Leo XIV Appoints Coadjutor, 54, Amid Accusations Against Cardinal, 59
The appointment places Fr Samedi alongside Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga, 59, who is only five years his senior.
Background to the Appointment
Cardinal Nzapalainga has led the Archdiocese of Bangui since 2012 and was made cardinal by Pope Francis in 2016.
He rose to international prominence for his interfaith work during the Central African Republic’s civil conflict, particularly through the 'Plateforme des Confessions Religieuses de Centrafrique', a coalition of Christian and Muslim leaders promoting reconciliation.
In recent years, however, local and regional reporting has pointed to growing tensions between the Archdiocese of Bangui and the Nunciature in the Central African Republic.
The most sweeping allegations have come from journalist Jean-Paul Naïba, who accuses the cardinal of greed, financial misconduct, nepotism, and misuse of church-affiliated NGOs.
Regional outlets including ‘Pulse Media RCA’ and ‘Afrique Émergente Média’ reported that Cardinal Robert Sarah visited Bangui in February 2026. He met with clergy, witnesses, and alleged victims before transmitting findings to Rome.
During Holy Week 2026, the Vatican requested Cardinal Nzapalainga’s resignation. He refused to resign and instead submitted a sealed letter addressed only to Leo XIV.
Cardinal Nzapalainga also resisted to Vatican-backed plans for an auxiliary bishop in Bangui.
Who is Father Samedi
Some local reports had previously identified the new Coadjutor Archbishop Samedi among clergy considered in consultations for the post of an auxiliary bishop.
Monsignor Samedi is the former superior of the Jesuits in Bangui and director of the 'Pope Francis School Complex' in Bangui, founded after Francis’s visit to the city and named in his honor.
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