Vatican identifies key qualities for bishops in mission countries

Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, secretary of the section of first evangelisation and new particular churches of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelisation, was asked by The Pillar about the qualities sought in bishops in the Global South and Africa.

The Dicastery oversees the process for episcopal appointments in most of the Southern Hemisphere, with the main exceptions being Australia and most of Latin America.

The archbishop said that bishops should be close to their flocks.

“Now, we’re also looking for bishops with the best formation possible. Pope Francis called to renovate the Pontifical Urbaniana University, and he had this in mind because a significant number of bishops study in Rome at some point before becoming bishops. So we need to reinforce the formation we’re providing here,” Archbishop Nwachukwu said.

“We’re also looking for bishops who are uncomplicated men that can relate well with their clergy and their faithful. And also bishops with personal integrity, that can live the basic principles of priesthood well.”

But Archbishop Nwachukwu noted that there are “serious challenges in Africa and Asia coming from tribalism and caste systems. So it’s very important to have bishops that are open, that are truly Catholic in their mentality and in their faith. We can’t have tribalistic bishops. That’s an important element”.

The archbishop noted that “many young priests, sisters and Christians coming from these young churches to study or to help out in the West”.

These should be seen as the fruit of the past sacrifices made by missionaries.

“And that is why when I find people, whether they are laypeople, clergy members or religious that turn against these young priests, sisters or faithful coming from the young churches, with xenophobia, discrimination, prejudice or any sort of mistreatment, I tell these people that they’re also disrespecting the memory and the sacrifice of their own missionaries.”

In a speech last month, Archbishop Nwachukwu proposed creating “missionary welcoming centres” for foreign priests arriving in western countries, in which “incoming clergy from Africa and other younger Churches could learn the language, culture, sensitivities and pastoral expectations of their host dioceses”.

FULL STORY

‘The Church of the sheaves’ — preparing priests for the re-evangelization of the West (By Edgar Beltrán/The Pillar)

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