Bangui, 30 May, 2025 / 8:55 pm (ACI Africa).
Dieudonné Cardinal Nzapalainga of the Catholic Archdiocese of Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR) has appealed for solidarity and support in rebuilding the Shrine of Our Lady of Ngoukomba after a violent storm that teared off roofs, uprooted trees, and destroyed other structures.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, May 29 after he had visited the National Pilgrimage site, Cardinal Nzapalainga reflected on the extent of damage caused and what it will take to reconstruct the Shrine.
“This morning, I came to the Ngoukomba site—a place of prayer, a place where we come to listen to the Word of God. A place of fellowship where we come to gather around the Virgin Mary, to see for myself and witness the situation,” the Cardinal said.
He added, “Many times, we are told and warned about climate change, but many do not take it seriously. We have just experienced a unique event where the violent wind on Sunday, May 25 tore off the roof of the house for Priests, uprooted and scattered the trees that had been planted to provide shade.”
Cardinal Nzapalainga further said, “Part of the chapel roof was carried away by the wind. The dais used for the Eucharist during pilgrimages also partially collapsed. Even the roofs of the site’s toilets were destroyed.”
