Home » News » COVID-19: Cardinal Ouedraogo offers his illness for peace in Burkina Faso

COVID-19: Cardinal Ouedraogo offers his illness for peace in Burkina Faso

Prayer for all sick people and “for reconciliation, justice and peace in Burkina Faso”, this is the message of a letter dated April 5 that Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) received from Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Ouagadougou, the country’s capital after he had been declared positive for COVID-19.

“Beloved brothers and sisters, on the morning of Monday, March 30, 2020, I received the positive result of my test, done 48 hours earlier. I thus joined the countless crowds of patients confined all over the world for care. It doesn’t just happen to others!” writes Cardinal Ouedraogo, affected by the coronavirus.”

In this letter to his “Christian and non-Christian friends”, he says that he is receiving “good care”, thanks to his closest collaborators, the nursing staff around him, and all those who support him, whether “by a phone call” or “by praying for him”.

He appeals for solidarity: “Also, I would like, from the depth of my heart as a pastor, to call out for a profound outpouring of solidarity at the local, regional and international levels for COVID-19 patients. There is an urgent need for adequate means to save the many lives affected! “One single finger does not scoop up flour”‘ African wisdom teaches us. Let us, therefore, unite to drive this dreadful disease, with its unfortunate consequences, out of our country and out of the world.”

In this country affected by an unprecedented wave of terrorism, Cardinal Ouedraogo says he “willingly offers this time of trial” and his “daily prayer: for every person afflicted by the virus; for an end to the killing of innocent people by the forces of evil; for reconciliation, justice and peace in Burkina Faso. »

For almost five years now, Christians in the north of the country, in particular, have been affected by an unprecedented wave of terrorism. In February, a delegation from ACN went to assess the difficult situation of Christians in the north of the country and reiterated the solidarity of the universal Church.

According to ACN sources, almost a million people are internally displaced and since 2019, more than 1,000 people – Christians and Muslims – have been killed.

Don't miss the latest updates!

Religious Freedom: A global victim of authoritarianism, extremism and war

“Religious freedom is a human right, not a privilege” The…

Gaza: First Sunday of Peace after the Ceasefire

The parish priest of Gaza called on his flock to…

Pope thanks children who prayed for peace in ACN campaign

This was the 20th edition of ACN’s One Million Children…

Gaza: First step towards peace after 733 days of war

While indirect talks are taking place in Egypt between Israeli…

Rome to host official launch of Religious Freedom Report 2025

Religious and public leaders will be gathering on October 21…

Papal envoy carries solidarity to the Christians of war-torn Sudan

Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan, has…

In the east of Burkina Faso, still many problems as term starts

While the security situation in Burkina Faso has improved slightly,…

List of News

Religious Freedom: A global victim of authoritarianism, extremism and war

“Religious freedom is a human right, not a privilege” The international pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) launched its biennial report “Religious Freedom in the World 2025”...

Gaza: First Sunday of Peace after the Ceasefire

The parish priest of Gaza called on his flock to “forgive all those who have failed and to ask forgiveness” for their own shortcomings, as preparation for what he hopes...

The Holy Father calls for renewed commitment to defend religious freedom and stand with persecuted Christians worldwide

Pope Leo XIV receives Aid to the Church in Need in private audience This morning, 10 October 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received pontifical foundation Aid to the Church...