Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Pledges Continued Support for Catholic Church’s Health and Education Initiatives

Addis Ababa, December 25, 2025— Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the Ethiopian Catholic Church’s contributions to health care, education, and social development following a high-level visit to a Catholic higher education institution.

The visit highlighted the bold intervention of the Church in both education and health, coming immediately after the annual general assembly of education and health institutions, which gathered delegations from across the country from 14–15 December 2025.

His Excellency Mr. Temesgen visited the St. Thomas Aquinas Institute of Higher Education (ECUSTA), operated by the Ethiopian Catholic Church, accompanied by Minister of Peace Mohamed Idris, Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba, and Deacon Daniel Kibret, advisor to the prime minister on social affairs.

The delegation was received by Cardinal Berhaneyesus, President of CBCE and Chancellor of ECUSTA, along with senior bishops, clergy, and Church representatives. ECUSTA President Brother Kasu McFantaye briefed the officials on the institution’s academic programs and community-based services.

During discussions, Church leaders and government officials addressed a range of issues, including the Church’s long-standing request for legal personality, challenges in expanding humanitarian services, and the need for additional government support to modernize health-care delivery.

Mr. Temesgen praised the Ethiopian Catholic Church for its role in social development, saying its work has improved the lives of many Ethiopians. He noted that ECUSTA’s medical training programs would enhance the country’s capacity in disease diagnosis and treatment.

“The government will provide the necessary support to enable the institution to begin delivering its full range of services as soon as possible,” Mr. Temesgen said.

The Ethiopian Catholic Church expressed gratitude to both the Federal Government and the Oromia Regional Government for their continued collaboration and support on future development projects.

Currently, ECUSTA is training 416 students in Doctoral Medicine, Social Work, and Medical Laboratory Technology. The Institute plans to open additional programs in Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Economics, Nursing, and Software Engineering, reflecting the Church’s commitment to holistic education and human development.

The university’s president expressed the Institute’s readiness to further develop its partnerships with the government, advancing them into a strategic alliance aimed at strengthening education, health services, and social development services of the Catholic Church in Ethiopia.