Barthélemy Adoukonou
Encyclopedia
Barthélemy Adoukonou is Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 3 December 2009. He was previously Secretary-General both of the Conférence Épiscopale Régionale de l'Afrique de l'Ouest Francophone and of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa, and was a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
. As well as the languages of the two West African international conferences, he speaks Italian and German.
Adoukonou was born in Abomey
, Benin
in 1942. He was ordained priest on 16 December 1966. After teaching in the St Jranne d'Arc minor seminary of Ouidah (1967–1968), and being chaplain and teacher at the Aufiais College in Cotonou (1968–1970), and assistant parish priest of St Francis of Assisi at Bohicon, Abomey (1970–1971), he spent 1971 to 1977 continuing his studies in religious sociology in Paris
, and then of theology at the University of Ratisbonne, where he earned his doctorate. He was meant to present his dissertation to the current Pope in June 1977, but Ratzinger suddenly asked him to hurry up and finish it earlier so he could move the presentation forward to March 77. Between 1977 and 1984 he was rector
of the Minor Seminary of St. Paul at Djimi, Abomey
, Missionary Professor at the University of West Africa in Abidjan
and professor of methodology of research in human and social sciences at the University of the State of Abomey-Calavi
and at the Major Seminary of Saint Gall in Ouidah
, Benin
. From 1988 to 1999 he was Rector of the Benin Propaedeutic Seminary at Missérété, Porto Novo.
On strategies against AIDS, Catholic Documentation Information International published that in March 2009 the priest signed a document along with Cardinal Theodore Adrien Sarr, president of the Regional Conference of Bishops of French West Africa stating that “It is a crime against mankind to deprive children, teen-agers and young people from the training needed for his mind to master the body and its impulses which is called sexual education. In this sense, advertisements for and distribution of condoms could well be nothing else than irresponsibility and a crime against mankind. "
In the late 70s, Adoukonou was a student of the then professor Joseph Ratzinger
at the University of Regensburg
. He kept in touch with his former professor, turned Archbishop, then a month later, Cardinal, going on to become Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
, and finally Pope in 2005, under the name of Benedict XVI. At the end of 2009 when the nomination of the new Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture
was due to take place, its President Gianfranco Ravasi
, currently a cardinal, spoke to the Pope, suggesting the possible addition of a figure from Africa, to assist the Secretary as he felt that the Roman Curia
was at risk of becoming too italianised. Pope Benedict XVI seized the opportunity stating: “I have a candidate,” giving Adoukonou’s name to Ravasi. In December 2009, Adoukonou was appointed the secretary or second-ranking official of the Pontifical Council for Culture.
Adoukonou, is a member of the Ratzinger Schulerkreis (an informal group composed of Ratzinger’s former students) and accordingly, he participated in it 2011 annual meeting which discussed new evangelization.
On 10 September 2011, Adoukonou was appointed Titular Bishop
of Zama Minor. His episcopal ordination is to be at the hands of Cardinal Secretary of State
Tarcisio Bertone on 8 October 2011 along with Giuseppe Sciacca
.
Pontifical Council for Culture
The Pontifical Council for Culture is a department of the Roman Curia charged with fostering the relationship of the Catholic Church with different cultures. Pope John Paul II founded it on 20 May 1982...
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 3 December 2009. He was previously Secretary-General both of the Conférence Épiscopale Régionale de l'Afrique de l'Ouest Francophone and of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa, and was a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity origins are associated with the Second Vatican Council which met intermittently from 1962–1965.Pope John XXIII wanted the Catholic Church to engage in the contemporary ecumenical movement...
. As well as the languages of the two West African international conferences, he speaks Italian and German.
Adoukonou was born in Abomey
Abomey
When UNESCO designated the royal palaces of Abomey as a World Heritage Site in 1985 it statedFrom 1993, 50 of the 56 bas-reliefs that formerly decorated the walls of King Glèlè have been located and replaced on the rebuilt structure...
, Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
in 1942. He was ordained priest on 16 December 1966. After teaching in the St Jranne d'Arc minor seminary of Ouidah (1967–1968), and being chaplain and teacher at the Aufiais College in Cotonou (1968–1970), and assistant parish priest of St Francis of Assisi at Bohicon, Abomey (1970–1971), he spent 1971 to 1977 continuing his studies in religious sociology in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and then of theology at the University of Ratisbonne, where he earned his doctorate. He was meant to present his dissertation to the current Pope in June 1977, but Ratzinger suddenly asked him to hurry up and finish it earlier so he could move the presentation forward to March 77. Between 1977 and 1984 he was rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Minor Seminary of St. Paul at Djimi, Abomey
Abomey
When UNESCO designated the royal palaces of Abomey as a World Heritage Site in 1985 it statedFrom 1993, 50 of the 56 bas-reliefs that formerly decorated the walls of King Glèlè have been located and replaced on the rebuilt structure...
, Missionary Professor at the University of West Africa in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
and professor of methodology of research in human and social sciences at the University of the State of Abomey-Calavi
Abomey-Calavi
Abomey-Calavi is a city, arrondissement, and commune located in the Atlantique Department of Benin. It is a suburb of Cotonou and is located approximately 18 km from the city centre of Cotonou....
and at the Major Seminary of Saint Gall in Ouidah
Ouidah
Ouidah , also Whydah or Juda, is a city on the Atlantic coast of Benin.The commune covers an area of 364 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 76,555 people.-History:...
, Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
. From 1988 to 1999 he was Rector of the Benin Propaedeutic Seminary at Missérété, Porto Novo.
On strategies against AIDS, Catholic Documentation Information International published that in March 2009 the priest signed a document along with Cardinal Theodore Adrien Sarr, president of the Regional Conference of Bishops of French West Africa stating that “It is a crime against mankind to deprive children, teen-agers and young people from the training needed for his mind to master the body and its impulses which is called sexual education. In this sense, advertisements for and distribution of condoms could well be nothing else than irresponsibility and a crime against mankind. "
In the late 70s, Adoukonou was a student of the then professor Joseph Ratzinger
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
at the University of Regensburg
University of Regensburg
The University of Regensburg is a public research university located in the medieval city of Regensburg, Bavaria, a city that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university was founded on July 18, 1962 by the Landtag of Bavaria as the fourth full-fledged university in Bavaria...
. He kept in touch with his former professor, turned Archbishop, then a month later, Cardinal, going on to become Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
, and finally Pope in 2005, under the name of Benedict XVI. At the end of 2009 when the nomination of the new Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture
Pontifical Council for Culture
The Pontifical Council for Culture is a department of the Roman Curia charged with fostering the relationship of the Catholic Church with different cultures. Pope John Paul II founded it on 20 May 1982...
was due to take place, its President Gianfranco Ravasi
Gianfranco Ravasi
Gianfranco Ravasi is an Italian prelate, a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves in the Roman Curia as President of the Pontifical Council for Culture. On 20 November 2010 Ravasi was created cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI.-Early life:The eldest of three children, Gianfranco...
, currently a cardinal, spoke to the Pope, suggesting the possible addition of a figure from Africa, to assist the Secretary as he felt that the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
was at risk of becoming too italianised. Pope Benedict XVI seized the opportunity stating: “I have a candidate,” giving Adoukonou’s name to Ravasi. In December 2009, Adoukonou was appointed the secretary or second-ranking official of the Pontifical Council for Culture.
Adoukonou, is a member of the Ratzinger Schulerkreis (an informal group composed of Ratzinger’s former students) and accordingly, he participated in it 2011 annual meeting which discussed new evangelization.
On 10 September 2011, Adoukonou was appointed Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Zama Minor. His episcopal ordination is to be at the hands of Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
Tarcisio Bertone on 8 October 2011 along with Giuseppe Sciacca
Giuseppe Sciacca
Giuseppe Sciacca is the current Secretary-General of the Governatorate of Vatican City State since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 3 September 2011....
.