The members of the Equatorial Guinea Diplomatic Mission in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia received a surprise visit from Monsignor Juan Domingo Baca, Bishop of Mongomo and President of the Equatorial Guinea Episcopal Conference.

The visit was an opportunity for Monsignor Juan Domingo Baca and his delegation to visit the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Embassy in the Ethiopian capital, a source of pride for the Equatoguinean people.

After being received by the acting Ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to Ethiopia, Crisantos Obama Ondo, and the entire team from the Diplomatic Mission, Baca took advantage of the meeting to report on the purpose of his stay in Addis Ababa, within the framework of a continental meeting of the Catholic Church, organised by Vatican senior figures.

Exchanges were followed by a tour of the seven floors that make up the embassy, before the prelate was invited to a working breakfast in the banquet hall of the institution, which began with words from Ambassador Crisantos Obama Ondo, who described the visit by the Monsignor as a blessing both for the building and for the daily work that is carried out in it.

Obama Ondo also described the visit as a clear expression of the will and pastoral commitment of the Bishop of Mongomo based on his humility, closeness and love in the name of God, thus summing up the visit in one word: gratitude.

The Equatorial Guinea Ambassador ended his brief intervention by explaining the working context of the Equatorial Guinea Diplomatic Mission in Ethiopia, as a mixed mission that connects its obligations, both at a bilateral and multilateral level, underlining permanent commitment so that the interests and the voice of Equatorial Guinea are always maintained.

In reply, Monsignor Juan Domingo Beca expressed his pleasant surprise at the warm welcome he had received, while congratulating the diplomatic officials for the daily work they undertake and the successes they had achieved. The Bishop of Mongomo acknowledged that Equatorial Guinea is a small country, but the capacity of its people is enormous.

Juan Domingo Baca concluded his speech by stressing the importance of walking together to achieve goals, recognising the role of the church for dignity as children of God and education in order to ensure social harmony.

The working breakfast concluded with a special prayer in memory of the victims of 7th March 2021 in the city of Bata, and a message of congratulations to the women of Equatorial Guinea to mark 8th March 2023.

Source: Official Web Page of the Government