Ouagadougou: The minor basilica of Our Lady of Yagma hosted the episcopal consecration of Monsignor Relwend e Kisito Ou edraogo, who has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the titular Bishop of Hilta and Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Congo Brazzaville and Gabon. The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of the Holy See, who represented Pope Leo XIV.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the event was attended by several members of the Burkinabe government, along with religious, civil, and military authorities, as well as many faithful from Burkina Faso and other countries. In his address, Bishop Ou edraogo expressed gratitude for the mission entrusted to him, recounting a period of deep inner reflection before accepting the responsibility. He found solace in the biblical verse John 2:5, which guided him to embrace the call.
The new apostolic nuncio extended his gratitude to Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Parolin, and the officials of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, with whom he had collaborated for over twelve years. Bishop Ou edraogo also thanked the bishops of Burkina Faso, his mentors, clergy, and the faithful, as well as the delegations from various African and European countries present at the ceremony.
In his message, Bishop Ou edraogo underscored the significance of human intelligence as a vital resource for societal development. He emphasized the need to harness this resource to build communities and environments. The principal cardinal celebrant, in his homily, urged the new bishop to fulfill his mission with fidelity to the Gospel and a spirit of service, highlighting the role of an apostolic nuncio as a messenger of the Pope, a promoter of fraternity, and a peacemaker.
Bishop Ou edraogo, a native of Burkina Faso, pursued liturgical studies in Rome and joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See, working for more than a decade at the Vatican Secretariat of State. His new appointment as the Pope's diplomatic representative to the Republics of Congo Brazzaville and Gabon involves strengthening relations between the Catholic Church, the States, and their peoples.