Pope calls deceased Congolese cardinal 'eminent son of Africa'

Published: 2007-01-08

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Congolese Cardinal Frederic Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi of Kinshasa, who died Jan. 6 of pneumonia in a Belgian hospital, was an "eminent son of Africa" who devoted his life to preaching the Gospel and serving the African people, Pope Benedict XVI said. The cardinal, 76, had been hospitalized for complications related to diabetes. Pope Benedict sent telegrams of condolence to the Catholics of Kinshasa and to the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to which the cardinal had belonged. Cardinal Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi was known as a leading voice for reconciliation in his own war-torn nation, the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, and throughout Africa's Great Lakes region. A memorial Mass for Cardinal Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi was scheduled for Jan. 9 in Brussels, Belgium. His body was to be flown to Kinshasa Jan. 11 where a memorial Mass was scheduled for Jan. 14 with the funeral Mass and burial to follow Jan. 15.

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