Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of 72-year-old Ivorian Archbishop, Appoints Caretaker

In February, Archbishop Roger Houngbedji of Cotonou Archdiocese in Benin was commissioned for Apostolic Visitation to the Ivorian Metropolitan See, the report further says.

On June 21, dozens of Priests and a large number of faithful demonstrated violently against their Archbishop in the courtyard of St. Anna Cathedral of Gagnoa Archdiocese, expressing their disapproval of Archbishop Yapo’s decisions. 

The Archbishop closed the Cathedral following the desecration. It was later reopened on July 30 after a reparation rite.

Catholic Bishops are expected to submit their respective letters of retirement at the age of 75. Compelling reasons such as “ill-health or other grave problems” justify the offering of such a letter of resignation.

Archbishop Yapo was ordained a Priest in July 1978. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Abidjan Archdiocese in May 2001 and ordained Bishop four months later.

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In July 2006, he was appointed Bishop of Yamoussoukro Diocese. 

When Archbishop Barthélémy Djabla died in September 2008, Archbishop Yapo was appointed Local Ordinary of Gagnoa. 

Meanwhile, Bishop Koffi, the newly appointed Apostolic Administrator of Gagnoa Archdiocese, was born in 1962. He was ordained a Priest for the Diocese of Abengourou in August 1990. 

The Ivorian Bishop who has been at the helm of San Pedro Diocese since January 2009 started his Episcopal Ministry in his native Diocese of Abengourou in December 2003.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.