The Catholic Bishops of the Churches sui iuris of Ethiopia, taking into account the existence of two rites think it is good and useful to maintain - servatis de iure servandis - one assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ethiopia, hereafter CBCE.
The CBCE-General Secretariat is the National executive, administrative, facilitative and coordinative framework established and governed by The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia through which the Episcopal Conference implements and coordinates various Pastoral and Social Development programs at the National level and undertakes all those responsibilities which express the mission of the Catholic Church in Ethiopia. It is headed by the Secretary General who is the Executive Officer of the CBCE.
HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
(JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO)
Pope Francis is the 266th pope in an unbroken line that can be traced to St. Peter, the first pope chosen by Jesus Christ.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
17 December 1936
Ordained Priest
13 December 1969
Elected Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church
13 March 2013
Archdiocese of Addis Ababa
His Eminence Berhaneyesus D. Cardinal Souraphiel, CM Metropolitan Archbishop
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Archdiocese of Addis Ababa was established by the Apostolic Constitution “Quod Venerabilis” on February 20th, 1961, in place of the Apostolic Exarchate which had been erected on October 31st, 1951, with its first Eparch His Excellency Abune Haile-Mariam Kahsay.
EXTENT
The Archdiocese of Addis Abeba Comprises 3 Zones of the Oromia Regional State (North Shewa (R4), part of West Shewa and part of East Shewa). From Amhara Regional State, North Shewa (R3)
Eparchy of Bahirdar - Dessie
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Holy Father Pope Francis on 19th January 2015 erected the Eparchy (Diocese) of Bahir Dar-Dessie (area 224,350 sq.km, population 18,948,257, Catholics 14,004, 1 diocesan priest, 24 religious priests and 47 nuns), in Ethiopia, with territory from the Metropolitan Arch Eparchy of Addis Ababa, making it a suffragan of the same ecclesiastical circumscription. The new diocese in Ethiopia has joined together the two districts of Bahir Dar and Dessie. The Holy Father appointed Bishop, Lisane-Christos Matheos as the first Bishop of the new diocese. Until his appointment Bishop Lesanu-Christos Matheos has been the Auxiliary Bishop of Addis Ababa. EXTENT
The Eparchy of Bahir Dar – Dessie comprises 8 Zones of Amhara Regional State (North Gondar, South Gondar, East Gojam, West Gojam, Agew Awi, Wag Hemra, North Wello, and South Wello) Special Oromiya Zone and 1 Zone of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, Metekel Zone and 3 Zones of Afar Regional State (Zone 1, Zone 4, and Zone 5)
Apostolic Vicariate of Hawassa
HISTORICAL NOTE
On March 25th, 1937 one of the new Prefectures erected in Ethiopia was the Prefecture of Neghelli Borana, in the then Province of Sidama, entrusted to the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (P.I.M.E). With this new Prefecture, the SidamaProvince became a missionary jurisdiction of its own. Following the expulsion of the P.I.M.E. Missionaries in 1941, the Prefecture of Neghelli was administered by the Apostolic Vicariate of Harar up to 1972, but already since December 1964 the Comboni Missionaries had accepted the Holy See invitation to work in the then Sidama Province. Fr. E. Ceccarini, Mccj, was the head of the Mission and was later appointed Vicar Delegate of the same. In 1972 the Prefecture was re-instated as an independent ecclesiastical Jurisdiction named Apostolic Prefecture of Hawassa; in 1973 Msgr. Armido Gasparini, Mccj, was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the same. The Prefecture was erected as an Apostolic Vicariate in 1979, with the consecration of its first Bishop, Msgr. A. Gasparini, Mccj, succeeded in 1994 by Msgr. Lorenzo Ceresoli, Mccj. On March 21, 2009, Msgr. Lorenzo Ceresoli was succeeded by Giovanni Migliorati, Mccj. And on October 8, 2016 Bishop Roberto Beragamaschi became the fourth Apostolic Vicar of Hawassa. EXTENT
The Apostolic Vicariate of Hawassa comprises Sidama and Gedeo Zones; Amaaro and Burji special Weredas of Southern Nations and Nationalities Peoples Regional State (SNNPRSRS); Guji and Borana Zones of Oromiya Region and Liben Zone of Somali Region.
Eparchy of Emdibir
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Catholic Eparchy of Emdibir was erected by Pope John Paul II Decree “Ad Universa Incremental” in November 25, 2003 with territories detached from the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa. The first Eparch appointed is H.E Abune Musie Ghebreghiorghis, OFM, Cap. An Apostolic prefecture of Emdibir had previously been established with territories detached from the Apostolic Vicariate of Harar On February 13, 1940. The first apostolic prefect elect was Federico Baldassari of Baselga, OFM, Cap. from the Capuchin province of Trento who never succeeded to enter Ethiopia because of the war at the time.
EXTENT
The Eparchy of Emdibir covers the whole Guraghe Zone of the southern Nations, Nationalities and peoples Regional State (SNNPRS), and Woliso Zone of the Oromiya Regional state.
Eparchy of Adigrat
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Eparchy of Adigrat was erected by the Apostolic Constitution “Quod Venerabilis” of February 20, 1961, in place of the Apostolic Prefecture of Tigray, which had been established on March 25, 1937, with territory detached from the Apostolic Vicariate of Abyssinia. The first Eparch was Abune HaileMariam Kahsay.
EXTENT
The Eparchy of Adigrat comprises the whole of the actual Region of Tigray and the northern part (Zone 2) of Afar Region.
Apostolic Vicariate of Harar
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Apostolic Vicariate of Harar was erected by the Apostolic Constitution “Quo in Aethiopia” March 25, 1937, with territory detached from the vicariate Apostolic of the Galla, which had been established May 4, 1846. EXTENT
THE Vicariate Apostolic of Harar comprises East and West Hararghe zones and Fentale and Boset woredas of East Shewa in Oromiya Region; Harari Region Provisional Administration of Dire Dawa; Somali Region with exception of Afder and Liben Zones; Amibara worda of Afar Region
Vicariate of Jimma - Bonga
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Apostolic Decree “Ad expeditus” established the Apostolic Prefecture of Jimma Bonga on June 10, 1994 with territory taken from the Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemete.
EXTENT
The geographic coverage of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jimma Bonga includes; in the region of the Southern Nation and Nationalities of Peoples Regional State of Ethiopia (SNNPRS), the whole Kaffa zone, Shaka zone, Bench Maji zone, Jimma and some parts of Oromia bordering – the Apostolic Vicariate of Gambella and Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte, the Apostolic vicariate of Soddo the Apostolic Vicariate of Hosanna, and the Eparchy of Emdibir until Gibe River.
Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte
HISTORICAL NOTE
The history of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte can be traced back to the Apostolic Vicariate of the Oromo which was erected on 4th May 1846. Taking Territories from it, the Apostolic Prefecture of Kaffa was established on 28th January 1913. Later, on March 25th it was elevated to an Apostolic Vicariate, and renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Jimma. With the Decree of Propaganda Fide dated September 3, 1982 changed the name of the Vicariate to the Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte.
EXTENT
The Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte comprises East Wollega, West Wollega, Kelem Wollega and Horo Guduru wollega and large part of West Showa Zones of Oromia Regional state and Assossa and Kamashi Zones in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State.
Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Prefecture Apostolic of Soddo Hosanna was established by the Apostolic Constitution “Quae Utilia” February 13, 1940, with Territory taken from the Apostolic Vicariate of Neghelli. It was promoted to the status of Vicariate Apostolic on October 15, 1982. Due to the number of Christians, the Vicariate is multiplied in to two – Soddo and Hosanna Vicariates. The Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo was established in February 2010 by the Holy See.
EXTENT
The Vicariate Apostolic of Soddo comprises Wolayta Zone, Dawro Zone, Gamu Gofa Zone, South Omo zone, Seghen People Zone and Special Zone of Konso; all in Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region.
Apostolic Vicariate of Gambella
HISTORICAL NOTE The Ethiopian Catholic Church started its operation in Gambella in the 1990s, before that Gambella area was under the Apostolic Prefecture of Jimma Bonga. As Gambella is a first evangelization area where most of the local people are traditional believers, there was a big need of pastoral work. Due to the remoteness of Gambella region from Addis Ababa and also from Jimma town, where the headquarters of the Jimma Bonga Prefecture is located, the Catholic Church was not able to fully accomplish its mission in the area. Therefore to better represent the Catholic Church in Gambella the Holy See declared the launching of the Apostolic Prefecture of Gambella in November 2000. The installation of the new diocese and the first Apostolic Prefect Msgr. Angelo Moreschi was held on February 25, 2001. When the prefecture was established taking areas from the Jimma Bonga Prefecture, there were only two parishes and some outstations and almost no intervention in social and development activities. The physical structure in which the Prefecture started its activity was consisted of only one Church and a parish house. The hard work of all the pastoral agents for ten years was recognized by the Holy See and it was decided by the same to elevate the prefecture to a Vicariate. It was with great joy that we celebrated the elevation of the prefecture to a vicariate and the consecration of His Excellency Bishop Angelo Moreschi as the first Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Gambella on January 31, 2010. EXTENT The Apostolic Vicariate of Gambella comprises all the Gambella Region and large part of Illubabor Zone in Oromiya Region.
Apostolic Vicariate of Meki
HISTORICAL NOTE
In l970 the present territory of the Vicariate of Meki was put under the care of the Consolata Fathers Missionary Institute. It was taken from the Vicariate Apostolic of Harar. March 6th 1980 – The Territory was erected to a Prefecture Apostolic, headed by Fr. John Bonzanino, IMC as Apostolic Administrator. December 8th 1981 – Abba Yohannes Weldegiorgis (from the Eparchy of Adigrat- Tigray) was appointed Prefect Apostolic, taking over the See on 6th April 1982. January 25th 1992 – The Prefecture was elevated to the Vicariate Apostolic of Meki and the Prefect Mgr. Yohannes Weldegiorgis was elevated to the dignity of Bishop. EXTENT
The Working area of the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki covers an area of about 56,000.00 Sk.Km with a population of about 4.310,802 Million, out of which 32,904 are Catholics. Administratively it covers the whole of Arsi and parts of west Arsi Zones and parts of East Showa, in Oromia National Regional State formerly called Haicoch-Butajira Awraja and part of the Yerer-kereyu Awraja, the right side area of Awash River including Wonji area Suger Plantation in Oromia National Regional State. In addition to these, it includes some parts of the South Nations Nationalities People Regional State (SNNPRS), and Alaba Liyu Woreda.
Apostolic Vicariate of Hosanna
HISTORICAL NOTE
In the Apostolic Vicariate of Hosanna evangelization was started in 1928 by Pascal of Luchon and other French and Canadian Capuchins. Abba Pascal began his first church community at Wassera, one of the mother parishes with large community. From there the father went to different out stations and evangelized most of the areas that are currently under this vicariate. Later gradually moved to Dubbo part of Wolayta, which is the present Soddo Apostolic Vicariate. According to the history the Apostolic Prefecture of Hosanna was established by the apostolic constitution “Quae Utilia” on February 13, 1940, with territory taken from the Apostolic Vicariate of Neghelli. In 1975 it took the name of Soddo-Hosanna and on October 15, 1982 was elevated to the status of Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo Hosanna.
In the Ethiopian Catholic – Church administration structure, Hosanna area was under the Vicariate of Soddo-Hosanna. Because of great need for pastoral and social and development interventions a new Vicariate “Apostolic Vicariate of Hosanna” was established on 20th January, 2010 in the nomination of Bishop Woldeghiorghis Matheos by the Holy Father Benedict XVI as Apostolic Vicar of Hosanna.
EXTENT
The Apostolic Vicariate of Hosanna comprises the whole population of Hadiya, Kambata-Tambaro zones and parts of Alaba special Woreda and Silte zone.
Apostolic Prefecture of Robe
HISTORICAL NOTE
In February 11th, 2012 from the territory of the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki, the Apostolic Prefecture of Robe has been established by Pope Benedict XVI. At the same time Br. Angelo Antolini, O.F.M.Cap. has been appointed as first Apostolic Prefect and the territory of the Prefecture put under the care of the Franciscan Capuchin Order. The patroness of the Prefecture is Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Virgin and Foundress.
EXTENT
The Apostolic Prefecture of Robe comprises a territory of 102,769 km2 with a population of 3.457.197 and a density of 33.6 people per km. Politically it extends in three Zones – Two in the Regional State of Oromia and one in the regional state of Somali. In the Oromia – 6 (six) Provinces of the West Arsi Zone and the all the 20 (twenty) Provinces of Bale Zone. In the Somali – the all 9 (nine) Provinces of the Afder Zone. West Arsi Zone (six Provinces)