Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, on 1 July 2009, appointed Bishop of Abengourou (Ivory Coast) Rev Gbaya Boniface Ziri, Vicar General of the archdiocese of Abidjan.
Rev, Gbaya Boniface Ziri was born on 31 December 1949 in Gagnoa. After studying philosophy and theology at the major seminary of Anyama, he was ordained a priest for the Society of Jesus on 6 June 1976. Since his ordination he has ministered as follows: 1976-1994: a member of the Society of Jesus; 1980-1984: Licentiate in moral, social and political theology at the Gregorian University, Rome; 1984-1989: Doctorate in sociology at the Sorbonne; a Masters in political philosophy; 1989-1992: Docent at the Jesuit Institute for Higher Studies (I.N.A.D.E.S.); 1992-2004: councillor of the Institute of the Sisters of Notre Dame de l’Incarnation; 1994: He leaves the Society of Jesus and is incardinated in the archdiocese of Abidjan; since 1994 : Vicar general of the archdiocese of Abidjan; since 2006: parish priest at the parish of Saint Jacques des Plateaux; chaplain of the Fraternal Union of Ivorian Clergy.
The Diocese of Abengourou, created in 1963, is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Bouaké. It has an area of 18,214sq km and a population of about 1,000, 000 including 312,000 Catholics, gathered in 29 parishes, assisted by 67 priests (63 diocesan and 4 Fidei Donum), 15 Brothers, 45 seminarians and 25 women religious. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/7/2009; righe 17, parole 214)