A Shepherd’s Journey:
The Faith and Courage of Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel

A Life Shaped by Faith and Courage

Born in 1948 in the small village of Cheleleqa, near Harar in Ethiopia, Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel grew up amidst a landscape of vibrant cultural diversity and religious depth. He was educated in schools run by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Capuchins and the De La Salle Brothers.

At the age of 15, responding to a call he felt burning within him, he entered the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians), known for its dedication to the service of the poor and the formation of clergy. He studied Philosophy at the Makanissa Major Seminary beginning in 1968 and later Theology at King’s College in London.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1976, his early ministry coincided with one of Ethiopia’s most turbulent periods—the rise of the Marxist Derg regime, which brutally persecuted religious institutions. His refusal to renounce his faith and Vincentian mission led to his arrest and imprisonment. For seven grueling months (1979-1980), including one month in solitary confinement, Souraphiel endured hardship and witnessed the depths of human suffering. Far from breaking his spirit, this crucible of persecution refined his faith and imbued him with a resilience that would define his pastoral ministry. Reflecting on his time in prison, Cardinal Souraphiel often speaks of a transformative encounter with God, where the experience of vulnerability led him to a profound trust in divine providence. These months behind bars taught him that authentic leadership flows from humility and that true freedom is found not in political liberation but in spiritual surrender.

Upon his release, he continued his mission with renewed vigor, becoming a voice for the voiceless and a defender of the marginalized. His experiences of oppression and suffering equipped him with a unique empathy for those wounded by injustice. They also deepened his Vincentian identity, compelling him to live out a spirituality of service, mercy, and reconciliation.

Thus, from the modest beginnings in Cheleleqa to the prison cells of the Derg regime, the early life of Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel forged a shepherd whose faith was tempered by trial, whose courage was refined by suffering, and whose commitment to the Gospel was purified through adversity.

After his release, he served in Rome as a delegate at the General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission and earned a master’s degree in socio-economic development from the Gregorian University. Upon returning to Ethiopia, he became director of the novitiate of the Congregation of the Mission in Addis Ababa in 1985, while also serving as a parish priest and teacher at the Saint Francis Institute. In 1994, he was appointed the first apostolic prefect of Jimma–Bonga.

His Ecclesial Mission: Leadership in a Time of Challenge

Following years of dedicated missionary service, Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel was appointed Bishop of Adigrat in 1997, a diocese situated in Ethiopia’s troubled Tigray region. There, he faced the immense challenge of ministering to a people battered by war, poverty, and displacement. His leadership combined pastoral care with a strong commitment to human rights, championing the dignity of every person amid ongoing conflict and hardship.

In 1999, he was named Archbishop of Addis Ababa, placing him at the heart of Ethiopia’s capital and its complex socio-political dynamics. As Archbishop, Souraphiel emphasized building bridges between Ethiopia’s diverse ethnic groups and religious communities. He sought to make the Catholic Church a force for unity, promoting dialogue, social cohesion, and peaceful coexistence.

His influence extended beyond ecclesiastical circles when he was appointed president of the Ethiopian Catholic Bishops’ Conference. In this role, he became a key voice advocating for peace, particularly through his involvement in the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission. This government-appointed body tasked with healing Ethiopia’s deep-seated divisions relied heavily on the moral authority and wisdom of figures like Souraphiel.

In 2015, Pope Francis recognized his outstanding service by elevating him to the College of Cardinals. As a cardinal, Souraphiel amplified his advocacy on the global stage, representing Africa’s hopes and challenges in synods, international conferences, and dialogues with the Holy See.

Throughout his episcopate, Cardinal Souraphiel became a steadfast voice for unity, reconciliation, and human dignity. He tirelessly advocated for educational opportunities for young people, interfaith understanding, and the protection of migrants and refugees. In his eyes, the mission of the Church was inseparable from the struggles of ordinary people for dignity, justice, and peace.

A hallmark of his leadership has been his unwavering insistence that religious faith must actively contribute to the social fabric, offering reconciliation where there is hatred, education where there is ignorance, and hope where there is despair. His pastoral strategy combined a profound spirituality with pragmatic action, rooted always in the Gospel and in a Vincentian preferential option for the poor.

Facing political tensions, ethnic violence, and episodes of religious intolerance, Cardinal Souraphiel stood firm against all forms of extremism and instrumentalization of religion for political purposes. His efforts to steer the Catholic Church in Ethiopia toward greater solidarity, compassion, and missionary dynamism have left an indelible mark on both the Church and the nation he serves.

His Vision of Christianity and the Church

Cardinal Souraphiel’s conception of Christianity is profoundly incarnational: faith must take flesh in acts of service, reconciliation, and transformation. Deeply shaped by the Vincentian charism, he envisions a Church that mirrors Christ’s own mission to bring good news to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. Christianity, for him, is not merely an internal belief but a dynamic force for social and spiritual renewal.

He conceives of the Church as fundamentally missionary and servant-hearted. In his eyes, the Church must be “the field hospital” for humanity’s wounds, a theme echoing St. Vincent de Paul’s relentless focus on responding to the most urgent needs of his time. The Church, Souraphiel insists, must accompany the poor, befriend the marginalized, and offer healing in societies scarred by violence, injustice, and despair.

Central to his vision is the primacy of reconciliation. He asserts that a faith that does not seek forgiveness and offer mercy is incomplete. His own personal journey—choosing to forgive his persecutors—is a living testimony of the Gospel’s demand to love one’s enemies. This emphasis on mercy resonates strongly with the Vincentian spirit of compassionate service, where personal holiness is inextricably tied to concrete acts of love and healing.

Cardinal Souraphiel also places significant value on the Church’s universality and diversity. He champions the spiritual richness of the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions, urging Latin-rite Catholics to appreciate the mystical depth and theological beauty of the East. He sees in this appreciation a call to deeper unity—a unity not based on uniformity but on mutual enrichment and respect.

Aligned with Pope Francis’s vision of a synodal, missionary Church, Souraphiel advocates for an ecclesial model that listens attentively to all its members, especially the poor and the marginalized. In this way, he embodies the Vincentian conviction that wisdom often arises from the grassroots, from those whose lives are marked by struggle and resilience.

Thus, Cardinal Souraphiel’s vision is a tapestry woven from profound faith, the Vincentian imperative of charity and service, the urgency of reconciliation, and the hope of a Church that stands as a living witness to the compassion of Christ among the poorest and most forgotten.

His Relationship with Pope Francis

Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel shared a deep spiritual and pastoral affinity with Pope Francis. Both leaders emphasized a Church that was missionary, merciful, and profoundly engaged with the realities of the poor and marginalized. Their shared commitment to a “Church of the peripheries” strengthened their collaboration and mutual respect.

Pope Francis’s decision to elevate Souraphiel to the College of Cardinals in 2015 was a clear acknowledgment of his embodiment of these values. Souraphiel often expressed admiration for Pope Francis’s courage in confronting global injustices and his call for a more synodal, listening Church.

Their relationship was marked by a common vision: the insistence on reconciliation over division, mercy over judgment, and action over rhetoric. In synods and Vatican gatherings, Cardinal Souraphiel was an active participant, supporting the pope’s initiatives to foster dialogue, integral human development, and care for migrants and refugees.

Through their encounters and shared pastoral priorities, Cardinal Souraphiel and Pope Francis exemplified a Church that sought to heal wounds, build bridges, and embody the living compassion of Christ in a fractured world.

Key Ministries and Achievements

• Peace and Reconciliation Efforts: Key role in Ethiopia’s Peace and Reconciliation Commission.
• Educational Initiatives: Advocate for youth education and vocational training.
• Defense of Religious Freedom: Promoter of interfaith dialogue.
• Advocacy for Migrants and Refugees: Defender of the dignity of displaced peoples.
• Commitment to Integral Human Development: Support for rural development and sustainable projects.

Selected Quotes of Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel

• On Forgiveness: “When you are naked before God, no one else can help you but Him. Forgiveness is a freedom — both for the one who forgives and the one who is forgiven.”
• On Peace: “True peace is not made by politicians alone. It must be breathed by the people who learn to trust, to listen, and to love beyond divisions.”
• On the Church’s Mission: “The Church must be where the pain is deepest. It must offer not judgment, but healing; not condemnation, but hope.”
• On Education and Youth: “Forming young people is building the future. If we want peace, work, and dignity, we must invest in the minds and hearts of our youth.”
• On Unity: “We Ethiopians share a common history and a common destiny. Ethnic differences are treasures, not weapons. We must resist all those who sow division for their own interests.”
• On Poverty and Ethiopia’s Rich Heritage: “We have the big challenge of poverty; I mean material poverty. It is a country of tremendous historical riches and values since the time of the apostolic age; peaceful coexistence among the different religions like Christianity with Muslims, and so on. These are great riches which Ethiopia can share with many parts of Africa and the world.”
• On Youth Empowerment: “If you want to help us, train our young people so that they can work.”
• On Listening and Non-Judgment: “To bring people to Jesus, we must listen without judging.”
• On Europe’s Responsibility: “It is sad when we hear that some borders are being closed to needy people who are escaping poverty and war and conflict in Europe. You ask yourself, ‘Where are the Christian roots of Europe?'”
• On the Church’s Role: “The Church must be where the pain is deepest. It must offer not judgment, but healing; not condemnation, but hope.”