VATICAN: AMECEA Chairman appointed Ex Officio Member of the Synod of Bishops
 |
| H.E. Cardinal Berhaneyesus D. Cardinal Souraphiel |
The Chairman
of AMECEA and Archbishop of Addis Ababa Ethiopia H.E. Cardinal Berhaneyesus D.
Cardinal Souraphiel, C.M., was among the 45 special appointees of the Holy
Father Pope Francis to the 14th Synod of Bishops to be held in Rome
in October this year.
of AMECEA and Archbishop of Addis Ababa Ethiopia H.E. Cardinal Berhaneyesus D.
Cardinal Souraphiel, C.M., was among the 45 special appointees of the Holy
Father Pope Francis to the 14th Synod of Bishops to be held in Rome
in October this year.
The Holy
Father also appointed as ex officio member, the Council member of Catholic
University of Eastern Africa CUEA, president of the council of the Eritrean
Church and the Archbishop of Asmara, Most Rev. Menghesteab Tesfamariam,
M.C.C.J.
Father also appointed as ex officio member, the Council member of Catholic
University of Eastern Africa CUEA, president of the council of the Eritrean
Church and the Archbishop of Asmara, Most Rev. Menghesteab Tesfamariam,
M.C.C.J.
Cardinal
Berhaneyesus and Archbishop Menghesteab are ex
Berhaneyesus and Archbishop Menghesteab are ex
 |
| Most Rev. Menghesteab Tesfamariam |
officio member from the Oriental
Churches.
On Tuesday
15th September Vatican officially released the full definitive list
of participants, auditors and collaborators in the 14th Ordinary
General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held in Rome from 4 to 25
October 2015.
15th September Vatican officially released the full definitive list
of participants, auditors and collaborators in the 14th Ordinary
General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held in Rome from 4 to 25
October 2015.
Pope Francis
appointed 45 members to the Synod on his own authority (PONTIFICAL
APPOINTMENTS), consisting of a diverse group of prelates from Europe and
Africa.
appointed 45 members to the Synod on his own authority (PONTIFICAL
APPOINTMENTS), consisting of a diverse group of prelates from Europe and
Africa.
Notably some
of the participants who have special ties to Eastern Africa include; Missionary
Sisters of Our Lady of Africa Sr. Carmen Sammut, MSOLA, the head of the
International Union of Superiors General (UISG); Fr. Richard Kuuia Baawobr,
MAfr, Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers); and Fr.
Boniface Mungai, Kenya (Collaborators of the General Secretariat, Assistant)
of the participants who have special ties to Eastern Africa include; Missionary
Sisters of Our Lady of Africa Sr. Carmen Sammut, MSOLA, the head of the
International Union of Superiors General (UISG); Fr. Richard Kuuia Baawobr,
MAfr, Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers); and Fr.
Boniface Mungai, Kenya (Collaborators of the General Secretariat, Assistant)
There are 279 bishops, prelates and priests
announced as voting participants coming from countries and regions all over the
world. These include 12 Bishops participating in the synod from the AMECEA
Region. (The full list in English can be found in the Zenit News
Service.)
announced as voting participants coming from countries and regions all over the
world. These include 12 Bishops participating in the synod from the AMECEA
Region. (The full list in English can be found in the Zenit News
Service.)
There will
also be 34 auditors taking part in the discussions who are allowed to attend
and participate in the discussions but not to vote on any final document or
issues. Among those auditors are 17 individuals/single (including auditors from
Egypt, Nigeria and Rwanda) and 17 married couples (including auditors from
Cameroon and South Africa). Thirteen of the individual auditors are women
including three religious sisters. The total of auditors from Africa is seven
(four laywomen, two laymen and one priest).
also be 34 auditors taking part in the discussions who are allowed to attend
and participate in the discussions but not to vote on any final document or
issues. Among those auditors are 17 individuals/single (including auditors from
Egypt, Nigeria and Rwanda) and 17 married couples (including auditors from
Cameroon and South Africa). Thirteen of the individual auditors are women
including three religious sisters. The total of auditors from Africa is seven
(four laywomen, two laymen and one priest).
According to
the Canon Law Can. 346 §1 “The synod of Bishops meeting in Ordinary
general assembly is comprised, for the most part, of Bishops elected for each
assembly by the Episcopal Conferences, in accordance with the norms of the
special law of the synod. Other members are designated according to the same
law; others are directly appointed by the Roman Pontiff. Added to these are
some members of clerical religious institutes, elected in accordance with the
same special law.” This October’s assembly is an Ordinary General Assembly.
the Canon Law Can. 346 §1 “The synod of Bishops meeting in Ordinary
general assembly is comprised, for the most part, of Bishops elected for each
assembly by the Episcopal Conferences, in accordance with the norms of the
special law of the synod. Other members are designated according to the same
law; others are directly appointed by the Roman Pontiff. Added to these are
some members of clerical religious institutes, elected in accordance with the
same special law.” This October’s assembly is an Ordinary General Assembly.
As Pope
Francis urges, let us pray daily for the fruits of the synod especially
practical, concrete pastoral solutions to the challenges of family and marriage
in Africa and the world today.
Francis urges, let us pray daily for the fruits of the synod especially
practical, concrete pastoral solutions to the challenges of family and marriage
in Africa and the world today.
By Fr. Joseph Healey, MM and
Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
