{{short description|Malian Roman Catholic prelate (born 1943)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Jean Zerbo | title = [[Archbishop of Bamako|Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Bamako]] | other_names = | image = Jean Zerbo (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Zerbo in June 2017 | church = [[Roman Catholic]] | archdiocese = Bamako | diocese = | see = Bamako | term = | appointed = 27 June 1998 | term_end = 25 July 2024 | predecessor = [[Luc Auguste Sangaré]] | successor = [[Robert Cissé]] | other_post = [[Sant'Antonio da Padova in Via Tuscolana|Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Antonio da Padova in Via Tuscolana]] (2017-) <!-- Orders --> | ordination = 10 July 1971 | ordained_by = Pierre Louis Leclerc | consecration = 20 November 1988 | consecrated_by = [[Jozef Tomko]] | cardinal = 28 June 2017 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Francis]] | rank = [[Cardinal-Priest]] <!-- Personal details --> | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|12|27|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Ségou]], [[Mali]] | death_date = | death_place = | previous_post = {{unbulleted list|[[Archbishop of Bamako|Auxiliary Bishop of Bamako]] (1988–94)|Titular Bishop of Accia (1988–94)|[[Bishop of Mopti]] (1994–98)}} | nationality = | religion = | ethnicity = | motto = {{lang|fr|Intendant des mystères de Dieu}} | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Jean Zerbo.svg }} '''Jean Zerbo''' (born 27 December 1943) is a Malian prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bamako|Bamako]] from 1998 to 2024. [[Pope Francis]] raised him to the rank of [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] on 28 June 2017. He is the first cardinal from [[Mali]].
==Biography== Jean Zerbo was born on 27 December 1943 in [[Ségou]], [[Mali]], and ordained a priest there on 10 July 1971<ref name=Annuncio>{{cite press release |access-date=21 May 2017 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2017/05/21/0345/00779.html |date=21 May 2017 |language=it |title=Annuncio di Concistoro il 28 giugno per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali, 21.05.2017 |publisher=Press Office of the Holy See}}</ref> by [[Pierre Louis Leclerc]], Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ségou|Ségou]].<ref>{{cite news |access-date=22 May 2017 |date=22 May 2017 |work=Africa Post News |url=https://africapostnews.com/2017/05/22/mali-leveque-de-bamako-nomme-cardinal-pape-francois/ |title=Mali: l'évêque de Bamako nommé Cardinal par le pape François |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013172348/https://africapostnews.com/2017/05/22/mali-leveque-de-bamako-nomme-cardinal-pape-francois/ |archive-date=13 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
He continued his education first in Lyon in 1975<ref>{{cite news |work=Jeune Afrique |language=fr |access-date=22 May 2017 |date=22 May 2017 |url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/440745/societe/mali-mgr-jean-zerbo-archeveque-de-bamako-nomme-cardinal-pape-francois/ |title=Mali : Mgr Jean Zerbo, archevêque de Bamako, nommé cardinal par le pape François}}</ref> and then in Rome at the [[Pontifical Biblical Institute]] from 1977 to 1981, earning his licenciate in sacred scripture.<ref name=Annuncio/> Beginning in 1982, he was assigned to parish work in [[Markala]] while also teaching at the Major Seminary in Bamako.<ref name=Annuncio/>
On 21 June 1988, [[Pope John Paul II]] appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bamako|Bamako]] and Titular Bishop of [[Diocese of Accia|Accia]].<ref>{{cite book |page=1248 |access-date=25 July 2024 |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-80-1988-ocr.pdf |date=1988 |volume=LXXX |title=Acta Apostolicae Sedis}}</ref> On 20 November 1988, he was [[consecrated]] bishop by [[Jozef Tomko]], Prefect of the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]], with [[Luc Auguste Sangaré]], Archbishop of Bamako, and [[Joseph Paul Barnabé Perrot]], Bishop emeritus of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of San|San]], as [[co-consecrators]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bzerbo.html |title=Jean Cardinal Zerbo [Catholic-Hierarchy] |last=Cheney |first=David M. |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org |access-date=13 February 2018}}</ref>
On 19 December 1994, Pope John Paul II named him Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mopti|Mopti]]<ref>{{cite book |page=214 |access-date=25 July 2024 |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-87-1995-ocr.pdf |date=1995 |volume=LXXXVII |title=Acta Apostolicae Sedis}}</ref> and on 27 June 1998 [[Archbishop of Bamako]].<ref>{{cite book |page=821 |access-date=25 July 2024 |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-90-1998-ocr.pdf |date=1998 |volume=LXXXX |title=Acta Apostolicae Sedis}}</ref>
[[Pope Francis]] raised Zerbo to the rank of cardinal at a [[Cardinals created by Francis#28 June 2017|consistory on 28 June 2017]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brockhaus |first1=Hannah |title=Pope Francis to Five New Cardinals: Jesus 'Calls You to Serve Like Him and With Him' |url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-to-five-new-cardinals-jesus-calls-you-to-serve-like-him-and-wi |access-date=28 June 2017 |work=National Catholic Register |date=28 June 2017}}</ref> assigning him the rank of cardinal-priest with the title of [[Sant'Antonio da Padova in Via Tuscolana]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2017/06/28/170628e.html |title=Ordinary Public Consistory: Assignment of Titles |date=28 June 2017 |website=[[Holy See Press Office]] |access-date=19 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902190858/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2017/06/28/170628e.html |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> He is the first cardinal from Mali.<ref name=first/> At the end of May, ''[[Le Monde]]'' reported that Zerbo and other Malian prelates had secret Swiss bank accounts.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |work=Le Monde |url=http://mobile.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2017/05/31/mali-desormais-cardinal-l-archeveque-de-bamako-a-abrite-des-millions-d-euros-en-suisse_5136232_3212.html |trans-title=Mali: archbishop of Bamako sheltered millions of euros in Switzerland |date=30 May 2017 |title=Mali: l'archevêque de Bamako a abrité des millions d'euros en Suisse |access-date=26 June 2017 |first=David |last=Dembélé}}</ref> Mali's conference of bishops responded that the financial dealings were "transparent", called the news report "tendentious", and noted that the [[Swiss Leaks]] release of financial documents appeared timed to embarrass the Catholic Church in Mali just when Zerbo's elevation put it in the public spotlight.<ref>{{cite news |language=it |access-date=26 June 2017 |url=http://www.repubblica.it/vaticano/2017/05/31/news/swissleaks_cardinale_bamako_mali-166931416/ |work=La Repubblica |title=Vaticano, accuse al neocardinale del Mali: 'Conti in Svizzera con 12 milioni di euro' |trans-title=Vatican, accuse the new Malian cardinal: accounts in Switzerland with 12 million euros |date=31 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=first>{{cite news |work=National Catholic Reporter |access-date=26 June 2017 |date=21 June 2017 |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/malis-first-cardinal-said-foster-regional-peace-understanding |title=Mali's first cardinal said to foster regional peace, understanding |first=Jonathan |last=Luxmoore |agency=Catholic News Service}}</ref> ''[[La Stampa]]'' said that Zerbo's participation in the consistory demonstrated that an internal investigation had cleared him of financial wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite news |work=La Stampa |access-date=28 June 2017 |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2017/06/28/vaticaninsider/ita/vaticano/il-papa-ges-non-vi-chiama-a-essere-prncipi-nella-chiesa-ma-a-servire-S8ytR3qjhvAhNe3xU8hHYL/pagina.html |date=28 June 2017 |language=it |title=Il Papa: "Gesù non vi chiama a essere prìncipi, ma a servire" |first=Andrea |last=Tornielli}}</ref>
As archbishop he has fostered dialogue between Christians and Mali's Muslim majority and participated in peace negotiations,<ref>{{cite news |access-date=21 May 2017 |date=21 May 2017 |work=MaliJet |url=http://malijet.com/a_la_une_du_mali/186071-l-archeveque-jean-zerbo-de-bamako-nomme-cardinal-par-le-pape-fra.html |language=fr |title=L'archevêque Jean Zerbo de Bamako nommé cardinal par le pape François}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=21 May 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/pope-names-cardinals-for-laos-mali-sweden-spain-salvador/2017/05/21/a9126b06-3e15-11e7-b29f-f40ffced2ddb_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522062958/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/pope-names-cardinals-for-laos-mali-sweden-spain-salvador/2017/05/21/a9126b06-3e15-11e7-b29f-f40ffced2ddb_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 May 2017 |title=Pope names cardinals for Laos, Mali, Sweden, Spain, Salvador |first=Frances |last=D'Emilio}}</ref> as well as called for humanitarian aid to those affected by conflicts in the country.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Slama |first1=Joe |title=Mali's first cardinal, Archbishop Jean Zerbo |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/36314/malis-first-cardinal-archbishop-jean-zerbo |access-date=22 February 2019 |work=Catholic News Agency |agency=Catholic News Agency/EWTN News}}</ref> In 2012, he was part of a delegation of representatives of civil society that participated in discussions between Mali's ruling military regime and opposition political parties. He has been an advocate for national reconciliation ever since.<ref name=pace>{{cite news |work=La Stampa |url=http://www.lastampa.it/2017/05/22/vaticaninsider/eng/the-vatican/jean-zerbo-cardinal-of-peace-in-mali-N2pMFzPJtt1gEZnjAadsJJ/pagina.html |title=Jean Zerbo, il cardinale della pace in Mali |access-date=23 May 2017 |date=22 May 2017 |first=Luca |last=Attanasio}}</ref> He has also served as president of Caritas Mali, an international aid program for refugees and the poor.<ref name = pace/>
On 4 October 2017, he was appointed a member of the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]].<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] |date=4 October 2017 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2017/10/04/171004a.html |access-date=19 December 2023 |title=Resignations and Appointments, 04.10.2017}}</ref> Pope Francis made him a member of the [[Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life]] on 23 December 2017.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] |date=23 December 2017 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2017/12/23/171223a.html |access-date=25 December 2017 |title=Resignations and Appointments, 23.12.2017}}</ref>
Pope Francis accepted his resignation as archbishop of Bamako on 25 July 2024.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/07/25/240725a.html |publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date=25 July 2024 |date=25 July 2024 |title=Resignations and Appointments, 25.07.2024}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Catholic Church in Mali]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}} * {{cite web |access-date=24 October 2017 |title=Zerbo Card. Jean |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_zerbo_j.html |url-status=live |archive-date=4 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904105014/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_zerbo_j.html}} * {{cite news |last1=Slama |first1=Joe |title=Mali's first cardinal, Archbishop Jean Zerbo |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/36314/malis-first-cardinal-archbishop-jean-zerbo |access-date=23 October 2017 |agency=Catholic News Agency |date=27 June 2017}}
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=[[Louis Dufaux|Louis Jean Dufaux]]}} {{s-tul|title=[[Diocese of Accia|Titular Bishop of Accia]]|years=21 June 1988 – 19 December 1994}} {{s-aft|after=[[Jean-Claude Périsset]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Georges Biard}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Bishop of Mopti]]|years=19 December 1994 – 27 June 1998}} {{s-aft|after=[[Georges Fonghoro]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Luc Auguste Sangaré]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Archbishop of Bamako]]|years=27 June 1998 – 25 July 2024}} {{s-aft|after=[[Robert Cissé]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Paulo Evaristo Arns]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Sant'Antonio da Padova in Via Tuscolana|Cardinal-Priest of Sant'Antonio da Padova in Via Tuscolana]]|years=28 June 2017–}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}} {{Cardinals created by Francis}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zerbo, Jean}} [[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Mali]] [[Category:Malian Roman Catholic bishops]] [[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Africa]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Africa]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope John Paul II]] [[Category:1943 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Ségou]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Francis]] [[Category:Malian cardinals]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Mopti]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Bamako]] [[Category:Roman Catholic archbishops of Bamako]]