Central African Republic: A faithful shepherd
On February 23, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Father Aurelio Gazzera, a long-time friend and partner of ACN, as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Bangassou in the Central African Republic. The 61-year-old Italian Carmelite priest has already worked in the country for 33 years as a missionary and is internationally known for his work in peace negotiations with various armed groups. Father Gazzera spoke to ACN about his new appointment.
Father Aurelio, you worked for many years in the Diocese of Bouar, in the north-western part of the Central African Republic. You have now been appointed by the Holy Father as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Bangassou in the south-east. This means that you will assist the current Ordinary, Bishop Juan José Aguirre, for a time and will then succeed him when he retires. How did you take your appointment?
On the one hand, I am anxious, but on the other, I feel a deep trust in God. The strength to be a bishop does not come from myself, but from the Lord. I did not seek this ministry. Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16). I know that I am neither worthy nor capable of it, but He knows more about me than I do, and He has more confidence in me than I have in myself. And a great many people are praying for me and rejoicing in this new gift in my life.
Could you tell us more about the Diocese of Bangassou?
Bangassou is in the south-east of the Central African Republic, between the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. It covers an area of more than 52,000 square miles. This makes it roughly half the size of Italy, but with only around half a million inhabitants. It is very sparsely populated, and the area is very remote. The distance to the capital is only 460 miles, but the condition of the roads is so bad that it would take several weeks to get there by car, so one must take a plane. Some of the parishes are also inaccessible by car, and armed groups are active in many parts of the diocese.
But there are also many reasons to be joyful. Bishop Aguirre, who has led the diocese with great vigor since 2000, is an outstanding bishop who has launched many initiatives. There are schools, orphanages, a catechist school, and, above all, a gratifying number of vocations. Together with Bishop Aguirre, I visited the 30 young men from Bangassou who are preparing for the priesthood in the capital city of Bangui. I saw young men who are happy and confident, and who joyfully give their lives to Jesus. Continuing Bishop Aguirre’s work will be an enormous task, but I am happy to serve in the Diocese of Bangassou, and I already love it.
In the Central African Republic, you are known as “the man who lowered the guns of the rebels.” Due to your successful peace negotiations with armed groups, which led, among other things, to the withdrawal of the Seleka rebels from the city of Bozoum in 2014, you have also become known around the world. You are consulted by various politicians. But you have repeatedly risked your life in your commitment to peace. Why do you get involved in this way?
As a priest, as a pastor, and as a bishop, everything that hurts or affects my brothers and sisters also hurts me. So, I had the responsibility as a priest – and now I have it even more as a bishop – to look after and protect the people in my care. The shepherd not only accompanies his sheep, but also defends them from dangers. So, I will do everything I can to continue a dialogue with the various rebel groups, and I will talk with those who are expressing their expectations of the government and the international community. I will try to listen to everyone and, with my limited powers, be a symbol of peace.
You belong to the Order of the Discalced Carmelites. Your full religious name is Father Aurelio of St Peter. What is your spiritual connection to St. Peter the Apostle?
The figure of St. Peter has always inspired me: his exuberance, his enthusiasm, his weaknesses, his strengths. I think that for my episcopal ordination, I will choose chapter 21 from the Gospel of John, where after the miraculous catch of fish, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” And the third time Peter answers, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” He knows everything; He knows my weaknesses, my fears, my mistakes. And yet He calls me and says, “Feed my lambs!” I want to make this new stage of my life a sign of my love for Jesus, the Church, and my brothers and sisters, who are entrusted to my care.
What are your next steps?
My ordination as bishop will take place in the Bangui Cathedral on June 9th. I will move to Bangassou right after Easter, so in March, I must see how I can hand over my responsibilities – the schools, the mechanics’ school, the pastoral work in the parish, the work as Caritas director, and the supervision of the building site at our new monastery in Bangui. Then, in April and May, I will make myself familiar with the Diocese of Bangassou and visit the missions and parishes that are accessible by car. At the end of May, I will return to Bangui to prepare myself for this great gift of episcopal ordination with spiritual exercises and some peace and quiet.
The Lord will set out the rest of the program. Everything is in the hands of the Lord and of those who, for so many years. have dedicated themselves to serving Him alongside Bishop Aguirre: the priests, the catechists, and the faithful of the Bangassou Diocese.
We don’t hear much about the Central African Republic in the news. How do you assess the situation in the country?
The situation in the Central African Republic remains very difficult and unstable. On the one hand, there are areas that have become calmer. In other areas, however, there is still great insecurity. Only last December, a village in the Diocese of Bouar was attacked. 28 people were killed, and 900 houses were burned down. Some missions in the Bangassou Diocese are also closed because of attacks in recent months. The security situation remains precarious in large parts of the country.
—Eva-Maria Kohlmann
