The three African Cardinals, who are they?

The three new African Cardinals that Pope Francis created on Saturday 14 February are, Ethiopian Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel who is 66 years old; Cape Verdean Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde, Arlindo Gomes Furtado, 65 and the retired Mozambican Bishop Julio Duarte Langa, the emeritus Bishop of Xai-Xai. He is 87 years old.

Several people have commented on one thing that seems to unite and distinguish the three new African Cardinals: their simplicity.

Once when Vatican Radio’s Portuguese Service spoke to Cardinal Duarte Langa about what it felt like to be appointed Bishop of Xai-Xai in 1976, he characteristically remarked, “Well, I think the Holy Father at the time was looking for someone better and not finding anyone exceptional he just settled for what was available –that’s how they chose me!” He would go on to become a much loved Bishop for 28 years.

At some point during that time, he was appointed Bishop responsible for diocesan priests in Mozambique. His time in office is fondly remembered. He was seen as a “caring Bishop and a loving father-figure” by many Mozambican diocesan priests.

The new Cape Verdean Cardinal, Arlindo Furtado has spent most of his pastoral life as a parish priest, teacher and professor of various disciplines before he became Bishop. Trained in Portugal and Rome, he taught Scripture and related studies.

As a Bishop, Cardinal Furtado is praised not only for his pastoral zeal but also for taking a keen interest in the pastoral welfare of Cape Verdean communities in the diaspora. It could well be said that he lives his episcopal motto: "Jesus, the Good Shepherd."

Of the three, perhaps the Archbishop of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Cardianl Berhaneyesus Souraphiel is better known. The Cardinal is a gracious and jovial man. He is a very engaging speaker with a healthy sense of humour.

Cardinal Berhaneyesus is the current Chairman of the association of African Bishops called AMECEA. The association brings together more than 250 African Bishops in the Eastern and Central regions of Africa under the banner of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA).

When the people in Eastern Africa found his Ethiopian name “Berhaneyesus” too cumbersome to pronounce, they simply christened him, “Bwana Yesu” which in Swahili means, 'Lord Jesus.' He laughs heartily at this and when in East Africa introduces himself as such.

While attending the Synod on the Family in Rome, last October, Cardinal Berhaneyesus spoke to Vatican Radio’s English Service for Africa. He was of the view that the AMECEA pastoral programme of Small Christian Communities be used to entrench African family values.

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(This article was first published on this site on 8 January 2015 following the announcement of the new Cardinals)