Kagame receives Kambanda, five months after he was installed Cardinal by Pope Francis.
Antoine Cardinal Kambanda was officially created on 28 November in the Vatican.
As he attended the first mass read by His Eminence Antoine Kambanda since he was installed Cardinal towards the beginning of December 2020, Kagame expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for trusting Cardinal Kambanda to be amongst the Pope’s closest advisors.
At the time, Kagame said that the trust is founded on the wise judgement and proven commitment throughout Cardinal Kambanda’s service to the Church in Rwanda who also showed that he is able to contribute to the Church on the global stage.
“Today, all of us Rwandans have great joy because the Catholic Church of Rwanda has a Cardinal. It’s the first time this has happened in the last 120 years,” said Kagame.
“When a Rwandan rises through the ranks because of his or her proven courage and commendable performances, be it in Rwanda or on the international stage, we are all happy. The trust and dignity that the Pope has given you is also ours as Rwandans,” he added.
Speaking at the mass organized to celebrate the first-ever Rwanda’s Cardinal at Kigali Arena, Cardinal Kambanda expressed delight for joining Christians after his new special appointment to comfort believers.
Following his installation, Cardinal Kambanda was appointed to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (CEP), responsible for coordinating the Catholic Church’s missionary work globally.
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