The new Bishop of the Diocese of Port-Louis met the clergy this afternoon. Afterwards, Father Jean-Michaël Durhône, who succeeds Cardinal Maurice Piat to become the 12th bishop of Port-Louis, met the press alongside his predecessor. “I will learn to be a bishop,” he said. Father Durhône thanked Cardinal Piat for his 32 years of episcopal service. And he even allowed himself a touch of humour. “At 82 and after 32 years of service, Cardinal Piat still has all his hair. At 50, I have already lost mine,” he said.
Regarding his appointment, he said that it was Pope Francis who called him to this responsibility, which he welcomes with joy. “It is a mission, a call, a vocation. It is a grace but also a great responsibility,” he explained. The new bishop of Port-Louis announced that the consecration ceremony will be held at Marie-Reine de la Paix on 20 August. “This is the most opportune date”, he replied to a question from a journalist.
Cardinal Piat described him as “a man of peace and a man of peace”. He is also, he stressed, someone who is easy to talk to and has a good sense of humour. “In announcing his appointment, it is good to remind you that what Father Durhône receives today is not an appointment but a vocation. It is not a job but a service for life. He must serve the Catholic community of Mauritius and serve the country,” he said.
