François Sylla
| The Most Reverend François Sylla | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Conakry, Guinea | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Conakry |
| See | Conakry |
| Appointed | 28 February 2026 |
| Installed | 28 February 2026 |
| Predecessor | Vincent Coulibaly |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Other post | Coadjutor Archbishop of Conakry (11 May 2024 - 28 February 2026) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 21 November 2004 |
| Consecration | 8 June 2024 by Jean-Sylvain Emien Mambé |
| Rank | Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | François Sylla 9 April 1972 Siboty, Archdiocese of Conakry, Guinea |
François Sylla (born 9 April 1972) is a Guinean Catholic prelate who serves as the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Conakry, in Guinea. He was appointed to that position on 28 February 2026. Before that, from 11 May 2024 until 28 February 2026, he was the Coadjutor Bishop of the same Catholic Archdiocese. He was appointed bishop by Pope Francis. He was consecrated at Conakry on 8 June 2024 by Jean-Sylvain Emien Mambé, Titular Archbishop of Potentia in Piceno, the Papal Nuncio. On 28 February 2028, upon the health-related resignation of Archbishop Vincent Coulibaly from the pastoral care of the Ecclesiastical Metropolitan Province of Conakry, Archbishop François Sylla succeeded him as the new archbishop, that same day.
Background and education
He was born on 9 April 1972 in Siboty, in the Catholic Archdiocese of Conakry. He attended the Kindia Minor Seminary in Kindia. He then studied at the Jean XXIII Preparatory Seminary, also in Kindia. He studied philosophy and theology at the Saint Augustin de Samaya Major Seminary in Bamako, Mali. He holds a Master's degree in comparative law of religions awarded by the Faculty of Theology of Lugano in Switzerland, where he studied from 2007 until 2010. From 2010 until 2013, he studied at the Pontifical Lateran University, in Rome, Italy, where he graduated with a Doctorate in canon law.[1][2]
Priest
He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Conakry on 21 November 2004. He served as a priest until 11 May 2024. While a priest, he served in various roles and locations, including:[1][2]
- Parish vicar of Conakry Cathedral from 2004 until 2007.
- Studies in Switzerland at the Faculty of Theology of Lugano, leading to the award of a master's degree in comparative law of religions, from 2007 until 2010.
- Provider of pastoral services in the San Giovanni Battista – Induno Olona Parish in the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan, Italy from 2007 until 2011.
- Studies in Rome, Italy at the Pontifical Lateran University, leading to the award of a doctorate in canon law from 2010 until 2013.
- Chancellor of the archdiocese of Conakry from 2013 until 2024.
- Judicial vicar and president of the Metropolitan Tribunal of Conakry from 2015 until 2024.
- President of the Union of the Clergy in Guinea from 2018 until 2022.
- Rector of the Benoit XVI Major Seminary in Kendoumayah, Guinea from 2020 until 2024.[1][2]
Bishop
On 11 May 2024, Pope Francis appointed Reverend Father Monsignor François Sylla, previously a member of the clergy of same Archdiocese as Coadjutor Archbishop of the archdiocese of Conakry, with the right of succession when the position fell vacant in the future.[1][2] He was consecrated at Conakry on 8 June 2024 by the hands of Jean-Sylvain Emien Mambé, Titular Archbishop of Potentia in Piceno assisted by Vincent Coulibaly, Archbishop of Conakry and Raphaël Balla Guilavogui, Bishop of N'Zérékoré.
On 28 February 2026, Pope Leo XIV accepted the health-related resignation submitted by Archbishop Vincent Coulibaly from pastoral care of the Ecclesiastical Metropolitan Province of Conakry. That same day, the Holy Father appointed Archbishop François Sylla, previously coadjutor archbishop of the same archdiocese to succeed and become the substantive archbishop.[3][4]
See also
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Back to citation occurrence 1.2 Back to citation occurrence 1.3 Agenzia Fides (13 May 2024). "Africa/Guinea: Appointment of coadjutor archbishop with special faculties of Conakry". Agenzia Fides. Vatican City. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Back to citation occurrence 2.3 Holy See Press Office (11 May 2024). "Appointment of coadjutor archbishop with special faculties of Conakry, Guinea". Holy See Press Office. Vatican City. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- Back to citation Florienne Boré (28 February 2026). "Religion: Archbishop François Sylla appointed new Archbishop of Conakry" (Translated from the original French language). ConakryInfos.com. Conakry, Guinea. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- Back to citation Mohamed Bangoura (28 February 2026). "Archdiocese of Conakry: Bishop François Sylla succeeds Vincent Coulibaly after his resignation" (Translated from the original French language). MosaiqueGuinee.com. Conakry, Guinea. Retrieved 1 March 2026.