The 74 year-old Cardinal Ouédraogo will replace Most Rev. Gabriel Mbilingi, Archbishop of Lubango, Angola, who had served a two-term mandate of six years
His
Eminence Philippe Nakellentuba Cardinal Ouedraogo, Archbishop of Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso and Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino as
the next President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of African and
Madagascar-SECAM.
His election took place on Saturday during the 18th plenary of the SECAM continental
at Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo.
The 74year-old Cardinal Ouédraogo will replace Most Rev. Gabriel Mbilingi,
Archbishop of Lubango, Angola, who had served a two-term mandate of six years.
Others elected SECAM leaders include first Vice President in charge of justice
and peace Rt. Rev. Anthony Sithembele Sipuka, Bishop of Mthatha, South Africa
and the second Vice President in charge of the commission of evangelization Rt.
Rev. Lucio Andrice Muandula, Bishop of Xai Xai, Mozambique.
Rev. Fr. Terwase Henry Akaabiam, from Nigeria, was also appointed the Secretary-General
of SECAM replacing Rev. Fr. Joseph Komakoma.
The newly elected SECAM leaders were announced by Archbishop Mbilingi on Sunday
at the Uganda Martyrs Shrines at Namugongo.
//Cue in: “President His Eminence…
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The symposium brought together representatives from the Vatican, eight
Cardinals, 45 Archbishops and 100 bishops, 50 priests 10 representatives of
Religious congregation and 40 lay faithful and other dignitaries from the
length and breadth of the World to deliberate on how far the Church in Africa
has come in its evangelizing mission as look forward to what the next fifty years.
Founded in 1969, SECAM is a continental forum that brings together African
Catholic Church leaders to share how best the mission of evangelization should
be better done in Africa. The continental forum was inaugurated in Uganda by
Pope Paul VI during the first visit by a pope to Africa in modern times.
