Pope Francis has confirmed the elections of prelates from Bishops' Conferences around the world to participate in October's global meeting of Catholic Bishops, confirming selections of 48 prelates from six continents.
From AMECEA Region H.E. John Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi and President of Episcopal Conference; Rt. Rev James Maria Wainaina Kungu, Bishop of Muranga, Kenya and Rt. Rev. Tsegaye Keneni Derera, Apostolic Vicar of Sodo Ethiopia have been ratified among 48 prelates as voting members of the synod.
Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Barbara, O.F.M. Cap., of Malindi Diocese, Kenya and Rt. Rev. Markos Gebremedhin, C.M., Apostolic Vicar of Jimma-Bonga Ethiopia have been confirmed as substitutes.
The papal confirmations were announced on Saturday, 31st January through the Vatican Information Service. The 2015 synod whose theme is "The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World." will take place between 4th and 25th October at the Vatican City. It follows the 2014 synod, held on the theme: "Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization."
The names confirmed Saturday as ratified by the pope for participation in next October's synod do not comprise a final list of prelates who will participate in the synod, as the pope has yet to confirm elections of members from many other countries. The Pope is also expected to name a number of prelate-members at his own initiative.
Other African Bishops who have been ratified as Members and substitutes include: Bishop Gervais Bashimiyubusa, of Ngozi, president of the Episcopal Conference of Burundi(Member) and Bishop Joachim Ntahondereye of Muyinga (Substitute); Archbishop Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, of Accra Ghana (Member) and Bishop Anthony Kwami Adanuty of Keta-katsi Ghana (Substitute); Bishop Desire Tsarahazana of Toamasina Madagascar, president of the Episcopal Conference (Member) and Bishop Jean de Dieu Raoelison, auxiliary of Antananarivo Madagascar (Substitute); Bishop Antoine Kambanda of Kibungo Rwanda (Member) and Bishop Smaragde Mbonyintege of Kabgayi Rwanda, president of the Episcopal Conference (Substitute).
Source: Vatican Information Services (VIS)