Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel

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Stored: Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel

His Eminence Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel
Bishop of Ethiopian Catholic Archeparchy of Addis Abeba
Home diocese: Ethiopian Catholic Archeparchy of Addis Abeba
Other diocese 1: Apostolic Vicariate of Jimma-Bonga
Other diocese 2:
Other diocese 3:
Ordination: 4 July 1976 by Archbishop Asrate Mariam Yemmeru
Consecration: 25 January 1998 by Cardinal Paulos Tzadua
Rank: Cardinal
Created cardinal: 14 February 2015 by Pope Francis
Personal details
Born: Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel
14 July 1948
Tchela Claka, Ethiopia
Died:
Nationality: Ethiopian
Education: Makanissa Major Seminary, King’s College London, Pontifical Gregorian University
Motto: "Ego Sum Via Veritas et Vita" (I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life)
Role: Diocesan
Theology: Conservative
Region: Africa
Rite: Alexandrian Rite
Conclave Eligibility: Eligible


Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, CM, born (1948-07-14) July 14, 1948 (age 77), is an Ethiopian prelate of the Ethiopian Catholic Church, serving as Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Abeba since 1999 and head of the Alexandrian-rite church in Ethiopia and Eritrea.[1] Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis in 2015, Souraphiel has been a prominent advocate for education, founding the Ethiopian Catholic University of St. Thomas Aquinas in 2005, and for peacebuilding, serving as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia and Eritrea and chair of the Ethiopian Peace and Reconciliation Commission.[2] His leadership during Ethiopia’s conflicts, including the 2020–2022 Tigray War, has drawn praise for humanitarian efforts and criticism for perceived alignment with the government, though he emphasizes the Church’s neutrality and support for the suffering.[3] At 76, Souraphiel is one of 18 African cardinal-electors in the 2025 papal conclave, starting May 7, contributing his perspective on peace and ecumenism.[4]

A member of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians), Souraphiel was ordained a priest in 1976 and imprisoned for seven months in 1979–1980 by Ethiopia’s communist Derg regime, an experience that shaped his spiritual resilience.[5] He served as provincial superior of the Vincentians (1990–1994), prefect of Jimma-Bonga (1994–1997), and auxiliary bishop of Addis Abeba (1997–1999) before becoming archbishop.[1] His advocacy includes condemning human trafficking and promoting African family values, though his 2008 resolution against homosexuality and 2014 AMECEA statement against same-sex unions have sparked debate.[3] In 2024, he urged support for Ethiopia’s youth, 70% of the population, to curb migration amid war and poverty, emphasizing education and peace.[6]

Biography

Birth and early life

Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel was born on July 14, 1948, in Tchela Claka, near Harar, Ethiopia, into a Catholic family with generations of faith.[1] One of eight siblings, he grew up in a region marked by religious diversity, with exposure to Ethiopian Orthodox, Catholic, and Muslim communities.[7] His early education at public and Orthodox Tewahedo schools, followed by Capuchin and De La Salle Brothers’ schools, instilled a commitment to service.[5]

At age 15, Souraphiel entered the Vincentian minor seminary in Guder in 1963, drawn to the Congregation of the Mission’s focus on the poor.[8] His formative years during Ethiopia’s socio-political challenges shaped his later advocacy for education and reconciliation.[3]

Education

Souraphiel studied philosophy at Makanissa Major Seminary in Ethiopia from 1968 and theology at the Missionary Institute and King’s College London, earning a bachelor of divinity in 1976.[2] During his 1979–1980 imprisonment, he was exiled to Rome, where he studied sociology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, obtaining a master’s in socio-economic development.[9] His studies emphasized pastoral care and social justice.[5]

Fluent in Amharic, English, and Italian, with knowledge of Ge’ez for liturgical use, Souraphiel’s education blended Eastern-rite traditions with Western theology, preparing him for leadership in Ethiopia’s minority Catholic community of about 1%.[10]

Priesthood

Ordained a priest for the Congregation of the Mission on July 4, 1976, by Archbishop Asrate Mariam Yemmeru in Addis Abeba, Souraphiel ministered in southwestern Ethiopia until his 1979–1980 imprisonment by the Derg regime.[1] Released and exiled, he served at the Vincentian motherhouse in Rome (1980–1983), returning to Ethiopia in 1983 as a parish priest, Vincentian novitiate director, and philosophy teacher at St. Francis Institute.[5] He was provincial superior of the Vincentians in Addis Abeba from 1990 to 1994.[2]

His priesthood focused on education, charity, and ecumenism, fostering ties with Orthodox and Muslim communities amid Ethiopia’s post-communist recovery.[3] His 1979 imprisonment, described as a “spiritual rebirth,” deepened his reliance on prayer.[5]

Bishop

Appointed prefect of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jimma-Bonga in 1994 by Pope John Paul II, Souraphiel became auxiliary bishop of Addis Abeba and titular bishop of Bita on November 7, 1997, consecrated on January 25, 1998, by Cardinal Paulos Tzadua.[1] He succeeded Tzadua as Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Abeba on July 7, 1999, leading the Ethiopian Catholic Church.[11] Elevated to cardinal on February 14, 2015, he was assigned the titular church of San Romano Martire.[2]

As archbishop, Souraphiel founded the Ethiopian Catholic University, served as AMECEA chair (2014–2018), and advocated for peace during the Tigray War, though his neutrality drew criticism from Tigrayan Catholics.[3] He remains active in 2025, participating in the May 7 conclave.[4]

Diocese Role Start Date End Date Notes
Apostolic Vicariate of Jimma-Bonga Prefect 1994 7 November 1997 First prefect of the vicariate
Ethiopian Catholic Archeparchy of Addis Abeba Auxiliary Bishop 7 November 1997 7 July 1999 Titular Bishop of Bita
Ethiopian Catholic Archeparchy of Addis Abeba Metropolitan Archbishop 7 July 1999 Present Elevated to cardinal in 2015, head of Ethiopian Catholic Church

Significant events

  • Entered Congregation of the Mission, 1963.[8]
  • Ordained priest, 1976.[1]
  • Imprisoned by Derg regime, 1979–1980.[5]
  • Appointed provincial superior of Vincentians, 1990.[2]
  • Named prefect of Jimma-Bonga, 1994.[1]
  • Appointed auxiliary bishop of Addis Abeba, 1997.[11]
  • Named Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Abeba, 1999.[1]
  • Founded Ethiopian Catholic University of St. Thomas Aquinas, 2005.[1]
  • Joined resolution against homosexuality, 2008.[3]
  • Elected chair of AMECEA, 2014.[7]
  • Elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis, 2015.[1]
  • Advocated for commutation of Derg officials’ sentences, 2015.[12]
  • Urged support for Ethiopian youth amid conflict, 2024.[6]

Books

Written about the bishop

  • No specific biographies dedicated to Cardinal Souraphiel were identified.

Written by the bishop

  • No books authored by Cardinal Souraphiel were identified. He has issued pastoral letters and statements through the Ethiopian Catholic Archeparchy of Addis Abeba, but no published books are documented.

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 "Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel". Wikipedia. 2013-02-01. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berhaneyesus_Demerew_Souraphiel. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel". Vatican Press. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinals_biographies/cardinals_bio_souraphiel_bd.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel". The College of Cardinals Report. 2024-11-23. https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/cardinal-berhaneyesus-demerew-souraphiel/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Conclave: Who will elect the next Pope". Vatican News. 2025-04-29. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-04/conclave-who-will-elect-the-next-pope.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Ethiopia’s Cardinal Souraphiel brings African family values to the college of cardinals". Catholic News Agency. 2015-07-05. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/29435/ethiopias-cardinal-souraphiel-brings-african-family-values-to-the-college-of-cardinals. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Cardinal Souraphiel: the Church is close to the people suffering in Ethiopia". Vatican News. 2024-07-04. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-07/cardinal-souraphiel-church-close-to-people-suffering-ethiopia.html. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Meet the Cardinals: Berhaneyesus Souraphiel". Salt + Light Media. 2015-02-02. https://slmedia.org/blog/meet-the-cardinals-berhaneyesus-souraphiel. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, CM". La Croix. 2015-02-12. https://cardinaux.la-croix.com/berhaneyesus-demerew-souraphiel-cm/. 
  9. ↑ "Cardenal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel". Veritas en Libertad. 2024-07-05. https://verdadenlibertad.com/cardenal-berhaneyesus-demerew-souraphiel/. 
  10. ↑ "New cardinal profile: Archbishop Berhaneyesus Souraphiel". Catholic Culture. 2015-01-08. https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=23671. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Berhaneyesus Demerew Cardinal Souraphiel". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsour.html. 
  12. ↑ "Ethiopian cardinal meets with Communists who imprisoned him". Catholic Culture. https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=26904. 
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