AFRICA/CÔTE D' IVOIRE - Relics of Saint Therese of Lisieux will cross Côte d'Ivoire divided by civil war

Friday, 11 November 2005

Abidjan ( Fides Service) - Early next year, 15 February to 30 April 2006, under the banner of peace and harmony the relics of the Saint Therese of Lisieux will cross Côte d'Ivoire torn in two by civil war. The news was announced by Rev Tite Lath National Director of the Catholic Societies of Côte d'Ivoire .
The relics of the patroness of the Missions will be carried on pilgrimage to every diocese. Catholics will welcome them and gather round them to pray for the return of peace. The relics will be accompanied by Mgr. Bernard Lagoutte, parish priest at the Basilica di Saint Therese de Lisieux.
Th relics will go to the ecclesiastical provinces of Abidjan, Gagnoa, and also Korhogo and Bouaké areas in the hands of rebels who control the north of the country since September 2002.
Civil war exploded in September 2002 with an army mutiny and the rebels took the north west of the country. Since then the country has been split in two. An agreement signed in France in 2003 which led to a national unity interim government was never fully applied. 6,000 UN peacekeepers and 4,000 French peacekeepers are in the country to see the agreement is respected. (Agenzia Fides 11/11/2005 righe 21 parole 232)


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