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In 12 Years, Pope Francis Has “guided the Church's boat with wisdom, dedication”: Ivory Coast’s Catholic Bishops

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

As Pope Francis marks 12 years since his election as the 265th successor of St. Peter, Catholic Bishops in Ivory Coast have expressed gratitude to God for his leadership.

In a statement issued Thursday, March 13, members of the Episcopal Conference of Ivory Coast (CECCI) highlight “wisdom and dedication” as virtues that have marked Pope Francis’ pontificate since his election as Pope on 13 March 2013.

“The whole Church, united with Pope Francis, gives thanks to God today on the twelfth anniversary of his pontificate,” CECCI members say.

They acknowledge his virtues, saying, “For twelve years, the Successor of Peter has guided the Church's boat with wisdom and dedication.” 

The Catholic Church leaders express their spiritual solidarity with Pope Francis, who has been at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since February 14, where he is being treated for double pneumonia.

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“We wish him the best of health and prosperity as he carries out his Petrine ministry,” CECCI members say.

Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio was aged 76 when he was elected Pope. He took the name Pope Francis in honour of St. Francis of Assisi. He is the first Latin American Pope and the first from the Society of Jesus (SJ/Jesuits).

In another goodwill message, the leadership of the Catholic Diocese of Kokstad in South Africa “joins the world in remembering and celebrating the 12th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis.”

“While praying for his speedy recovery, we recall with gratitude the start of his Pontificate,” Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa says in the March 13 statement, and adds, “We pray that the Lord strengthens his faith, gives him more wisdom, establishes his steps, and holds him firmly on the right path.”

“Our Diocese wants to thank him for his spiritual concern over people's lives, especially the poor, children, elderly, youth, and women, to name a few,” Bishop Mbuyisa says. 

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The South African member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill (CMM) implores, “May the Lord shower him with more graces and blessings. Happy 12th Pontificate Anniversary, Pope Francis!”

Friday, March 14 marks one month since Pope Francis’ hospitalization. Since his admission at Gemelli Hospital, he has experienced multiple episodes of acute respiratory failure during which his health condition was described as critical. 

In a March 12 Vatican report, a new chest X-ray confirmed that there has been a slight improvement to Pope Francis’ lungs even though his overall health condition has remained “complex” and “stationary”.

Earlier, the March 11 Vatican report indicated that the Holy Father is “no longer in immediate danger from the respiratory infection.”

The March 14 evening Vatican report indicates that “there have been no new developments in the Pope’s clinical picture over the past few days.”

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“This is positive,” the Vatican update further reads, and adds, “The Pope’s recovery is slow, and it will take time for improvements to be consolidated.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.