The Catholic Church in Burkina Faso is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. According to the CIA Factbook, in 2018, 17% of the population are members of the Catholic Church. [1]
The Catholic Church in Burkina Faso is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. According to the CIA Factbook, in 2018, 17% of the population are members of the Catholic Church. [1]
The first Catholics to enter what is today Burkina Faso arrived with the French colonialists in 1896. [2] In 1900 and 1901 Catholic missions were established at Koupéla and Ouagadougou, respectively and Joanny Thévenoud, a missionary helped to firmly establish Catholicism in the country over the following five decades. [2] Abbé Yougbaré was consecrated as the Bishop of Koupéla on 29 February 1956 and became the first African Catholic bishop. [2]
There have been several incidences of persecution against the Catholic Church in Burkina Faso over the past years. Recent cases include an attack on the minor seminary of Saint Kisito de Bougui, in February, which caused no fatalities, but much material damage. [3] In July 2022 the diocese of Fadi N'Gourma stated that only 5% of its parishes were now accessible for pastoral work, due to the increased threat of Islamist terrorists in the region. [4] An attack in a village in the Diocese of Nouma, also in July 2022, caused at least 22 fatalities, according to official numbers, though some witnesses spoke of up to 30 killed. [5] In an interview with Aid to the Church in Need, in August 2022, Catholic priest Honoré Quedraogo said that the attackers "force the Burkinabé to follow Sharia. Men are forced to wear trousers of adequate length, and forbidden from shaving their beards, and women have to be veiled. Western-style education is banned, and children are made to attend Koranic schools, called Madrassas. Churches must not ring their bells, and everyone is required to participate in prayers at the mosques". [6]
In November 2022 a Burkinabé priest, Pierre Rouamba, said that he has noticed that the attacks are increasingly being directed against Christians. In some cases, terrorists not only burn down the church building, but also destroy the crosses as a demonstration of their intention to wipe out the Christian faith. [7] At least 15 Catholics were killed in an attack on 25 February in Essakane, in the diocese of Dori. According to bishop Justin Kientega of Ouahigouya: “There were 47 people in the Chapel for Sunday morning celebration of the Word, led by their catechist. There were 17 men and the rest were women and children. The terrorists came and killed 12 – 9 people were killed at the chapel and 3 others died from their injuries – all males, but there were also two children among the dead, a four-year-old and a 14-year-old.” [8] In April of the same year Edouard Yougbare, a catechist from the parish of Saatenga in Fada Gourma, was abducted by terrorists and murdered. [9]
The regions of Burkina Faso are divided into 45 administrative provinces. These 45 provinces are currently sub-divided into 351 departments or communes.
Koupéla is a city in Burkina Faso, lying east of Ouagadougou and west of Fada-Ngourma in an area settled by the Mossi people. It is known for its pottery and sculptures; these were made from natural clays found in the area. In 1900 Koupéla became the site of the first Catholic mission in Burkina Faso. Today it is the seat of an archdiocese, and contains a cathedral.
Fada N'gourma, also written Fada-Ngourma or Noungu, is a city and an important market town in eastern Burkina Faso, lying 219 kilometres (136 mi) east of Ouagadougou, in the Gourmantché area. It is the capital of the Est Region and Gourma Province, and is also the seat of the king of the Gurma and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fada N'Gourma.
Articles related to Burkina Faso include:
The Archdiocese of Koupéla is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Koupéla in Burkina Faso.
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ouagadougou is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dori is a diocese located in the city of Dori in the ecclesiastical province of Koupéla in Burkina Faso.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fada N'Gourma is a diocese located in the city of Fada N’Gourma in the ecclesiastical province of Koupéla in Burkina Faso.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kaya is a diocese located in the city of Kaya in the ecclesiastical province of Koupéla in Burkina Faso.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Manga is a diocese located in the city of Manga in the ecclesiastical province of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Manga has an area of 25,600 square kilometres (9,870 sq mi), a total population of 574,622, a Catholic population of 107,104, 16 priests, and 21 religious.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ouahigouya is a diocese located in Ouahigouya in the ecclesiastical province of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.
Christianity is a minority religion in Burkina Faso.
The Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso and of Niger is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in Burkina Faso and Niger. Its purposes are to coordinate and make dynamic pastoral activities of the Catholic Church in the nations of Burkina Faso and Niger for the good of the faithful, and encourage the sharing of resources and people for a common assumption evangelizing mission of the church in the two countries.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tenkodogo is a diocese located in the city of Tenkodogo in the ecclesiastical province of Koupéla in Burkina Faso.
An ongoing war and civil conflict between the Government of Burkina Faso and Islamist rebels began in August 2015 and has led to the displacement of over 2 million people and the deaths of at least 10,000 civilians and combatants.
On December 25, 2022, a bus traveling from Fada N'gourma to the trading town of Kantchari hit a landmine near the village of Bougui, Burkina Faso. Ten people were killed and fifteen were injured.
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