Following the historic apostolic journey of the Holy Father to Cameroon, Bishop Michael Bibi, the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese of Buea, led a special catechetical session at St. Charles Lwanga Parish, Molyko, on Monday, April 20, 2026. During this timely gathering, titled “Understanding the Roman Curia: The Pope’s Visit to Cameroon,” the Bishop provided clarity on the inner workings of the Church and the spiritual significance of the papal visit. He explained that the Supreme Pontiff arrived primarily as a global shepherd to care for his flock, extending a message of peace, human dignity, and respect for life to all Cameroonians regardless of their religious affiliation.
The Bishop meticulously detailed the structure of the Roman Curia, describing the various offices and administrative bodies that support the Pope in his governance of the universal Church. He likened these dicasteries to administrative ministries, each functioning with specific mandates to assist the Holy Father in his pastoral and administrative duties. By demystifying the roles of the papal entourage and the Holy See’s central administration, Bishop Bibi enabled the faithful to better appreciate the logistical and spiritual depth of the recent apostolic visit.
Drawing from the Holy Father’s own messages, the Bishop reminded those in positions of authority that leadership must be embraced as a vocation of stewardship rather than power. He urged leaders to adopt a posture of service, emphasizing the importance of upholding the inherent dignity of every human person. This session served as a powerful call for both spiritual renewal and social responsibility, echoing the Pope’s plea for harmony and justice within the nation.
To provide a comprehensive overview of the administrative structure discussed, Bishop Bibi referenced the major dicasteries of the Roman Curia, which include:
- Dicastery for Evangelization
- Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
- Dicastery for the Service of Charity (Apostolic Almsgiving)
- Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
- Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints
- Dicastery for Bishops
- Dicastery for the Clergy
- Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
- Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life
- Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity
- Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
- Dicastery for Culture and Education
- Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
- Dicastery for Legislative Texts
- Dicastery for Communication
