On March 12, 2020, Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Jean-Patrick Iba-Ba, 53, Archbishop of the diocese of Libreville, capital of Gabon. Up to now, Monsignor Iba-Ba was Bishop of Franceville.
The Holy Father accepted the renunciation of the present Archbishop, Monsignor Basile Mve Engone, 78, of pastoral government.
Monsignor Iba-Ba was born on April 18, 1966, in Libreville. His Bishop sent him to Brazzaville, capital of the Congo, for his priestly formation. From 1993 to 1998 he studied at the Urban University of Rome.
Ordained a priest on July 19, 1998, for the Archdiocese of Libreville, he was Vice-Rector of the Saint Augustine Major Seminary in Libreville, then Rector of the small Saint John Seminary and parish priest. From 2004 to 2009, he studied Canon Law in Rome.
Then, from 2010 to 2012 he was National Deputy Director of Catholic Schools and General Chaplain of Catholic Education Institutes, before being appointed Rector of the Saint Augustine National Major Seminary in Libreville.
He was appointed Bishop of Franceville on November 4, 2017, and consecrated Bishop the following January 13.
