Africa Catholic Bishops meeting in Kampala have on Saturday night elected His Eminence Philippe Nakellentuba Cardinal Ouédraogo, Archbishop of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino as President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of African and Madagascar (SECAM).
Born on 25 January 1945, Cardinal Ouédraogo was ordained Priest of Kaya, Burkina Faso on 14 July 1973.
On July, 5 1996, he was appointed Bishop of Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso and ordained Bishop of Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso 23 November 1996.
He was further appointed Archbishop of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on 13 May 2009 and elevated to Cardinal on 22 February 2014.
On 22 February 2014, he was appointed Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino and installed Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino on 27 April 2014.
He replaces Most Rev. Gabriel Mbilingi, Archbishop of Lubango, Angola, who had served a two-term mandate of six years.
The 1st Vice President is Rt. Rev. Sithembele Sipuka, Bishop of Mthatha, South Africa and the 2nd Vice President is Rt. Rev. Lucio Andrice Muandula, Bishop of Xai Xai, Mozambique.
Rev. Fr. Terwase Henry Akaabiam, from Nigeria, has also been appointed the Secretary General of SECAM to replace Rev. Fr. Joseph Komakoma who finished his term of office.
