By Arnold Neliba
ABIDJAN, MAY 6, 2022 (CISA)-The newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Mali, Monsignor Jean Sylvain Mambé Emien will on Saturday, May 7, be ordained bishop at St Paul du Plateau Cathedral in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The event to be graced by the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in his first visit to Côte d’Ivoire will see the Ivorian-born priest become the first apostolic nuncio from the country.
According to the event’s organizing committee, it is approximated that the event will be attended by 7000 people among them delegations from Mali, Guinea, Italy and France.
“Inside the cathedral, there are more than 5,000 seats and 2,000 seats in the courtyard where there will be giant screens and a device so that everyone can be comfortable,” Fr Augustin Obrou, the communication manager told the press assuring the availability of “enough room to accommodate everyone.”
Also present during the press briefing, Fr Magloire Etchimbra Aka the event’s organizing secretary reassured the security and health measures that have been taken by the organizing committee in conjunction with the Ivorian authorities. He says the chancelleries accredited in Côte d’Ivoire have been invited, as well as the institutions of the Republic, the military hierarchy, political parties and leaders of other religious denominations.
“It is about the ordination of a bishop but also of a diplomat,” he said noting that “the arrival of a high official from the Holy See obliges us to invite all these personalities”.
Cardinal Parolin arrived on May 5 and will meet President Alassane Ouattara, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cote d’Ivoire and a social work centre; at the Oasis Center of Koumassi.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin will ordain Bishop Jean-Sylvain Mambé Emien, appointed by Pope Francis as Apostolic Nuncio to Mali, with residence in Guinea. The other two consecrators as recommended by the liturgy of episcopal ordination are Cardinal Jean Pierre Kutwa, Archbishop of Abidjan, and Mgr. Jean Salomon Lézoutié, Bishop of Yopougon.
On Sunday, May 8, Cardinal Parolin will join for Mass at the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Paix” in Yamoussoukro and later visit St. Joseph Moscati Hospital.
