Question 2.26

2.26 In 1976, you were named professor then rector of John XXIII minor seminary in Conakry.

Yes, and the seminarians were numerous, almost a hundred of them; but the formators and educators who had preceded me certainly lacked discipline. A sort of moral disintegration prevailed. Moreover, it was an institution where we could merely house the seminarians outside of classes, because Sékou Touré had required that all young people pursue their studies in public institutions.

I wanted to establish true discipline very quickly. Unfortunately, the students, who had been left to their own devices for months, did not accept the strict rules that I wished to introduce. At first I had to face a small rebellion. But the absence of spiritual formation was much deeper than I could have imagined.

One night a student or group of students set fire to the chapel. … Therefore I asked those who were guilty to confess publicly. No one wanted to admit responsibility. As a second step, I appealed to those who knew to accuse the ones who had committed this serious offense. I even went so far as to say that if this abominable act had targeted my own room I could have forgiven it. But the chapel was the house of the Lord. Despite my insistence that the guilty party courageously take responsibility, no one would say anything. Therefore, I said that if this silence about the origin of the fire continued, I would make the decision to close the seminary. I thought of the formation that I had received from Archbishop Tchidimbo, and I knew that he would have made the same decision.

The prefecture of Kindia summoned me, ordering me to reverse my decision, because only a counter-revolutionary act would have authorized me to close the seminary. But I did not give in because I considered that a desecration committed by a seminarian could not remain unpunished. The government officials insisted that I reopen the doors of the seminary with all possible speed. Once again I explained that I would not go back on my decision. How could we allow future priests, men of God, to indulge in acts of sacrilege? Given my determination and my explanations, the prefect of Kindia understood better that the reasons for my decision were nonnegotiable. He finally backed my decision. During the year that had just begun, the minor seminary therefore remained closed.

At the beginning of the next school year, I asked the priests to send me a certificate of good conduct for each student who entered the seminary. The number of students was cut in half, but I was certain that these young men were fit to begin a life of service to God.

Despite this incident, I have good memories of my life as rector of John XXIII seminary. I had the sense that I was passing on the knowledge that so many professors had imparted to me with discipline, courage, and selflessness.