The Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (CERNA) ( or ) 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.
History The Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa was founded in 1966, with Archbishop of Algiers Cardinal Léon-Étienne Duval as its first president.
On 8 June 2007, members of the conference were received by Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City. The five bishops present were Maroun Elias Nimeh Lahham, Claude Rault, Gabriel Piroird, Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, and Alphonse Georger.
On 6–9 October 2013, the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa met in Rome. The bishops resided at the Pontifical French Seminary and met there to discuss issues facing the bishops' respective countries and dioceses. 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."
Member dioceses DioceseCurrent prelateCountryArchdiocese of AlgiersJean-Paul Vesco, OPApostolic Vicariate of BenghaziSandro Overend Rigillo O.F.M.Diocese of ConstantineNicolas LhernouldApostolic Vicariate of DernavacantDiocese of LaghouatJohn MacWilliam, M. Afr.Apostolic Prefecture of MisuratavacantDiocese of OranJean-Paul Vesco, OPArchdiocese of RabatCristóbal López Romero, S.D.B.Archdiocese of TangerSantiago Agrelo Martínez, O.F.M.Archdiocese of TunisIlario AntoniazziApostolic Vicariate of TripoliGeorge Bugeja, O.F.M.Apostolic Prefecture of Western SaharaMario León Dorado, O.M.I.
Presidents This is a list of the Presidents of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa: #ImagePresidentSeeTerm1Cardinal Léon-Étienne DuvalAlgiers1966–19832Bishop Henri TeissierAlgiers1983–20043Archbishop Fouad TwalTunis2004–20054Archbishop Vincent Landel, SCI di BéthRabatOctober 2005 – January 20125Archbishop Maroun Elias Nimeh LahhamTunisJanuary 2012 – November 20126Archbishop Vincent Landel, SCI di BéthRabatNovember 2012 – 20157Archbishop Paul Desfarges, S.J.Algiers2015–20228Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, S.D.B.Rabat2022–
See also Catholic Church in the Middle East Catholic Church in Algeria Catholic Church in Libya Catholic Church in Morocco Catholic Church in Tunisia Catholic Church in Western Sahara
References