NEWS
January 25, 2006
Posted to the web January 25, 2006 By Eldickson Agbortogo
The occasion also witnessed the official retirement of Archbishop Paul Verdzekov.
Thousands of Christians, traditional rulers and administrative heads yesterday thronged the Bamenda Metropolitan Cathedral to witness the induction of Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua. Archbishop Esua, was appointed on December 7, 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI. Before his appointment, Archbishop Esua was Bishop at the Kumbo Diocese where he has served for 23 years under a self-chosen motto “sermo tuus veritqs est” meaning “Your Word is Truth. He replaces 75-year-old Archbishop Paul Verdzekov who has spent 35 years as the shepherd of the archdiocese of Bamenda, which he is a founding father.
Drawing inspiration from the first and second lessons which states “Blessed be the Lord who has granted rest to this people” (from the book of kings 8: 55 – 61) and ” We are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed” (from the 1St letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, 1Cor 1: 3-9), the chief celebrant of the occasion, Archbishop Eliseo Antonio Ariotti, Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea hailed the appointment of Archbishop Cornelius Esua by the Pope and called on the Christians faithful to show their love by giving him the needed support in his new challenges. Some of the challenges he said were those of building a church that preaches unity and reconciliation. He said the gathering is not only to celebrate the appointment of Archbishop Cornelius Esua and his attributions, but to kick start a new era.
To the outgoing Archbishop Paul Verdzekov who goes on meritorious retirement, the Apostolic Nuncio said his mission is not ended. He said even though he will not be at the forefront, fellow worshipers and Christian ministers will need his services. He will remain a pontifical member of the Synod of Africa, will assist in the preparatory meeting in Rome on reconciliation, justice and peace. Archbishop Paul Verdzekov whose 75th anniversary was also celebrated yesterday, will be remembered for his landmark achievements beginning with the birth of the Kumbo Diocese in 1982. He has been a great and exemplary pastor endowed with extraordinary qualities-human and spiritual. Many have described him as one of the intellectual giants of the church in Africa because of the invaluable contributions he has made not only on the level of the church in Cameroon, which he led for six years as the President of the National Episcopal Conference, but also on the continental and university levels . Mr. Yang Philemon represented the Head of State at the grandiose ceremony that was also attended by over twenty archbishops and bishops.
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