By Abba Teshome Fikre
Centenary anniversary of the Pontifical Ethiopian College opened on Friday January 10 with a symposium which has taken place at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome.
During the opening ceremony the head of Ethiopian Catholic Church His Eminence Souraphiel Cardinal Berhaneyesus who is Archbishop of Addis Ababa, the head of Eritrean Catholic Church Most Rev. Mengisteab Tesfamariam who is also the Archbishop of Asmara were present among other bishops from the two countries. High level officials for the Congregation for Oriental Churches and of the Pontifical Oriental Institute opened the symposium with welcome remarks.
Abba Hailemichael, rector of the college, gave his welcome speech which was followed by scholarly papers presented by two renown scholars Abba Tewodros Abraha and Fr. Rafal Sarzeczny S.J on the background of the Ethiopian College for the formation of young Ethiopians and Eritreans and for the scholarly research on Ethiopian Christianity. The scholars also presented the historical background of the 500 years of the presence of the Ethiopians in the Vatican.
During the symposium, priests and lay students in Rome from Ethiopia and Eritrea and other invited guests were present. The celebration continued until Saturday January 11 with an audience with the Holy Father Pope Francis.
On Sunday January 12, a celebration of the Holy Mass in Ethiopian rite took place at the Church of Santo Stefano degli Abissini, presided by his Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus and concelebrated by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, the Archbishop of the Arch-eparchy of Asmara and President of the Eritrean Catholic Church Most Rev. Mengisteab Tesfamariam. Archbishop Cyril Vasil S.J. the Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Religions was also among the other bishops who concelebrated.
The celebration was coloured by the Ethiopian and Eritrean Catholic communities together with the Ethiopian and Eritrean clergy, Religious men and women students in Rome.
Her Excellency Ambassador Zenebu Tadese, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Italy, participated in the celebration.