Last Sunday, Pope Francis announced the names of Archbishops and Bishops to be elevated as Cardinals on 14 February 2015. Among the new Cardinals will be five retired Archbishops and Bishops whom Pope Francis said have been “distinguished for their pastoral charity in the service of the Holy See and of the Church.”
Of these new Cardinals, three are from Africa. These are, Ethiopian Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel who is 66 years old; Cape Verdean Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde, Arlindo Gomes Furtado, 65 and the retired Mozambican Bishop Julio Duarte Langa the emeritus Bishop of Xai-Xai (pronounced Shy –shy). He is 87 years old.
Several people have commented on one thing that seems to unite and distinguish the three new African Cardinals: their simplicity.
Once when Vatican Radio’s Portuguese Service spoke to Bishop Duarte Langa about what it felt like to be appointed Bishop in 1976, he characteristically remarked, “Well, I think the Holy Father at the time was looking for someone better and not finding anyone exceptional he just settled for what was available –that’s how they chose me!” He would go on to become a much loved Bishop for 28 years.
At some point during that time, he was appointed Bishop responsible for diocesan priests in Mozambique. His time in office is fondly remembered. He was seen as a “caring Bishop and a loving father-figure” by many Mozambican diocesan priests.
The new Cape Verdean Cardinal, Arlindo Furtado has spent most of his pastoral life as a parish priest, teacher and professor of various disciplines before he became Bishop. Trained in Portugal and Rome, he taught Scripture and related studies.
As a Bishop, Furtado is praised not only for his pastoral zeal but also for taking a keen interest in the pastoral welfare of Cape Verdean communities in the diaspora. It could well be said that he lives his episcopal motto: “Jesus, the Good Shepherd.”
Of the three, perhaps the Archbishop of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Berhaneyesus Souraphiel is better known. The Cardinal-designate is a gracious and jovial man. He is a very engaging speaker with a healthy sense of humour.
Archbishop Berhaneyesus is the current Chairman of the association of African Bishops called AMECEA. The association brings together more than 250 African Bishops in the Eastern and Central regions of Africa under the banner of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA).
When the people in Eastern Africa found his Ethiopian name “Berhaneyesus” too cumbersome to pronounce, they simply christened him, “Bwana Yesu” which in Swahili means Lord Jesus. He laughs heartily at this and when in East Africa introduces himself as such.
While attending the Synod on the Family in Rome, last October, the Archbishop of Addis Ababa spoke to Vatican Radio’s English Service for Africa. He spoke of his belief that Africa needs to hold strongly to positive values of the family. He was also of the view that the AMECEA pastoral programme of Small Christian Communities be used to entrench these values.
(Fr. Paul Samasumo)
e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis offered prayers on Thursday morning, especially for the victims of the deadly terror attack on the Charlie Hebdo satirical review in Paris on Wednesday. Speaking during daily Mass in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, the Holy Father said, “[Wednesday’s] terror attack in Paris brings to mind so much cruelty – human cruelty – so much terrorism, both isolated [incidents of] terrorism and of state terrorism,” adding, “of how much cruelty is man capable!” Pope Francis went on to say, “We pray, in this Mass, for the victims of this cruelty – so many of them – and we pray also for the perpetrators of such cruelty, that the Lord might change their heart.”
Click below to hear our report
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis offered prayers on Thursday morning, especially for the victims of the deadly terror attack on the Charlie Hebdo satirical review in Paris on Wednesday. Speaking during daily Mass in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, the Holy Father said, “[Wednesday’s] terror attack in Paris brings to mind so much…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has decried the deadly attack on a Paris-based journalistic outlet on Wednesday morning, expressing his “firm condemnation” of “the horrible attack” that saw a dozen people killed, and offering prayers for the victims and their families.
The Holy Father’s remarks came through a statement issued by the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ late Wednesday, which says the attack on the staff and offices of the satirical review Charlie Hebdo , “profoundly disturb[s] all peace-loving persons far beyond the confines of Paris,” and that such violence is never justifiable. The statement goes on to call on all people everywhere to oppose the spreading of hatred and every form of violence.
The statement concludes with expressions of the Holy Father’s spiritual closeness, solidarity and support for all those who work for peace, justice and right, as well as all those who seek “to [bring] deep healing to the springs and causes of hate, in this painful and dramatic moment in France, and in every part of the world marked by tensions and violence.”
Below, please find Vatican Radio’s English translation of the Statement from the Press Office of the Holy See.
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Statement by the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See
The Holy Father expresses the strongest condemnation for the horrific attack that marred the city of Paris with a high number of victims [Wednesday] morning, sowing death, throwing into dismay the whole of French society, [and] deeply disturbing all peace-loving people, far beyond the borders of France.
Pope Francis participates in prayer for the sufferings of the wounded and the for families of the dead. He calls upon all to oppose by all means the spread of hatred and of all forms of violence, physical and moral, which destroy human life, which violate the dignity of people, which radically undermines the fundamental good of peaceful coexistence between individuals and peoples regardless of their differences of nationality, religion and culture.
Whatever may be the motivation, homicidal violence is abominable. It is never justifiable. The life and dignity of all are to be guaranteed and protected with decision. Every incitement to hatred should be refuted. Respect must be cultivated.
The Pope expresses his closeness, his spiritual solidarity and support for all those who, according to their different responsibilities, continue to work consistently for peace, justice and right, to heal at their depths the sources and causes of hatred, at this moment painful and dramatic, in France and in every part of the world marked by tensions and violence.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) In a document entitled, “The enhanced commitment of the Catholic Church in combating the spread of Ebola,” The Holy See has expressed its appreciation to local Churches in Africa who are at the epicentre of the Ebola emergency. The Holy See is also making a financial contribution which will be accessible to communities…
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