ETHIOPIA: Former Apostolic Nuncio in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti among New Cardinals Appointed
Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi former Apostolic Nuncio in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti
Ethiopia Social Communications & Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
On Sunday, October 25 during Angelus, Pope Francis announced a consistory for the creation of 13 new Cardinals, among them an Italian Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi who served in the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) region as the Apostolic Nuncio for Ethiopia, Eritrea and later Djibouti.
Archbishop Tomasi among others will be made Cardinal on Saturday, November 28.
According the Secretary General of Ethiopia Catholic Bishops Conference (ECBC) Fr. Teshome Fikre Woldetensae, the Archbishop who still loves Ethiopia to date after his seven years of service “contributed a lot in the establishment of the Catholic University of Ethiopia; initiated an agreement between the Church and the Ethiopian government on the establishment of the University; and continues to assist the University especially in fundraising for the campus’ construction projects.”
“He also played a big role in promoting dialogue and peace during the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea,” the Secretary General stated adding that the Prelate who is to be made Cardinal next month “accompanied the Catholic Church through-out his mission in Ethiopia with very great capacity of networking among Church institutions and other stakeholders.”
The Archbishop is a Permanent Observer Emeritus to the United Nations Office and Specialized Agencies in Geneva.
Archbishop Tomasi was born on 12 October 1940 in Casoni di Mussolente (Italy). He underwent his formation to priesthood in Italy and the United States and was ordained a priest on May 31 1965, in the Religious congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Charles Borromeo, and later became Provincial Superior of the congregation.
In 1996 he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Cercinia and Apostolic Nuncio to Ethiopia and Eritrea and observer to the United Nations Office and Specialized Agencies in Geneva.
In 1999 he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Acelum; in 2000 the Apostolic Nuncio in Djibouti; and in 2003 appointed Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the Office of the United Nations and Specialized Institutions in Geneva and Permanent Observer to the World Trade Organization (WTO), an office held until February 13, 2016.
In 2016, the Holy Father appointed him a member of the former Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, today the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
His Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus, senior Church officials, priests, the Consecrated and all the faithful in Ethiopia have sent their congratulatory message to him on being included in the creation of new cardinals.
