The 2025 papal conclave marked a historic milestone when Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel became the first Ethiopian cardinal to participate in the election of a pontiff. Throughout a career spanning decades, he led the Ethiopian Catholic Church as Archbishop of Addis Abeba from 1999 until his retirement in 2026, navigating periods of significant political transition.
Early Formation and Priesthood
Born on 14 July 1948 in Tchela Claka, near Harar, he pursued education through public, Orthodox, Capuchin, and De La Salle institutions. He joined the Congregation of the Mission, or Vincentians, in 1963 and attended the Makanissa Major Seminary. After studying theology at King's College London, he was ordained a priest on 4 July 1976. During his early ministry in southwestern Ethiopia, he was detained by the military dictatorship for seven months starting in June 1979. Following his release and subsequent exile, he obtained a sociology degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University before returning to Ethiopia in 1983.
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He served as the provincial superior of the Lazarists in Addis Ababa beginning in 1990. In 1994, he took the role of prefect for the Apostolic Vicariate of Jimma-Bonga. On 7 November 1997, Pope John Paul II named him auxiliary bishop of Addis Abeba, and he was consecrated by Cardinal Paulos Tzadua on 25 January 1998. He succeeded Tzadua as Archbishop of Addis Abeba on 7 July 1999. In 2005, he established the Ethiopian Catholic University of St. Thomas Aquinas, acting as its chancellor. He was elected chairman of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa in 2014.
Cardinalate and Public Policy
Pope Francis elevated him to cardinal priest in 2015, assigning him the titular church of San Romano Martire. Later that year, he joined the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants. His public record includes signing a 2008 resolution regarding the criminalization of homosexual activity. During the 2015 reconciliation efforts, he advocated for the commutation of death sentences for officials from the former Derg regime.
Retirement and Legacy
After a long tenure leading the Ethiopian Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation on 12 June 2026. Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, who previously served as his auxiliary bishop, succeeded him as Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Abeba. Throughout his service, he maintained his involvement in both regional and Vatican-level governance, culminating in his role as a cardinal elector during the 2025 papal conclave.
Fast facts
- Born: 14 July 1948, Tchela Claka, Ethiopia
- Ordained: 4 July 1976
- Archbishop of Addis Abeba: 1999–2026
- Cardinal elevation: 2015
- Education: Pontifical Gregorian University, King's College London
- Affiliation: Congregation of the Mission
- 2025 Conclave Participation: Yes
- Successor: Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie
Questions readers ask
Was he the first Ethiopian cardinal to attend a papal conclave?
Yes, he participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 papal conclave.
What official positions did he hold within the Ethiopian Catholic Church?
He served as the Archbishop of Addis Abeba, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia and Eritrea, and head of the Ethiopian Catholic Church sui iuris.
