13th Annual Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya Bible Conferences Jésus et la maladie : déconstruction des schèmes traditionnels pour une nouvelle herméneutique
(Jn 5, 1-18 ; 9, 1-41)
The 13th edition of the Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya Bible Conferences was held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, both online and in person, at the Institute of Theology of the Society of Jesus (ITCJ) in Cocody Angré Château, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event brought together approximately 150 participants, including theology and Bible students, professors, priests and nuns, as well as healthcare professionals.
The morning began with a prayer led by Dr. Aurélien Folifack, SJ, director of the ITCJ, who then addressed the assembly with a welcome message. Dr. Augustin Somé, SJ, director of the Research Department and the Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya Biblical Chair (CB-CLMP), followed by presenting the day’s scholarly framework, thereby outlining the theological and hermeneutical challenges of the chosen theme.
Bishop Jacques Assanvo Ahiwa, the keynote speaker, then delivered a presentation lasting approximately 45 minutes on the passages from John 5:1–18 and 9:1–41. His reflection offered a fresh reading of the Gospel accounts of healing, free from traditional interpretive frameworks and open to a new hermeneutic. Dr. Joseph Zinsou responded to the lecture in about twenty minutes, offering a critical and complementary perspective on the proposals put forward.
After a break, the floor was opened to the audience for a session of discussion and debate that lasted nearly two hours, reflecting the richness and diversity of perspectives represented in the audience. The conference, moderated by Dr. Alexandre NGANDU, SJ, concluded at 1:00 p.m.
This 13th edition has once again confirmed the vitality of the Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya Chair of Biblical Studies as a forum for dialogue between the Word of God, theological research, and the realities of contemporary life
