Pope Leo XIV Appoints Two Catholic Bishops for Dioceses in Ivory Coast

Mons. Tiémélé expressed profound gratitude to God for calling him to priestly service and now to the Episcopacy.

“If there is one thing a human being should never tire of expressing, it is gratitude. Gratitude to God, the Alpha and the Omega, the author of life. This God who writes straight with crooked lines. This God whose ways and thoughts are not those of men. This God who transforms the story of every person,” he said.

He also thanked the Holy Father for the trust placed in him, saying, “After this appointment by Pope Leo XIV as Bishop of Abengourou, I wish with joy to express my deep gratitude to the Holy Father for his confidence in my humble person.”

The Bishop-elect said three divine attributes—greatness, beauty, and goodness—will guide his Episcopate and shape the life of the People of God entrusted to him.

“In all humility and with the strength of the Holy Spirit, I will try to show the People of God the greatness, the beauty, and the goodness of God,” Mons. Tiémélé said.

Acknowledging the magnitude of his new responsibility, the former Executive Secretary of Caritas Ivory Coast invited the people of God in Abengourou to accompany him with prayers.

“Valiant People of God of Abengourou, I count on your prayers to carry out this mission of the Church, while assuring you also of my fraternal prayers. May God keep us in His love,” he appealed.

Once he is Consecrated Bishop, the Ivorian Bishop-elect will serve as the sixth Local Ordinary of Abengourou Diocese that has a population of 749,548 Catholics, according to 2023 statistics.

His Episcopal Ordination is scheduled for 3 January 2026.

Pope Leo XIV also transferred the Local Ordinary of Ivory Coast’s Catholic Diocese of Agboville, Bishop Touabli to San Pedro-en-Côte d’Ivoire Diocese.

San Pedro-en-Côte d’Ivoire Diocese has been vacant since April 8 following the transfer of Archbishop Jean-Jacques Koffi Oi Koffi to the Catholic Archdiocese of Gagnoa.

Born in January 1961 in Bereblo Tabou, Bishop Touabli was ordained a Priest in August 1987 for the Diocese of San Pedro-en-Côte d’Ivoire.

The President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) was appointed pioneer Bishop of Agboville Diocese in October 2006.

Speaking to ACI Africa shortly after his appointment, Bishop Touabli expressed gratitude, saying, “For the chapter that is closing, that of Agboville, I say, thank You, Lord, for all the good You have done for Your people through my humble ministry. For the chapter that is beginning in San Pedro, I also say, thank You, Lord. And I entrust myself entirely into Your hands.”

Bishop Touabli who is to serve as Apostolic Administrator of Agboville also expressed gratitude to the Holy Father and the people of God in Agboville.

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“To you, my diocesan family of Agboville, you who have in a way become bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, I also say thank you. Thank you for this ecclesial journey that lasted 19 years. Our hearts have resonated and will continue to resonate together to the rhythm of evangelical love that nothing can extinguish, not even physical or geographical separation,” he said.

Addressing his new flock in San Pedro, he expressed joy and anticipation.

“As for you, my new diocesan family of San Pedro, I am happy to see you again after 19 years. So wait for me. I’m coming,” he said.

Upon his installation, Bishop Touabli is to become the fourth Bishop of San Pedro that has a population of 249,000 Catholics, according to 2023 statistics.