Seventeen New Deacons in Ivorian Archdiocese Urged to Fight Discrimination

Seventeen men were ordained to the diaconate at St. Paul’s Cathedral during the closing Mass of the 2026–2027 diocesan pastoral year opening in the Archdiocese of Abidjan.

During the homily, Cardinal Ignace Bessi Dogbo told the new deacons to make fighting discrimination, exclusion, and favoritism a central part of their ministry. He stated that their vocation is to promote justice, equity, and communion within both the Church and society. Cardinal Dogbo noted that the diaconate originally emerged in the early Church to address discrimination within the Christian community.

The Cardinal warned that regionalism, social classification, and clan affinities can destroy communion by creating borders between parishes, movements, and associations. He also cautioned against divisions between lay communities, religious groups, and different ecclesial groups. The ordination concluded three days of pastoral assessment and planning for the archdiocese.