Burundi witnessed a historic moment of faith and diplomacy as Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin visited the country from August 12 to 18, marking sixty years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Burundi. His weeklong journey combined pastoral celebrations, state engagements, and a tribute to a fallen papal envoy.
Cardinal Parolin arrived in Bujumbura on August 12, where he was welcomed by Vice President Prosper Bazombanza, members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Burundi, and thousands of faithful. Expressing joy to be among the people, he assured them of the Holy Father’s closeness and blessings.
On August 13, he celebrated Mass with the bishops and later held talks with President Évariste Ndayishimiye. A message from Pope Leo VI was delivered to the head of state, and both sides witnessed the signing of seven cooperation agreements covering health, education, prison services, and security. These agreements renewed commitments made after the 2012 framework accord, strengthening the partnership between Church and state.
The following day, August 14, the Cardinal traveled to Minago, where he blessed a monument and laid the foundation stone for a health center at the site where Archbishop Michael Aidan Courtney, Apostolic Nuncio to Burundi, was assassinated in 2003. He praised Archbishop Courtney as a shepherd who walked with the people of Burundi in difficult times, dedicating himself to reconciliation and peace even at the risk of his life.
The highlight of the visit came on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the Marian Shrine of Mugera, Cardinal Parolin presided over Mass with bishops, priests, religious, and thousands of faithful, in the presence of President Ndayishimiye. On the same day, the Parish of Saint Anthony of Padua, located within the Mugera shrine’s territory in the Archdiocese of Gitega, was elevated to the status of Minor Basilica. In his homily, the Cardinal urged the faithful to set aside personal interests and work for the common good so that people in conflict zones might once again hope for lives of dignity and safety.
In the following days, Cardinal Parolin met with seminarians, major superiors of religious congregations, and members of the Diplomatic Corps. On August 17, he presided at the concluding Mass of the Jubilee celebrations at the Schoenstatt Shrine, commemorating sixty years of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Burundi.
The visit not only highlighted the deep spiritual devotion of the Church in Burundi but also advanced practical commitments in social development. It renewed hope that faith, peace, and service to the common good will continue to guide the nation and strengthen its ties with the universal Church.