Holy See–Ivory Coast relations

Holy See–Ivory Coast relations refers to the current relationship between the Holy See and the Republic of Ivory Coast, which was established in 1970. A significant amount of Roman Catholics live in Ivory Coast, being nearly one-fifth of the population, and the two states are considered to have a cordial relationship.

Holy See–Ivory Coast relations
Map indicating locations of Holy See and Ivory Coast

Holy See
Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast maintains an embassy in Rome near Vatican City, while the Holy See has an apostolic nunciature in Abidjan. The current ambassador of Ivory Coast to the Vatican is Séverin Mathias Akeo.[1] Archbishop Joseph Spiteri's tenure as apostolic nuncio to the Ivory Coast ended on 7 March 2018.[2] Pope Francis named Ante Jozić to replace him on 2 February 2019,[3] but Jozić was seriously injured in a car accident in Croatia on 7 April and his consecration as bishop has been delayed.[4][5]

History

The two states first established diplomatic relations in October 1970.[6]

High level visits

President Alassane Ouattara visited the Vatican in November 2012 and spoke with Pope Benedict XVI. The two of them discussed relations between their two countries, as well as the role of the Catholic Church in Ivory Coast and the progress that country has been making in recent years since the 2010–11 Ivorian crisis. They also discussed the possibility of signing a bilateral framework agreement, similar to the ones that the Holy See signed with other African countries, which would specify the legal status of the Church in Ivory Coast.[7]

See also

References
  1. Embassy of Cote d'Ivoire in Vatican, Holy See (Vatican City). Embassy Pages. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  2. "Rinunce e nomine, 07.03.2018" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  3. "Rinunce e nomine, 02.02.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  4. "Former Hong Kong Holy See official badly hurt in car crash". UCA News. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  5. "Mons. Ante Jozić se oporavlja: Posjetio ga papin tajnik Parolin" [Mons. Ante Jozic Recovers: visited by Papal Secretary Parolin] (in Croatian). 24 sara. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  6. BILATERAL RELATIONS OF THE HOLY SEE Archived 2014-07-09 at the Wayback Machine. Vatican official website. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  7. Pope receives president of Ivory Coast. Vatican News Network. Published 16 November 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
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