THE CAPUCHIN FRIARS MINOR OF ST. FRANCIS FROM ASMARA, ERITREA TO EMDEBER, ETHIOPIA

THE CAPUCHIN FRIARS MINOR OF ST. FRANCIS FROM ASMARA, ERITREA TO EMDEBER, ETHIOPIA

The Italian and Eritrean Capuchin friars of the Provincial Custody of San Carlo (Lombardy)—based in Asmara—initially operated within the territory of Eritrea. However, following a request from the Archbishop of Addis Ababa and recommendations from the Internuncio to the Imperial State of Ethiopia, they decided to move to the Gurage region of Ethiopia, home to the largest Catholic population within the Catholic Metropolis (Archdiocese) of Addis Ababa. Before they could establish themselves in this new Ethiopian region, a period of meetings, correspondence, and negotiations took place between the Archbishop, the Provincial Minister of Milan, and the Provincial Custos of Asmara. This publication—which includes a report by the Archbishop’s Vicar General alongside letters from the Provincial Minister of Lombardy and the Provincial Custos of Eritrea—explains the reasons and circumstances behind the Capuchin friars of the Asmara Custody (Eritrea) undertaking pastoral ministry within the Christian community of the newly established Eparchy of Emdeber, Ethiopia.