Celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Burundi and the Holy See

On february 10, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation in close collaboration with the Apostolic Nunciature celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Burundi and the Holy See. The chosen theme is: ‘Sixty years of shared values and visions.

The activities of the ceremony began with a conference-debate on “The History of Relations between Burundi and the Holy See” presented jointly by Ambassador Laurent Kavakure and Brother Emmanuel Ntakarutimana at the KIRIRI GARDEN Hotel.

In his presentation, Ambassador Laurent Kavakure indicated that the introduction of the Catholic Church in Burundi dates from the end of the 19^th century. It was the work of the missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, better known as the “White Fathers”, under the leadership of Cardinal Lavigerie. He showed how the Catholic Church in Burundi is an old Institution which was related to the colonial power. He said that the colonial power and the Catholic Church shared the same ideology of “civilizing mission”.

Quoting Msgr. Stanislas Kaburungu, a living memory, the speaker said that: “in relation to the agenda of the Sovereign Pontiff John XXIII, the first session of the Second Vatican Council was held from october 11 to december 8, 1962. Visiting the Vatican on december 16, 1962, His Holiness Pope John XXIII received the King Mwambutsa IV, at the head of a large delegation. The King offered the Holy Father land for the construction of a Nunciature. On february 11, 1963, the Pope promulgated the Apostolic Letter (Christianae Veritatis) by which he erected the Apostolic Nunciature in Burundi”. And to add that the Kingdom of Burundi was thus the first country in Africa to establish diplomatic relations with the Holy See at the rank of Embassy.

As for Brother Emmanuel Ntakarutimana, he showed in his presentation the role of the Catholic Church in the integral development of the human person.

During the exchanges, the participants made various suggestions and comments, they asked among the others for the rewriting of the history of Burundi by the Church and the Government with a common vision of the authors.

In his speech delivered at the end of the presentations, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation Mr. Ferdinand Bashikako thanked the speakers who helped the participants to explore the relations between Burundi and the Holy See. He pointed out that the Government of Burundi, under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Burundi His Excellence Evariste Ndayishimiye, is committed to pushing forward the relations that exist between Burundi and the Holy See.

Regarding the accreditation of an ambassador of Burundi residing in the Holy See, the Permanent Secretary replied that the file is being analyzed.

The Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi His Excellency Bishop Dieudonné DATOU thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation for accepting the co-organization of the activities marking the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Burundi and the Holy See. He also underlined the role of forgiveness in all the dramas that the country has known.

The activities marking the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Burundi and the Holy See continued with the celebration of an Eucharistic Mass at the Regina Mundi Cathedral and a reception was offered in honor of the participants in the Apostolic Nunciature