| Intro | Ethiopian Catholic Archbishop of Addis Abeba | ||||
| Is |
Bishop Archbishop Priest |
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| From | Ethiopia | ||||
| Type | Religion | ||||
| Gender | male | ||||
| Birth |
14 July 1948, Ethiopia, Ethiopia |
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| Age | 72 years | ||||
| Star sign | Cancer | ||||
| Education |
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Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel (born Tchela Claka, Ethiopia, 14 July 1948) is an Ethiopian Catholic cardinal. He is the head of the Ethiopian Catholic Church since his election in 1999, Ethiopian Catholic Archbishop of Addis Abeba, and the Chancellor for The Catholic University of Eastern Africa. He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Francis in 2015.
Biography
Early life and priesthood
Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel was born on 14 July 1948 in Tchela Claka, near Harar in Ethiopia. He studied at the Makanissa Major Seminary and entered in the Congregation of the Mission (popularly known as Lazarists or Vincentians). He studied Theology at King’s College London and was ordained Catholic priest on 4 July 1976. He also earned a degree in sociology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Episcopate
In 1990 Berhaneyesus Souraphiel became Provincial superior of the Lazarists in Addis Ababa. In 1994 he was appointed as Prefect of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jimma-Bonga. On 7 November 1997 he was chosen as auxiliary bishop of Addis Abeba and was consecrated bishop on 25 January 1998 by Cardinal Paulos Tzadua. On 7 July 1999 he succeeded to Cardinal Paulos Tzadua as Ethiopian Catholic Archbishop of Addis Abeba.
In December 2008, he was one of a dozen Ethiopian religious figures who adopted a resolution against homosexuality, urging Ethiopian lawmakers to endorse a ban on homosexual activity in the constitution.
He was elected as the chairman of AMECEA during the 18th Plenary Assembly in Malawi in July, 2014. At the same session, Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba, Bishop of Nakuru (Kenya), was elected Chairman of the University Council (www.cuea.edu/Harmon).
Cardinal
On 4 January 2015, Pope Francis announced that he would make him a cardinal on 14 February. At that ceremony, he was made a Cardinal-Priest and was assigned the titular church of San Romano Martire.
He was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches; and of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants.
External links
- “Souraphiel Card. Berhaneyesus Demerew, C.M.” Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by vicariate established |
Vicar Apostolic of Jimma-Bonga | Succeeded by Theodorus van Ruiyven, CM |
| Preceded by Paulos Tzadua |
Titular Bishop of Bita 1997–1999 |
Succeeded by vacant |
| Preceded by Paulos Tzadua |
Archbishop of Addis Abeba 1999 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by titular church established |
Cardinal Priest of San Romano Martire | |