In Kolda, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, a discreet man deeply rooted in Casamance became a bishop. Joseph Francis Badji, a native of Santhiaba, a trainer of priests and a champion of dialogue, embodies a path where humility and trust are not just words, but a way of life.

An ordination expected in Kolda

On April 11, 2026, the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, Joseph Francis Janvier Badji received the laying on of hands at Saint Benedict College in Kolda. The ceremony, presided over by Archbishop André Guèye of Dakar, marked his entry into the episcopate. Pope Leo XIV had appointed him coadjutor bishop on January 10, 2026, making this priest educator the designated successor to the first bishop of this young diocese.

Casamance roots and family faith

Born on January 1, 1966, in Santhiaba, a working-class neighborhood of Ziguinchor, Francis Badji grew up in a large family where faith and hard work were cornerstones. His mother, Fabiana Diémé, a laundress and courageous woman, instilled in him exemplary discipline and generosity. Testimonies from those close to him describe a calm, respectful, and helpful child, shaped by an atmosphere of prayer and solidarity.

After studying philosophy in Abidjan, he became a professor and then rector of the Brin Major Seminary. For a quarter of a century, he guided generations of seminarians, renowned for his rigor, patience, and attentiveness. A songwriter, he also enriched the liturgy with his musical compositions.

A man of dialogue and approachability

The accounts are consistent: Francis Badji is described as a smiling, kind man, attentive to others, regardless of religion. His childhood Muslim friend, Ibra Pouye, confided that he prayed for his appointment. In a diocese where Catholics represent less than 3% of the population, this openness is a strength.

His episcopal coat of arms bears the motto "Humility and Trust." Gray symbolizes humility, green hope. The Holy Family, the rising sun, the mangroves, and the palmyra palm reflect his deep roots in the faith and culture of Casamance. The canoeist facing east embodies his pastoral path, following in the footsteps of the missionaries.

On April 12, 2026, Bishop Badji presided over his first episcopal mass at the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires Cathedral in Kolda, the very place where he had served as vicar thirty-two years earlier.