Pierre Marini Bodho is the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Christ in Congo and former President of the Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Marini holds a doctorate in theology

Theology

Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...

 from the Faculté Libre de Théologie Protestante de Paris, and other degrees in theology, comparative law, and secondary education.

National role

Following the end of the Second Congo War

Second Congo War

The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...

, transitional institutions were established, composed of the former warring parties, as well as representatives of the non-belligerent opposition, and representatives of the civil society

Civil society

Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...

. Consequently, from 2003 to 2007, as a reasonably neutral and consensual figure, and as a representative of the organized religion section of the civil society, Marini also served as the President of the Senate

Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.During the transition period in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Senate, aside from its Legislative role, also had the task of drafting the country's new constitution...

, the upper house of the Congolese Parliament

Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo consists of two chambers:*The Senate *The National Assembly -External links:*...

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In 2006, he blessed the marriage of the then president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila

Joseph Kabila

Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician who has been President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila...

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