Bouake, 06 May, 2020 / 2:19 am (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Jacques Assanvo Ahiwa, a lecturer at the University of Strasbourg in France, as the Auxiliary Bishop of Bouake Archdiocese located in central Ivory Coast.
The Tuesday, May 5 appointment will see Fr. Ahiwa return to his native country to assist 67-year-old Archbishop Paul-Siméon Ahouanan Djro, a members of Order of Friars Minor (OFM), meet the pastoral and administrative needs of the Metropolitan See of Bouake.
The 51-year-old Bishop-elect is a Clergy of the diocese of Grand-Bassam in Ivory Coast. He was ordained a priest in December 1997. He holds a licentiate in Biblical Theology from the University of Strasbourg, France. He started lecturing at the same University in 2018.
In his 23 years of priesthood, the Ivorian Bishop-elect has served in various capacities in Grand-Bassam diocese such as Parish Vicar, Secretary General and Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS).
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bouake was erected as a Prefecture Apostolic in May 1951, before being elevated to a diocese in September 1955.
