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Politicians are called on to be inspired by the taking of canonical possession in the Catholic Church

ByWebmaster

Apr 27, 2022

GITEGA April 26th (ABP) – The presidential couple enhanced on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Mushasha shrine, the ceremonies marking the canonical possession of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gitega by Bishop Bonaventure Nahimana.

The President of the Republic of Burundi welcomed that initiative. He invited politicians to draw inspiration from this example given by the Catholic Church.

In his farewell speech, Archbishop Simon Ntamwana, retired archbishop of Gitega, said he was delighted with those ceremonies marking the handover and recovery between him and his successor Archbishop Bonaventure Nahimana. According to him, it is an honor for him and all his collaborators, because he completes his mission of being Archbishop of Gitega in complete safety, from where according to him always, the Lord can even call him, as indicated by Isaiah in the Old Testament when he had just received Jesus into his own hands. He indeed pointed out that Bonaventure Nahimana becomes the 7th Archbishop of the Diocese of Gitega.

Procession during the canonical taking possession of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gitega

Speaking, the President of the Republic of Burundi Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye congratulated the retired Archbishop Ntamwana who left the chair of the Metropolitan Prelate of Gitega at his will. He said that the Catholic Church presents a good model of succession that politicians around the world, especially those in Burundi should emulate.

According to the President of the Republic, earthly power can no longer be considered a sacrament like baptism, which remains indelible. He called on politicians and representatives of associations to imitate this model of succession to power which is observed in the Catholic Church all over the world.

On that occasion, President Ndayishimiye offered outgoing Archbishop Ntamwana a heifer and a gift to the new Archbishop of Gitega, Monsignor Bonaventure Nahimana to congratulate them. He also called on the latter to take the lead in promoting the image of the political capital of Gitega being rehabilitated. President Ndayishimiye also invited the countries which colonized Burundi, including Germany and Belgium, to contribute a lot in the reconstruction of Burundi, because according to him, they have shown great responsibility in almost all the crises that Burundi has known.

The new archbishop of the diocese of Gitega Monsignor Bonaventure Nahimana has promised that he will continue to help the Christians of Gitega to repent and consolidate peace as he did in the diocese of Rutana which he assured his leadership. He challenged Christians to pray for him, in order to easily accomplish this mission. He further called on priests and religious to be good examples in the faith, but also to suggest Westerners to continue to support Burundi in development while respecting the cultural values ​​of Burundi.

To that end, the new Archbishop of Gitega has appointed the priest Nestor Niyokindi as his Vicar.

It should be noted that the reception of the new Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Gitega also saw the participation of the Conference of Catholic and Anglican Bishops of Burundi, the Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi, 4 bishops from Tanzania, the president of the conference of bishops in Rwanda, as well as diplomats accredited to Burundi.