African Cardinal Hospitalized for COVID-19 Calls for “solidarity” in Tackling Pandemic

The Cardinal’s Palm Sunday message titled “Message from a Cardinal sick with Coronavirus,” indicated that he was responding well to treatment and that he was feeling “privileged and well cared for.”

He is offering this time of trial and above all his daily prayer “for anyone who is ill with COVID-19 or affected by other illnesses, for an end to all killings of innocent people by the forces of evil and for reconciliation, justice and peace in Burkina Faso.”

Following news of the hospitalization of Cardinal Ouédraogo, several Catholic Church leaders known to the Burkinabe Prelate as well as people of goodwill expressed solidarity with the Burkinabe Cardinal.

In his April 5 statement availed to ACI Africa, the Prelate expressed gratitude to all saying, “I would like to thank my closest collaborators in the Archdiocese, my Presbyterium, the Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Burkina/Niger, the Nunciature, the Religious, all my Christians and people of goodwill for their very effective and affective concern for me.”

“I also express my deep gratitude to the state and private medical profession which, with self-denial and professionalism, has taken care of me,” Cardinal Ouédraogo said in his message written from his hospital bed where he is still undergoing treatment for COVID-19.

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Just like the crowd came out to acclaim Christ during his Triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Archbishop of Ouagadougou explained that “An immense crowd, near and far, of faithful, relatives, friends and acquaintances (Catholics, Muslims, Protestants and followers of the traditional religion, customary, political and administrative authorities) have manifested themselves towards me: who by telephone, who by messages, some by proposing remedies for my illness, others by organizing novenas of prayers for me.”

In the face of all these expressions of solidarity and compassion, the Prelate said, “I can only but exclaim: who am I to deserve such great and kind attention, physical, material and spiritual? Thank you to everyone and may the Lord to keep us always united to one another in such appointments of life!”

Burkina Faso has recorded 364 cases of the virus, with 18 deaths and 108 recoveries.

There are now more than over 10,000 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus across Africa with 52 countries affected.

The virus has claimed 487 lives with 993 recoveries, forcing governments in Africa to a range of prevention and containment measures against the spread of the pandemic.

According to Cardinal Ouédraogo, COVID-19 has “multifaceted health, socio-economic, cultural and spiritual consequences for all.”

Faced with these challenges, the Local Ordinary of Ouagadougou has called upon the people of God to “repeat the act of trust of the Apostle Peter in his regard: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life! "(Jn 6:68).”

“The time of Lent marked by such a pandemic situation becomes for all a time of humility, total trust and abandonment to our Master who never abandons mankind,” he said and added, “With Him we will achieve victory! Since He died and rose again and is still alive, Hallelujah! Let us remain constantly in humble and fervent prayer!”

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.