AFRICA/DR CONGO - Enthusiasm in the DRC for the elevation of the Archbishop of Kinshasa to Cardinal

Tuesday, 3 September 2019 consistory   pope francis   local churches  

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - "We express our heartfelt congratulations to His Eminence Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, for his elevation by Pope Francis to the dignity of Cardinals in the Catholic Church, in particular in the Church family of God in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our prayers accompany him in this new ecclesial position. We thank the Holy Father for his trust in a member of CENCO". Thus His Exc. Mgr. Marcel Utembi Tapa Archbishop of Kisangani and President of CENCO (National Episcopal Conference of Congo) expressed the joy of the Church in the DRC for the announced appointment of the cardinal's title to His Exc. Mgr. Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa (see Fides, 2/9/2019).
Also His Exc. Marcel Madila, Archbishop of Kananga and President of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEAC), expressed his satisfaction: "I warmly congratulate Mgr. Fridolin Ambongo for his elevation to the dignity of Cardinal in the Church. Thanks to Pope Francis for this choice"
"It was with joy and immense pride that I learned about the creation of Mgr. Fridolin Ambongo to Cardinal by Pope Francis. I am convinced that he will help not only the Pope, but also the DRC", declared the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, on the Presidency's Twitter account.
After the Angelus on Sunday 1 September, Pope Francis announced that "on Oct. 5 I will hold a consistory for the appointment of 10 new cardinals. Their origin expresses the missionary vocation of the Church, which continues to proclaim the merciful love of God to all the people of the Earth". Among the new Cardinals from Africa there are Mgr. Cristóbal López Romero, Archbishop of Rabat, and Mgr. Eugenio Dal Corso, Bishop emeritus of Benguela. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 3/9/2019)


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