Seventeen New Deacons in Ivorian Archdiocese Urged to Fight Discrimination
Seventeen new deacons were ordained in the Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Cardinal Ignace Bessi Dogbo urged the new clergy to actively combat discrimination and favoritism within the church and society.
Why it matters
This highlights the role of religious institutions in addressing social cohesion and systemic inequality in West Africa.
Abidjan, 29 September, 2026 / 11:45 pm (ACI Africa).
Seventeen newly ordained Deacons in the Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan in Ivory Coast have been urged to make the fight against discrimination, exclusion and favoritism central to their ministry.
In his homily during the closing Mass of the 2026–2027 Diocesan Pastoral Year Opening of the Archdiocese Ignace Cardinal Bessi Dogbo noted that the vocation of the Deacons-elect is to promote communion, justice and equity in the Church and society.
The Eucharistic celebration that was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral concluded three days of pastoral assessment, reflection and planning and culminated in the ordination of the 17 men to the Diaconate.
Reflecting on the institution of the first Deacons, Cardinal Dogbo said the ministry emerged in the early Church in response to discrimination affecting members of the Christian community.
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