Religious man, politician, these are the two terms which well define the late Archbishop Emeritus of Lomé, Philippe Fanoko Kossi Kpodzro, who unfortunately died this Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at the age of 93. The Togolese Patriarch left his mark in the history of the country.
Born on March 30, 1930 in Tomégbé (Village 15km from the city center of Kpalimé, located at the foot of Mount Kloto), his father’s 3rd child, he was baptized on the following April 29 by the Reverend Father Jean-Marie BEDEL, a missionary figure worthy of the golden legend.
Philippe entered the Petits Clercs (Ouidah) in 1943. In 1945, he obtained his certificate of studies then entered the minor Seminary of Ouidah. After his first part baccalaureate in 1952, he traveled to Rome to continue his studies. He was thus the first of his generation to be sent to Rome for philosophical and theological studies. Two years later, he suffered from an illness. quite serious » which disrupted his training and delayed his ordination to the priesthood by a year and a half. In fact, instead of being ordained a priest in 1958 like his promotions, he received the priestly anointing on December 20, 1959.
In 1960, Philippe left for Switzerland to deepen his philosophy with a view to writing a thesis. He held 2 licenses, notably one in philosophy and another in priestly ordination. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1959, he studied “Letters” at the University of Fribourg.
From the University of Fribourg, he was recalled to Togo on August 17, 1961. His ministry took place in the small seminaries of Lomé and Atakpamé, successively Professor and Rector. It was in 1973 that Father Philippe Kpodzro was appointed National Delegate of Togolese priests and Secretary General of the SPCA (Permanent Secretariat of African Clergy).
On January 3, 1976, Abbot Philippe was appointed Titular Bishop of Bacanaria and Apostolic Administrator of “full seat” of Atakpamé replacing Monsignor Bernard Ogoubi Atakpah. “ His appointment quickly took on a personal character and an ethno-political aspect to the point that the planned Episcopal Ordination was in every way eventful. The ordination ceremonies were to take place in Atakpamé at the episcopal seat. The people of God were already surging from South to North and from East to West towards the city of Atakpamé. Faced with increasingly serious threats to prevent the ordination at all costs, the celebration was transferred overnight, at the last minute, to Lomé in the Saint Augustin church of Amoutivé. », said Very Reverend Father, Dovi Ndanu. However, “he had to live in exile in Lomé for four years, directing his diocese from afar wherever possible.”
In 1991, Togo, in search of a democratic path, chose Monseigneur Philippe Fanoko KPODZRO as President of the Sovereign National Conference. While everything was going well, in the middle of the assembly, he was sequestered for twenty-four hours and “ He is subjected to humiliation “. After the National Conference, he will lead the High Council of the Republic from August 1991 to February 1994.
“Every time there is a celebration in the life of Mgr KPODZRO, the cross presents itself”
When Lomé welcomed Mgr KPODZRO as Archbishop, with jubilation, a few months after his enthronement on February 2, 1993 the ordeal of illness presented itself again, which required several trips for treatment, delaying and disrupting his apostolic projects.
His intrepidity, which he certainly inherited from his AKPOSSO race, it is said, meant that “he does not capitulate in the face of difficulties and does not give up in trials”. Another secret of Philippe’s life is “his filial devotion to the Virgin Mary. His family education and his training at the Seminary of Ouidah prepared him for this devotion which is expressed in daily fidelity to the Rosary and in the invocation of “Mary conceived without sin” a you ” Seat of wisdom “ (Marie, “Throne of Wisdom”)”. Note that he also led the Episcopal Conference of Togo from 1992 to 2006.
A sergeant who fell with weapons in his hands
Monsignor Philippe Fanoko Kpodzro made his presence felt on the Togolese political scene even in his 90s. These various outings through press conferences, letters and press releases are, among other things, proof of his temerity and above all of his constant political commitment. He attacked opponents, the ruling party and even the Togolese Bishops’ Conference on social and political issues.
His convictions ultimately led him to support in 2020, during the presidential election, the candidacy of former Prime Minister Agbéyomé Kodjo who unfortunately lost the elections according to the official results communicated by the CENI and later confirmed by the Constitutional Court.
Not recognizing the results of this election and still demanding the victory of his “protege”, he went into exile in Ghana then in Sweden where the prelate finally died on Tuesday January 9 at the age of 93.
Atha ASSAN