Speaking after his ordination, Archbishop Kambanda said that among his chief goals during his spell as Kigali’s Archbishop is the construction of Kigali’s new Archdiocese’ cathedral.
“He said: “Fellow Christians of this City (Kigali), we have as a wish to build the new modern temple of God, the Cathedral of this City.”
Kigali Archdiocese’s cathedral is currently built in Kiyovu, Nyarugenge District at St Michael’s Parish.
President Kagame pledged to support the cathedral adding that it would possibly be built at a new location.
“We will partner to build it and we will build a better cathedral. We may build it at a new other place but this will depend on the Church’s will or due to the agreement we will have in sponsoring the activity to realize that wish in as short time as possible,” Kagame said.
President Kagame also commended the good partnerships between the Roman Catholic Church and Rwandans particularly in the provision of education and health services to our population, regardless of their religious affiliation.
President Kagame said that during his visit to Vatican in 2017 “the Holy Father made a humble gesture, calling on God to forgive the Church as a whole, for the Church’s failure in our tragic history.”
“This was a major milestone, which we are all called upon to perfect, by working together as religious institutions and government in a positive way, based not on the past, but on the future we want,” he said.
“Let us put the Pope’s teaching into practice, and most importantly, into the hearts of the clergy and the faithful. We want the Church to be a full partner in building this nation, and the foundation of unity and reconciliation upon which it is based,” Kagame added.
“A healthy mind requires a healthy body. The Church shares the duty and mission to transform people’s lives. After all, we don’t only take sick people to God,” Kagame said asking: “Why not go to Him having lived lives of purpose and virtue, in service to our brothers and sisters, right here on Earth?”
“It is in our power to do so,” he said.
Antoine Kambanda who was installed as Kigali’s new Archbishop had been appointed as Bishop of Kibungo in 2013. He becomes Kigali’s third Archbishop since 1976 when it was founded. He will keep serving as temporary Bishop of Kibungo Diocese before it gets its new Bishop.
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