Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs Cathedral in Kisantu is considered the largest cathedral in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is located about 120 kilometres south of Kinshasa, in Kongo Central province.
Built between 1926 and 1936 by Belgian Jesuits, it draws on Tuscan architecture with a red-brick structure supporting an octagonal dome. It belongs to the Diocese of Kisantu, a suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa.
The cathedral suffered significant weather damage over the decades. A major rehabilitation project was completed in 2011: the roof was repaired, new tiling laid, marble restored, and the electrical and sound systems, stairs and installations replaced, with architectural additions around the altar. It reopened to visitors on 18 September 2011.
It is often cited as the second largest cathedral in Africa, after the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire.
