Pope reshuffles Ivorian episcopate, names new bishops for Abengourou and San Pedro

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – The Holy Father has named Fr. Jean-Pierre Tanoh Tiémélé as the new Bishop of Abengourou, following the retirement of Bishop Ziri Gbaya, who steps down after reaching the canonical retirement age of 75 and 16 years of episcopal ministry.

At the same time, Pope Leo XIV has transferred Bishop Youlo Alexis Touabli from the Diocese of Agboville to lead the Diocese of San Pedro-en-Côte d’Ivoire, marking his return to the diocese where he was first ordained a priest in 1987.

Fr Tiémélé, 56, becomes the sixth bishop of Abengourou. Until his appointment, he served as Sunday vicar at the Parish of Ascension de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ. A native of Treichville, he holds advanced degrees in business administration, audit, and management control, and has extensive experience in pastoral and social development work, having served as National Executive Secretary of Caritas Côte d’Ivoire from 2015 to 2024.

Ordained a priest on 29 January 2011, Msgr Tiémélé has also served as Director General of the Centre Père Mathieu Ray de Koumassi, Diocesan Chaplain for Catholic Scouts, and Secretary for Social Pastoral Care of the Episcopal Conference. His appointment is seen as a continuation of Abengourou’s commitment to social outreach and community empowerment.

Meanwhile, Bishop Touabli’s transfer to San Pedro brings him back to his roots. Born in 1961 in Bereblo Tabou, he was ordained a priest for the same diocese before serving in various teaching and administrative roles, including professor at the major seminary of Daloa and vicar general of San Pedro.

Bishop Touabli, who served as the first bishop of Agboville since its establishment in 2006, has also held senior roles within the Ivorian and regional episcopal bodies, including President of the Episcopal Conference of Côte d’Ivoire (2011–2017) and of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) since 2022.