Ethiopia’s Catholics mourn with the Ethiopian Orthodox after deadly scaffold collapse

The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) and Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel, has expressed profound sorrow, prayers, and solidarity with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church following the devastating accident that claimed at least 36 lives and injured more than 200 others.

Paul Samasumo - Vatican City.

The tragedy occurred on Wednesday morning at the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in the North Shewa Diocese at Ararti Debre Genet St. Mary’s Church in Minjar Shenkor, as worshippers gathered to celebrate an annual Marian feast.

Closeness and prayers

“We are deeply saddened to learn that wooden scaffolding used in the construction of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in the North Shewa Diocese at Ararti Debre Genet St. Mary’s Church in Minjar Shenkor has collapsed, resulting in the loss of many lives and injuries to many others,” stated Cardinal Berhaneyesus in a message made available to Vatican News by CBCE’s Head of Communications, Public Relations, and IT, Bezawit Assefa.

The Cardinal continued, “The Ethiopian Catholic Bishops’ Conference expresses its profound sorrow over this tragic event and offers heartfelt prayers for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, especially the ministers of Ararti Debre Genet St. Mary’s Church, as well as for the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster.”

The death toll could rise as some of the injured remain in critical condition. This is according to a Reuters statement quoting local police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu.