2014-12-08 11:26:00

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri in Ethiopia: Will also meet Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox


Over the weekend, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches began a visit to Ethiopia which will end on 11 December. The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia  responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches.

Over the weekend, on Saturday, Cardinal Sandri’s day began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Alexandrian rite, Ethiopian-gheez at the Cathedral in Addis Ababa, in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio in Ethiopia, Archbishop Luigi Bianco, along with the Metropolitan of Addis Ababa, Most Rev. Berhaneiesus Souraphiel and all the other Bishops of the Eastern and Latin rite.

At the end of the Liturgy, Cardinal Sandri gave, on behalf of Pope Francis, a gift to the Metropolitan of Addis Ababa, a medal of the second year of the pontificate of Pope Francis.

In the afternoon, Cardinal Sandri, accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio and others left for Emdibir, the most recent of the eparchies of eastern Ethiopia.

Before reaching Emdibir, Cardinal Sandri stopped over at Wolisso, St. Luke’s Mission hospital being managed by a religious congregation. He also stopped at St. Michael Parish of Wolkite, an area with a strong presence of the Orthodox community and Moslems.

Arriving at the Cathedral of Emdibir, after sunset, Cardinal Sandri made his entrance into the church, built in oriental Alexandrian style.

Towards the end of his visit in Ethiopia, the Cardinal will meet with the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the head of state in Ethiopia. With the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Cardinal Sandri hopes to use the opportunity to confirm the love and the openness of Pope Francis towards the Orthodox Church .

(e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va)








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