The Catholic Church of Haiti is about to experience an unprecedented historic moment.
Cardinal Chibly Langlois, bishop of the Diocese of Les Cayes, will participate in the conclave to be held at the Vatican starting May 7, 2025, to elect the successor of Pope Francis, who has recently passed away.
According to the Catholic News Agency (CNA), this marks the first time a Haitian dignitary will participate in this crucial and solemn event for the future of the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Langlois’s participation in the College of Cardinal Electors represents a significant moment for a nation often marginalized in major ecclesiastical decisions.
In a statement released on April 22 following Pope Francis’s death, Cardinal Langlois paid tribute to whom he described as a “deeply human shepherd.” According to the Catholic News Agency (CNA), he highlighted the late pope’s ability to embody “a tangible spirituality rooted in compassion, listening, and brotherhood.” The Cardinal particularly emphasized the Holy Father’s commitment to the weakest, noting that he had transformed the Gospel into “a living call to comfort souls and inspire action.”
“In a world marked by injustice, Pope Francis reminded us that faith must permeate our daily lives,” Langlois stated. “He taught us that divine presence reveals itself in the attention given to every human being, particularly to the most destitute,” emphasized the sole Haitian cardinal.
Cuban Cardinal Juan García Rodríguez, Archbishop of Havana, will also be present, representing another Caribbean voice.
Appointed cardinal by Pope Francis in 2014, Chibly Langlois has become an influential figure at the Vatican. He holds important positions in several Roman Curia organizations, including the Dicastery for Communication, the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
His ecclesiastical journey began in 2004 when Pope John Paul II appointed him as the Bishop of Fort-Liberté. His ordination took place on June 6 of the same year. His pastoral mission has always aligned with his emblematic motto “Servire Cum Caritate” — “To Serve with Charity”.
In 2011, during Pope Benedict XVI’s pontificate, he was transferred to the Diocese of Les Cayes, where he continues his ministry today. He also served as the president of the Episcopal Conference of Haiti from 2011 to 2017. During the Synod on the Family in October 2014, he represented Haiti’s voice in international pastoral deliberations, as highlighted by CNA.
Born in La Vallée, in southeastern Haiti, on November 29, 1958, Chibly Langlois received his formation at the Notre-Dame Grand Seminary in Port-au-Prince. Ordained as a priest in 1991 for the Diocese of Jacmel, he furthered his education in Rome at the Pontifical Lateran University, where he earned a license in pastoral theology. His research work focused on “new evangelization as a work of inculturation in Haiti”.
Cardinal Langlois has also distinguished himself as a mediator in Haiti’s recurring political crises, demonstrating his commitment to national stability.
His dedication became particularly evident during natural disasters, notably after the devastating earthquake of January 2010. In 2021, following another earthquake, he stated during a Caritas Internationalis conference: “The Haitian people are suffering, believe me. Where poverty, violence, and disasters reign, the Church stands on the front lines.”
His participation in the upcoming conclave, at this crucial moment for the universal Church, represents a significant milestone for the Haitian Catholic community. His perspective, shaped by the experience of a resilient people, will be decisive in the election of the 267th pope.
