Archbishop of Owando
Bishop Gélase Armel Kema was born on 26 October 1972 in Ouesso. He was ordained a priest on 29 August 1999. After ordination, he held the offices of parish vicar (1999-2000) and parish priest of Saint Joseph Ouvrier in Mokéko (2000-2002), rector of the preparatory seminary of Ouesso (2002-2003), vicar general of the diocese (2002-2003), and parish priest of Sacré-Coeur de Jésus in Sembé (2003-2007). He was awarded a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome, and went on to serve as professor of canon law (2014-2021), and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Republic of Congo (2018-2021). He was elected bishop of the diocese of Ouesso on 8 December 2021 and consecrated on 13 February 2022. Since 2023, he has served as apostolic administrator Sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of Owando.