IVORY COAST: Pope Francis Delays Cardinal Kutwa’s Retirement

BY CISA

ABIDJAN, JANUARY 22, 2021 (CISA)-The Archbishop of Abidjan Jean-Pierre Cardinal Kutwa has accepted the pope’s proposal to delay his retirement for more years.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, January 19 by His Excellency Archbishop Paolo Borgia, Apostolic Nuncio to C ôtete d ‘ Ivoire, during his speech at the official opening ceremony of the 117th Ordinary Plenary Assembly of Catholic Bishops of C ôtete d ‘ Ivoire at the Jean Paul Centre 1st of Kodjobouet in Bonoua in the Diocese of Grand-Bassam.

“I cordially salute his Eminence Cardinal Jean Pierre Kutwa, Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan, who recently celebrated his 75th birthday, congratulations eminence! I would like to congratulate him again and thank him for all the work he does but also for his willingness to accept the Holy Father’s proposal to continue to lead the archdiocese of Abidjan for a few more years,” he said.

Cardinal Kutwa in accordance with Canon 401 of the Code of Canon Law of 1983 on canonical age limit for the retirement of Diocesan Archbishops and Bishops, submitted his resignation to the Holy Father after attaining the age of 75 on December 22, 2020.

The decision to accept the resignation of a bishop falls on the pope, depending on the specific circumstances.

Jean-Pierre Cardinal Kutwa has been Archbishop of Abidjan since May 2, 2006.