PRESS RELEASE
25th July 2014
For Immediate Release
Archbishop of Addis Ababa Elected New Chairman of AMECEA
The Catholic Bishops of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) have elected Most Rev Berhaneyesus D. Souraphiel, Archbishop of Addis Ababa, as chairman on 24th July 2014 during business session of the 18th AMECEA Plenary Assembly.
Archbishop Berhaneyesus, as he is known by most AMECEA members, takes over from Most Rev. Tarcisio G. Ziyaye of Lilongwe Archdiocese whose mandate as Chairman of AMECEA has expired. Archbishop Ziyaye has served AMECEA as Chairman for six years.
Most Rev Berhaneyesus is the 10th Chairman of AMECEA and the first Bishop from Ethiopia to hold that position. Other countries which held that position in the history of AMECEA are Zambia and Uganda (three times each) while Tanzania, Kenya and Malawi have held it once.
Archbishop Berhaneyesus was ordained as a Vincentian priest on July 4, 1976. He was consecrated as a Bishop in 1998 by Cardinal Paulos Tzadua. On 7 July 1999 he succeeded His Eminence Paulos Cardinal Tzadua as Catholic Archbishop of Addis Ababa.
The Chairman of AMECEA is elected every three years during the business session of the Plenary meeting. The position is held for a maximum of two terms.
Fr Chrisantus Ndaga
Communications Coordinator, AMECEA