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The highlight of the last Saturdays Installation of a Catholic Archbishop in faraway Ivory Coast was his Pledges to Foster Synodality, “conversations” in Communion. The newly installed Local Ordinary of Ivory Coast’s Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan, Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, vehemently pledged to foster the theme of the multi-year Synod on Synodality: communion, participation, and mission.

Speaking during the Eucharistic celebration for his canonical possession of the Ivorian Metropolitan See on August 3, Archbishop Dogbo invited the people of God to pray for the success of his Episcopal Ministry in the Archdiocese of Abidjan.

“We need to maintain the continuity of achievements that have been gained in many areas, particularly in the proclamation of Jesus Christ, in a spirit of unfailing synodality,” the Catholic Archbishop said at St. Paul Cathedral of Abidjan Archdiocese.

The Ivorian Catholic Archbishop said he is set to begin his Episcopal Ministry in Abidjan with a series of consultations.

“We’ll have to start with conversations in the Spirit. It is necessary for everyone to know who they’re dealing with and where they stand,” the native of Ivory Coast’s Catholic Diocese of Yopougon said.

He explained that the conversations will take the form of “palavers”, where people gather to talk and share ideas in the spirit of synodality.

During these conversations, Archbishop Dogbo said, “Our lips and ears will be put to the test so that together, in all transparency, we can listen to the spirit, and identify the means to make our voices and our actions better.”

He went to laud the people of God in his new Episcopal See for the “great deal of admirable work” accomplished with his immediate predecessor, Jean-Pierre Cardinal Kutwa.

“I expect you to continue to do so with the same love and self-sacrifice,” the immediate former President of the Episcopal Conference of Ivory Coast (CECCI), who had been at the helm of Ivory Coast’s Korhogo Archdiocese since February 2021 said.

Archbishop Dogbo continued, “As for me, I know what you expect of me. The Bishop must love the Church in a permanent spirit of self-giving. I promise to work together with you as artisans of unity and communion, so beautiful and indispensable to our Church and our country.”

“As Christians, we must work according to the Gospel, so that Ivory Coast may be enlightened, and be illuminated,” the Catholic Church leader, who is one of the three papal nominees from Africa for the Synod on Synodality further said.

Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Dogbo as Local Ordinary of Abidjan on May 20.

At his installation on August 3, the new Archbishop also expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his confidence in him.

“May the Lord keep and protect the Holy Father, so that he may strengthen his brothers and sisters in faith and offer humble service in a synodal Church,” Archbishop Dogbo implored.

The Catholic Church leader, who was ordained a Priest for the Ivory Coast’s Yopougon Diocese in August 1987 takes over from Cardinal Kutwa, who retired at 78, three years after the canonical age limit.

At the August 3 event, Archbishop Dogbo thanked his predecessor, acknowledging his selfless service in the Archdiocese of Abidjan.

“Your Eminence, may the Lord’s grace rest on you and always be the strength that has sustained you throughout your ministry and particularly during your presence in Abidjan,” he said, and added, “You have made the paths and actions of this Archdiocese better.”

“May the Lord renew your physical, moral, intellectual, and spiritual health, and above all your phonic health, so that your songs in praise of His glory and for the edification of His faithful, never fail the liturgical assembly,” the Catholic Archbishop implored.

The Metropolitan See of Abidjan was erected as Apostolic Prefecture of Costa d’Avorio from the Apostolic Prefecture of Gold Coast in Ghana in 1895; it was elevated to the Apostolic Vicariate of Costa d’Avorio in 1911.

The Ivorian Episcopal See was renamed Apostolic Vicariate of Abidjan in 1940 and elevated to the rank of an Archdiocese in 1955. It measures 3,810 square kilometers and has a 65.8 percent Catholic population, according to 2022 statistics.

Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu
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