Ignace Bessi Dogbo was born on 17 August 1961 in Niangon-Adjamé, a village in the District of
Abidjan. He was ordained a priest on 2 August 1987 by
Laurent Akran Mandjo Bishop of the diocese of
Yopougon and fulfilled parish assignments in that diocese for two years. Beginning in 1989, he studied for four years at the
Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and earned a degree in exegesis. Returning to Yopougon, he was diocesan director of the
Pontifical Mission Societies from 1993 to 1995 and vicar general of the diocese from 1995 to 1997. In 1997, he was appointed parish priest of the Saint-André Cathedral in Yopougon. From 1993 to 1997 he was also professor of biblical languages at Saint Paul major seminary in Abadjin Kouté (
Songon) and diocesan spiritual assistant to the Young Christian Students. He received his episcopal consecration on 4 July In 2017, he became Apostolic Administrator of
Korhogo. From 2017 to June 2023, he was president of the
Conference of Catholic Bishops of the Ivory Coast. He was installed on 3 August in the
Cathedral of Saint Paul in Abidjan. On 6 October 2024, Pope Francis announced that he planned to make Bessi Dogbo a cardinal on 8 December, a date that was later changed to 7 December. On 7 December 2024, Pope Francis made him a cardinal, assigning him as a member of the order of cardinal priests the title of
Santi Mario e Compagni Martiri. He participated as a
cardinal elector in the
2025 papal conclave that elected
Pope Leo XIV. ==See also==