The new archbishop of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
We receive an article from our correspondent in Burkina Faso, focolarino Bernard Minani, and gladly publish it
Accepting the resignation from the pastoral government of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bobo-Dioulasso, presented by Archbishop Paul Yembuado Ouédraogo after reaching the age limit, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Laurent Birfuoré Dabiré as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bobo-Dioulasso on Wednesday 18 December.
On Tuesday 17 December, the diocesan family of Bobo-Dioulasso received a communiqué from the Archbishop inviting priests, religious, consecrated men and women, catechists and the lay faithful to attend:
“At the request of the Apostolic Nunciature in Burkina Faso, I invite you all to Notre Dame de Lourdes Cathedral on Wednesday 18 December at 10am for an Important Communication at 11am GMT”.
The announcement was made by Mgr Gabriel SAYAOGO, archbishop of Koupéla, on behalf of the Apostolic Nunciature. The news was warmly welcomed by the first recipient, Bishop Paul OUEDRAOGO, who said: “This is my best Christmas present”.
In the evening, for more details, he wrote the following to the whole diocesan family: ‘Dear Priests, Consecrated Persons, Lay Faithful, Parents and Friends, You have been following the events. This is my Successor, the Pastor that Pope Francis is giving to our Diocesan Family of Bobo-Dioulasso. With you, I congratulate him and with joy we prepare for his coming.
On Sunday 2 February 2025, he will take possession of the Metropolitan See of Bobo, as 3rd Archbishop of Bobo-Dioulasso.
From this day, 18/12/24, until 02/02/25, I will not sign any act as Metropolitan Archbishop (the See is vacant), but rather as APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR.
The Priests who will celebrate Mass in our Archdiocese are asked to take this into account in the Eucharistic Prayer.
TOGETHER LET US PREPARE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF ‘HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD’.
He then signed on as Apostolic Administrator of Bobo.
Qui est Mgr Birfuoré Dabiré
Mgr Birfuoré Dabiré, 59, was born on 17 September 1965 in Dissin, in the Diocese of Diébougou. He was ordained a priest on 29 December 1995, and incardinated into the Diocese of Diébougou. The current President of the Burkina-Niger Bishops’ Conference was one of the witnesses at the signing of the Framework Agreement between the Holy See and Burkina Faso on 12 July 2019.
Dedicated to a return to peace in Burkina, Bishop Dabiré often advocates living together and a spirit of tolerance in his speeches, writes Vatican News.
He has held the positions of professor at the Saint-Tarcisius minor seminary in Diébougou; judicial vicar and chancellor (since 2005); official of the ecclesiastical tribunal of the province of Bobo Dioulasso (since 2006); professor at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste major seminary (2007-2008); professor of law at the university of Bamako, Mali (since 2011).
History
On 15 December 1927, the Apostolic Prefecture of Bobo-Dioulasso was created by dismembering the Apostolic Vicariate of Bamako and the Apostolic Vicariate of Ouagadougou. On 9 March 1937, it was elevated to the rank of Vicariate Apostolic. The vicariate lost part of its territory when the apostolic prefecture of Gao was created (9 June 1942), then when the prefecture of Sikasso was created on 12 June 1942.
In 1948, André Dupont founded the Institute of the Sisters of the Annunciation in Bobo-Dioulasso.
On 14 September 1955, the diocese of Bobo-Dioulasso was erected from the vicariate. Portions of the diocese were used to form the diocese of Diébougou (18 October 1968) and the diocese of Banfora (27 June 1998).
On 5 December 2000, the diocese of Bobo-Dioulasso was elevated to the rank of metropolitan archdiocese. Its suffragan dioceses are Banfora, Dédougou, Diébougou, Gaoua and Nouna.
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- Bernard Minani