Pope Leo XIV has appointed Paul Bere, a Jesuit priest from Burkina Faso, as a member of the International Theological Commission for a five-year term, from 2026 to 2031, the Embassy of
Burkina Faso to the Holy See has announced.
On October 19, Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Paul Bere to this body, which is tasked with providing the Holy See with expertise on major contemporary doctrinal issues, according to a statement from the Burkina Faso Embassy to the Holy See.
As dean of the Biblical Faculty at the Pontifical Biblical Institute of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, the Jesuit priest will contribute to the commission’s work.
The commission, in particular, assists the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in its theological
reflections.
The Embassy of Burkina Faso to the Holy See welcomed the appointment, which it considers a source of pride for the country and for Africa.
According to the diplomatic mission, this appointment illustrates the contribution of Burkinabe expertise to the reflection of the universal Catholic Church.
The International Theological Commission is an advisory body to the Holy See. It helps to explore in depth the doctrinal and theological issues facing the Church.
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