“A great joy for the Church”: Catholic Bishop on “Baba Simon”, Cameroon’s First Venerable

Douala, 26 May, 2023 / 9:50 PM

The recognition of the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Simon Mpeke, popularly known as Baba Simon, who becomes Cameroon’s first Venerable, is a “great joy for the Church” in the Central African nation, the Local Ordinary of Edéa, Baba Simon’s Diocese of origin, has said.

On May 20, Pope Francis authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the Decree recognizing the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Simon Mpeke alongside eight others.

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Addressing journalists Tuesday, May 23, Bishop Jean-Bosco Ntep said the Catholic Church in Cameroon has been expecting this decree given that “the Council of Cardinals had already given a favorable opinion.”

“It was not a surprise for me but a cause for joy to see that the Holy Father has approved the Cardinals’ report on Baba Simon,” Bishop Ntep said.

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He added, “Since the decree was promulgated, it is a great joy for the Catholic Church in Edéa and in Cameroon. I could say the same with all believers regardless of faith denominations.”

The Cameroonian Bishop said the same joy is being experienced in the Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo that introduced the cause for Baba Simon’s beatification in 1995.  

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He said the recognition of Baba Simon’s heroic virtues “is not a medal awarded to us by the Holy Father … but it is nevertheless an encouragement that one of us could have this distinction, this divine grace.”

Born in 1906 in Batombé in Cameroon’s Catholic Diocese of Edéa, Baba Simon was ordained a Priest in December 1935.

He gained recognition in the Central African nation and beyond for his missionary work with the Kirdis, a marginalized and often persecuted community in the far North of the country.

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Upon reading an article about the existence of this vulnerable population, Fr. Mpeke felt an inner calling to evangelize and support them. From 1959 until his passing on in August 1975, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to this noble cause. 

His mission was centered around St. Joseph Tokombere Parish of Cameroon’s Maroua-Mokolo Diocese.

In the May 23 press conference, Bishop Ntep said the decree of the Holy Father “will further seal the links that exist between the Diocese of Edéa and the Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo and for the people of Edéa Diocese.”

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The Catholic Bishop of Edéa Diocese since December 2004 recognized in Baba Simon two virtues: respect and perseverance.

“Baba Simon did not sweep away Northern Cameroon traditional beliefs but he respected them and tried to understand them and work with them,” he said.

Bishop Ntep added, “Baba Simon took time to know the Kirdi peoples, to respect them, to love them. He did not abolish traditional religions but he enlightened them with the Gospel.”

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“If the people gave him the nickname ‘Baba’ meaning Father, it means he was for them a Father. There were many people older than him who called (him) Baba because faith enlightened their traditional beliefs and many without denying their cultures joined Christianity,” the Cameroonian Bishop said about the country’s first Venerable.

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He continued, “It is an example he has shown us. We too must approach traditional religions in order to enlighten them with the Gospel.”

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Bishop Ntep implored, “May Baba Simon continue to intercede for us not necessarily so that the miracles should happen in Cameroon but in the Church at large because we are not the only ones praying. There are people who are praying for this cause and through the intercession of Baba Simon outside Cameroon.”