanda’s first cardinal.
The Vatican is represented in Kigali through an Apostolic Nuncio, who serves as the Holy See’s diplomatic envoy and coordinates engagement with Rwandan authorities.
The Catholic Church remains an important partner in Rwanda’s development, particularly in education, where it runs a wide network of schools and higher learning institutions, as well as through its Justice and Peace Commission, which contributes to reconciliation and post-genocide healing efforts.
