Archbishop of Abidjan
Cardinal Ignace Bessi Dogbo, Archbishop of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, was born on 17 August 1961 in Niangon-Adjamé, in the diocese of Yopougon. He was ordained a priest on 2 August 1987. After serving as parish minister (1987-1989), he was awarded a licentiate in exegesis from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, and went on to hold the roles of diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (1993-1995), vicar general of Yopougon (1995-2004), parish priest of the Cathedral of Yopougon (1997-2004), professor of biblical languages in the Saint Paul d’Abadjin Kouté Major Seminary. He was elected Bishop of the diocese of Katiola on 19 March 2004, receiving episcopal consecration the following 4 July. He served as president of the episcopal conference (2017-2023), apostolic administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Korhogo (since 2017), and Metropolitan Archbishop of Korhogo (since 3 January 2021). On 20 May 2024, he was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Abidjan. He was created and proclaimed cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 7 December 2024 and was assigned the titular church Santi Mario e Compagni Martiri.