Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the pastoral office of the diocese of Cayenne, French Guiana, tendered by Monsignor Emmanuel Lafont, reported the Holy See on October 26, 2020.
Born on October 26, 1945, Monsignor Lafont reached the canonical limit of 75 years of age to exercise the Episcopal Ministry. He has been Bishop of Cayenne since 2004.
After studies in Theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University and at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, he was ordained priest for the diocese of Tours in 1970.
From 1983 to 1994 he was a fidei donum priest in Soweto, South Africa and took part in the struggle against apartheid. From 1994 to 1996 he was Vice-Rector of Pretoria’s Seminary.
From 1997 to 2002, he was Director of Pontifical Missionary Works, Secretary of the Episcopal Commission of the Universal Mission and of the Episcopal Committee for Missionary Cooperation — all in France, then parish priest of Langeais from 2003 to 2004.
Monsignor Lafont has not yet indicated how and where he envisages continuing his mission as Bishop Emeritus.
