Advertisement

Vatican Cardinal to Visit Catholic Hospital, Meet Bishops in 4-day Pastoral Trip to Benin

Michael Cardinal Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD). Credit: Caritas Africa

The Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD) is scheduled to be in the West African nation of Benin for a four-day visit that is to start on Wednesday, January 17.

According to a DPIHD press release shared with ACI Africa, Michael Cardinal Czerny is to visit  Saint Jean Health Center in Benin’s Catholic Archdiocese of Cotonou, “which provides the people with many needed medical services.”

“Cardinal Czerny will also participate in two working meetings to address the challenges of the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Togo and of the bishops of Benin,” the press release indicated, referencing members of the Episcopal Conference of Benin (CEB), and those of the Episcopal Conference of Togo (CET).

The Czechian Cardinal is also set to “participate in a meeting with the Bishops’ Social Commissions and the religious Congregations who are doing the local social work.”

On January 19, the third day of this visit, the 77-year-old member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) is to “preside at a Mass in the church of St. Michael in Cotonou, with an anticipated attendance of over 5,000 people.”

Advertisement

On the final day of his visit to the West African nation, the Prefect of DPIHD is scheduled to “participate in a panel discussion on ecology”, the press release shared with ACI Africa indidates.

Last June, Cardinal Czerny visited Congo-Brazzaville as the representative of Pope Francis the celebration of the 140th Anniversary of the evangelization of the Central African nation.

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.