2017-05-22 13:45:00

Cardinal Filoni in Equatorial Guinea meets Bishops


Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Monday, met Equatorial Guinea’s Bishops in the newly-erected Diocese of Mongomo. The country has one of the highest Catholic populations by proportion.

“Dear Brothers in the Episcopate, as the episcopal body of this country, I wish first to express my joy at being with you all at this particular moment,” Cardinal  Filoni said. He then expressed his joy at the increase of new Bishops in the country. He said this was one of the signs that the Church in Equatorial Guinea was growing. 

Earlier on Saturday 20 May, at Mongomo, Cardinal Filoni ordained three new Bishops for Equatorial Guinea. The new Bishops are from for the new Dioceses of  Evinayong and Mongomo respectively, as well as for the Diocese of Ebebiyin.

The Cardinal is on a pastoral visit to the country. The visit began on 18 May and ends on 25 May.

Meeting the Bishops on Monday, Cardinal Filoni expressed the gratitude of the Holy See for the for the great progress within the Church of Equatorial Guinea. The Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples told Guinea’s Bishops that as Pastors, Bishops need to cultivate a paternal and brotherly attitude especially towards their immediate collaborators, the priests.

“Since we are building a family in Christ, we must create this climate of understanding and solidarity, among our clergy, to make them feel that they are members of a family. Certainly, Canon Law gives us directions on how to form basic diocesan structures, such as the Presbyteral Council, the College of Consultors, the Pastoral and Economic Council of the Diocese. These structures should not only exist in theory; they need to become tangible and facilitate collaboration and co-responsibility in the service of our particular Churches. The good work of our priests needs to be constantly appreciated. Even little gestures and small achievements need to be acknowledged, appreciated and commended. This is particularly necessary when priests encounter difficulties (in their calling). The Bishop must always have the habit, as Pope Francis often advises, to be available full time, for his brother-priests,” Cardinal Filoni told the Bishops.

The Cardinal also spoke of the need to create harmony and collaboration with the religious and the laity in the dioceses. He acknowledged challenges and limitations faced by local Churches such as inadequate spiritual formation and the problem of ethnic divisions even among Christians. Cardinal Filoni encouraged Bishops to tackle head-on these difficulties and limitations.

(Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va)








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