Ayo FASORO Non Sum Dignus

On Monday, Her Grace Sarah Elizabetth Mullally Archbishop of Canterbury paid a visit to Rome and to the Holy Father. It is her first trip since she was elected and later installed to the archbishopric of the Church of England.

 

Archbishop Mullally’s journey to the headship of the Church of England started a while ago. She was ordained a priest in 2002, consecrated a Bishop in 2015 and installed as Archbishop of Canterbury on 25 March 2026, a day to her 64th birthday.

Prior to entering full time ministry, she was in public service in a career that saw her becoming Chief Nursing Officer for England in 1999.

In welcoming Her Grace, Pope Leo acknowledged the division between the Church of England and the Holy Catholic Church, recalling previous efforts at removing the roadblocks on the way to unity. Recalling the sentiments of his predecessor, Pope Francis, that “it would be a scandal if, due to our divisions, we did not fulfil our common vocation to make Christ known.”  He then declared that “For my part, I add that it would also be a scandal if we did not continue to work towards overcoming our differences, no matter how intractable they may appear.”

 

The same day of the visit of Archbishop Mullally, Rome announced the elevation of the diocese of Berberati to the status of a metropolitan see. Berberati and its three suffragan dioceses of Bossangoa, Bouar, and Mbaiki were all suffragans of Archdiocese of Bangui. With the elevation of Berberati, its bishop, Most Rev Dennis Kofi Agbenyadzi, SMA, was also appointed its Metropolitan Archbishop. Archbishop Agbenyadzi is a Ghanaian citizen.

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bangui remains in the news for another reason; a Coadjutor Archbishop was appointed for that See. His name, Rev. Fr. Joseph Samedi, S.J.

 

The appointment of a religious priest serving in the diocese for many years, dispels certain misconceptions. One, that only a Bishop can be appointed as Archbishop. Two, that a Bishop must be appointed from outside the diocese whose vacancy is being filled. Three, that with the exit of missionary priests from many parts of Africa, it is likely that Bishops are appointed from among diocesan priests and not from the ranks of missionary priests. Fourth, the process of appointment of Bishops often involves some level of influence peddling.

All these have little or nothing to do with a system that bends only to the will of Christ the Good Sheperd through the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit. So, those who speculate, with those who rank frontrunners may wake up to find a deep chasm between their dreams and the eventual outcomes. Let the Holy Spirit do its work.

 The appointment of a Coadjutor Bishop is a sign that the current Bishop is soon to be separated from his seat. In Bangui, the current Archbishop is His Eminence, Dieudonne Cardinal Nzapalainga C.S. Sp. He is seen as a beacon of light, and a pointer to the future of the Church in Africa. Created Cardinal at the age of forty nine years, he was at the time the youngest cardinal in the world. He was also the first cardinal from Central African Republic.

At the age of fifty-nine years, His Eminence is too young to retire. So, why does he need to? Or why does he get a Coadjutor? Will it soon come to our notice that the Cardinal has resigned or better still, that the Holy Father has accepted his resignation? Or that he has been appointed to a higher position in the Roman Curia. Afterall the reward for excellent work is more work. But as of the time of turning in this article, nothing has been revealed about the next stage for the young Cardinal.

May this development, strengthen the Cardinal’s passion for Christ. May it lead to the advancement of the Church of CAR.

May His Kingdom which has no end, reign all over the world.