Pilgrimage to Zemio

 

Pilgrimage to Zemio

The day after the funeral, I’m setting off for Zemio. MINUSCA (the Blue Helmets) have managed to arrange a seat for me on their plane.

We set off at around 11.00, and at 12.30 we stop over in Obo, where I am able to embrace the priests of that parish. We take off again after nearly an hour and arrive in Zemio at around 2.00. With me is Father Gervais, the parish priest of Zemio, who had been in Bangui for a few weeks.

We pass through a strangely (and eerily) silent town and arrive at the Mission, where we find a few dozen parishioners coming to meet us in tears…

In the afternoon, I meet with the catechists and parish councillors: the murder of Father Crépin is an extremely serious act. Much of the population had already fled to neighbouring Congo, and those who remain are at a loss. The presence of the priests here at the Mission was their only point of reference. One woman tells me that, when they flee the neighbourhood to take refuge here in the parish, their only light is the Eucharist celebrated every morning!

Towards evening, around a hundred people gather in the Mission’s courtyard for a prayer vigil that lasts all night, concluding with Mass at 5.45.

On Friday 3 July, given that the authorities had not even deigned to come and offer their condolences, we set off on foot to visit them, hoping to get some answers regarding the killing of Father Crépin. But we return with more questions than answers: the priest was killed 20 metres from the Mission, just a few metres from a government military checkpoint… He who had worked so hard for peace, dialogue and mediation!

In the afternoon, I met the young people who had set off on motorbikes and taken the body to Dembia, 80 km away. On their return, they were stopped by the rebels, who took their mobile phones, money and two motorbikes!

On Saturday morning, after a second night of vigil, we celebrated Mass in memory of Father Crépin. The church was full, and here too I celebrated in red vestments, as for a martyr.

Some officials were present, whilst the prefect arrived at the end of Mass and left immediately afterwards…

At the end of the celebration, we went on a pilgrimage to the spot where Father Crépin was killed. We gathered some of the earth, soaked in his blood: some will remain here in the parish, some will go to Bangassou, and some to his family. Here we want to build a small monument, to serve as a place of prayer and remembrance, but also as a call to conscience!

On Sunday we celebrate Mass at 8.30. Present are the catechumens whom Father Crépin had baptised on Sunday 28 June, the day before he was murdered!

I ask them to stand up and offer them words of encouragement, because in this first week since their baptism, they have already experienced a whole lifetime: the gift of baptism, the death of the priest, faith in the Resurrection, and the embrace of the whole Church!

In the afternoon, I go into town and buy the only bag of cement needed to start work on the memorial! Cost: 60 euros!

Over the next few days, we want to begin securing the spot where Father Crépin was killed.

 

Someone who was at the seminary in Bouar when I was the director (more than 23 years ago), having seen a photo of the site, sent me a donation specifically for this purpose!

The nights are often interrupted by the sound of gunfire and machine-gun fire…

I was due to leave on Monday morning, but the flight was cancelled.

Tuesday, same story…

And Wednesday… let’s hope so!

Whilst I’m waiting for my flight, I’ve got time to catch up on some work. And to read.

On Saturday 4 July, whilst we are celebrating Mass here in Zemio for Abbé Crépin, Pope Leo XIV is in Lampedusa, a port of refuge for thousands of people who are doing everything they can to escape poverty and war. Some of his words strike me:

“Love always lies in freedom, and freedom lies in decisions. There are also those who choose not to be a neighbour and those who decide not to decide. Those who die in this sea are victims both of decisions made and of decisions not made. Indifference to the common good and corruption in their countries of origin, (…) : all this echoes today, from the Gospel account, the haste to ‘pass by’ (Luke 10:31–32).”

Zemio

Beginning the journey

 

 

 

Beginning the journey

July 1, 2026

On Wednesday, June 24, the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, I officially began my ministry as titular bishop of Bangassou: Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Bishop Aguirre, and I succeeded him as titular bishop.

After two rich and precious years with Bishop Aguirre, I am called to serve God in the Church in Bangassou: over 600 km between parishes in a diocese almost half the size of Italy...

But the Lord is great, and I will try to lend him a hand!

On Friday, I flew back to Bangassou, to depart the following day for Bema, 105 km away, where I met the candidates and celebrated Confirmations on Sunday.

On Monday evening, around 7:30 pm, terrible news arrived: Father Crepin Monga was killed in Zemio!

We are extremely saddened, and only with great difficulty are we able to confirm the news!

The priest was alone in the parish, returning home, when he was attacked. A single shot to the head, which killed him instantly!

We don't know who killed him, nor who ordered it.

We aren't accusing anyone in particular, but Father Crépin was doing excellent work for peace in the area, and we fear this was an execution and a warning from those who absolutely do not want peace to return to this region.

For over a year, Zemio has been at the heart of a war pitting local rebels (AAKG) against the regular army, supported by Russian mercenaries.

The parish is the center where people are finding refuge (there were more than 3,000 a few months ago!). Another 35,000 people have taken refuge in neighboring Congo. In addition to the reception, Crépin maintained contact with the various rebel groups, trying to initiate dialogue and mediation.

On Monday evening, we tried to figure out what we could do... The road to Zemio (300 km) was blocked 220 km from Bangassou due to a broken ferry.

On Tuesday morning, we met with the MINUSCA peacekeepers, who wanted to do something but couldn't organize anything quickly. So we made a different plan: we sent two motorcycles from Zemio to take the body to Dembia, where the broken ferry was located. The road was terrible, and they arrived in Dembia after a seven-hour journey. Here, the car of the sisters from Rafai picked him up, and after 60 km and three hours, they found us in Rafai, where I had gone with another car. We proceeded to prepare the body, in order to try to preserve it, and left for Bangassou at 9:00 PM.

I was impressed and moved by how many people, both in the various parishes and in the villages where he had worked, gathered to pray and mourn for Father Crépin!

A few kilometers from Lanome, shortly before midnight, we found the Christian community of a village lined up in front of the chapel, just to see our cars and Father Crépin pass by!

We arrived in Bangassou at 1:00 PM, after a four-hour journey and 150 km.

Here, many people were holding a vigil at the cathedral. We prepared Father Crépin's body and dressed him in the priestly vestments he wore at his ordination on December 12, 2021!

The vigil continued all night, and at 9:30 we celebrated the funeral. All the priests who could come arrived, and they were deeply moved by the killing of their brother.

I celebrated Mass wearing red vestments. By itself, it should be purple, the color of the funeral. But, after consulting with the priests, we believed that Father Crépin was a martyr, a witness killed for his work of peace.

It was one of the hardest moments for me. It was like a father losing a son.

We want and believe that Fr. Crépin is not the end of all dreams of peace, but the seed that dies and bears much fruit (John 12:24).

The cathedral was packed, with many people outside as well.

It is from here that we set off for the nearby cemetery, where we laid him to rest. As I embraced his aunt, I told her that finally, now, Crépin was in the Peace for which he worked so hard!

 

Arrivo dei seminaristi di Bangui a Bangassou
Arrivée des séminaristes de Bangui à Bangassou
Llegada de seminaristas de Bangui a Bangassou.

 

Bema

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bishops on the Move

 

   

Bishops on the Move

21 June 2026

 

Following the episcopal consecration of Mgr Joseph on Saturday in Bangui Cathedral, the following day, Monday 15 June, the bishops of the Central African Republic gathered at the Nunciature for a meeting with the bishop who had come from Rome for the occasion.

In the afternoon, we met a group of women leaders, with whom we discussed the hostages in Bambouti (on the border with South Sudan). They were taken at the end of December, and we are faced with parties that are unwilling to negotiate: neither the rebels nor the state…

On Tuesday morning, at 5.20, we set off in a convoy with all the bishops for the Assembly we are holding in Berberati, 600 km away. The roads range from bad to dreadful… and we arrive at our destination at 19.20!

Despite the late hour, we find a huge crowd waiting for us in the Cathedral to welcome us!

We are here for the whole week, for a time of fellowship, formation and brotherhood.

Every morning we begin with the celebration of Mass, and then the meetings get underway.

On Friday afternoon, we split up among the various parishes in the city for a time of fellowship and dialogue, which we conclude with the celebration of Mass.

At the Sacred Heart parish, I come across a large group of people from Bozoum, whom I am delighted to greet!

On Saturday afternoon, there is a cultural event, featuring dancing and singing.

On Sunday morning, Mass is scheduled to take place outdoors at 8.30, but it is pouring with rain, and we are forced to wait.

The service finally begins at 10.30, with a huge crowd who have come not only from the city but also from other parishes in the diocese.

At the end of the service (at 2.30 pm!), the final message from the Assembly of the Bishops’ Conference is read out. Its theme is ‘I saw a new heaven and a new earth’ (Rev 21:1), and it emphasises the protection of creation.

Here it is: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:7bad8f00-5e51-4cf8-a858-1607529d7dd4

And on Monday morning, at around 4 o’clock, we’ll be setting off for Bangui again… hoping it doesn’t rain!

Arrivo a Berberati
Accueil à Berberati
LLevada en Berberati

Messa di chiusura
Messe de cloture