Liberia Reverand Named Chaplain to Pope [02-27-07]

The Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia, Rev. Fr. Andrew Karnley has been named Chaplain to the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI and has been given the title Monseigneur. According to a communication from the Vatican written in Latin and announced by the Catholic Bishop Conference of Liberia, (CABICOL) Fr. Karnley was appointed by the Secretary of State of the Vatican. The announcement signed by the President of CABICOL, Most Reverend Lewis Zeigler and read in various parishes within the Archdiocese extended congratulations to Monseigneur Karnley on behalf of the Bishops, Clergy, Religious and all the faithful of the church as the new honour and title are bestowed upon him.

Meanwhile, when contacted yesterday, Fr. Karnley confirmed the appointment by the Vatican and noted that the title was an honorary one in recognition of his numerous services to the church for the past years. He said the appointment was a normal tradition of the Roman Catholic in recognition to a Priest for enormous services to the church. He clarified that the title and appointment do not require him moving to Rome. He stated that the title was an elevation and will now be referred to as Reverend Monseigneur Andrew Karnley rather that Reverend Father Andrew Karnley. This is not the first time for a Liberian priest to be named to the post. Several Liberian priests including three from the Archdiocese of Monrovia, two from the Diocese of Cape Palmas and the current Bishop of the Diocese of the Gbarnga, Bishop Lewis Zeigler have all been appointed by the Vatican to the position.Monseigneur Karnley now becomes the fourth priest in the Archdiocese and the seventh Liberian priest to be given this honorable title. Monseigneur Karnley was in February 2005 named as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Monrovia by the late Pope John Paul II.

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