Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa
Assembly of Catholic bishops in Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia & Western Sahara
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The Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (CERNA) (French: Conférence Episcopale Régionale du Nord de l'Afrique or Conférence des Evêques de la Région Nord de l'Afrique) is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. Founded in 1965, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic hierarchy (i.e., diocesan, coadjutor, and auxiliary bishops) in those countries. The conference is based in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. The current President is Cristóbal López Romero, the Archbishop of Rabat.[1]
| Abbreviation | CERNA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1966 |
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | Civil nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Rabat, Morocco |
Region served | Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara |
| Members | Active and retired Catholic bishops of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Western Sahara |
President | Cristóbal López Romero, SDB |
Main organ | Conference |
History
The Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa was founded in 1966, with Archbishop of Algiers Cardinal Léon-Étienne Duval as its first president.[1]
On 8 June 2007, members of the conference were received by Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City.[2] The five bishops present were Maroun Elias Nimeh Lahham, Claude Rault, Gabriel Piroird, Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, and Alphonse Georger.[2]
On 6–9 October 2013, the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa met in Rome.[3] The bishops resided at the Pontifical French Seminary and met there to discuss issues facing the bishops' respective countries and dioceses.[3] The trip ended on 9 October, when the bishops went to St. Peter's Square to hear Pope Francis' public address. Francis personally addressed the bishops from North Africa, calling for them to "consolidate our fraternal relations with Muslims."[3]
Member dioceses
| Diocese | Current prelate | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of Algiers | Jean-Paul Vesco, OP |  Algeria |
| Apostolic Vicariate of Benghazi | Sandro Overend Rigillo O.F.M. |  Libya |
| Diocese of Constantine | Nicolas Lhernould | Algeria |
| Apostolic Vicariate of Derna | vacant | Libya |
| Diocese of Laghouat | John MacWilliam, M. Afr. | Algeria |
| Apostolic Prefecture of Misurata | vacant | Libya |
| Diocese of Oran | Jean-Paul Vesco, OP | Algeria |
| Archdiocese of Rabat | Cristóbal López Romero, S.D.B. |  Morocco |
| Archdiocese of Tanger | Santiago Agrelo Martínez, O.F.M. | Morocco |
| Archdiocese of Tunis | Ilario Antoniazzi |  Tunisia |
| Apostolic Vicariate of Tripoli | George Bugeja, O.F.M. | Libya |
| Apostolic Prefecture of Western Sahara | Mario León Dorado, O.M.I. |  Western Sahara |
Presidents
This is a list of the Presidents of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa:[1]
| # | Image | President | See | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardinal Léon-Étienne Duval | Algiers | 1966–1983 | |
| 2 |  |
Bishop Henri Teissier | Algiers | 1983–2004 |
| 3 |  |
Archbishop Fouad Twal | Tunis | 2004–2005 |
| 4 |  |
Archbishop Vincent Landel, SCI di Béth | Rabat | October 2005 – January 2012 |
| 5 |  |
Archbishop Maroun Elias Nimeh Lahham | Tunis | January 2012 – November 2012 |
| 6 | |
Archbishop Vincent Landel, SCI di Béth | Rabat | November 2012 – 2015 |
| 7 |  |
Archbishop Paul Desfarges, S.J. | Algiers | 2015–2022 |
| 8 |  |
Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, S.D.B. | Rabat | 2022– |
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