Interviewed by Emmanuel F. Sanosi
Christian Cardinal Tumi, considered as one of Cameroon’s most feared political critics represents the people’s hope for a decent future. Perhaps he is the person, who can lead Cameroon out of the present socio-political disaster, yet he has made it repeatedly and persistently clear he has no political ambitions. Maybe his reason in refusing to run for presidency can be found in Pope John Paul II’s book, Gift & Mystery, in which the Pope writes: “Humanity’s profound expectation of the priest is to fulfil its thirst of Christ… Everything else – their economic, social and political needs can be met by other people…” So, let us read what the Archbishop Emeritus of Bamenda, Fr. Paul Verdzekov, who is very close to Cardinal Tumi, thinks about him.
How would you evaluate Cardinal Tumi’s priestly vocation?
An evaluation can only be made by the person who invited him to become a priest, our Lord Jesus Christ. Who am I to evaluate another priest and human being? However, I know that Cardinal Tumi became a priest of the then Diocese of Buea on the second Sunday of Easter on April 17, 1966. On that day he took three resolutions: First, unquestioning obedience to his Bishop, second, never to say anything from the pulpit which would hurt anybody and third, never to take part in a political meeting and never to belong to any political party. Those who know him will testify that he has been faithful to those resolutions.
Now that he has retired is there anything you can as his brother, friend and fellow priest, say he has left undone for the church wherever he has served as a shepherd?
Personally, I think Cardinal Tumi has carried out his work as a priest and a bishop in a manner the church expected of him. There will certainly be some omissions which only our Lord Jesus Christ and, perhaps some people who know him better, might be aware of, but for me I think that he has been a Pastor as a Pastor ought to be.
Father Paul, with our human failings, we sometimes take resolutions and later on modify or re-evaluate them. You have consistently argued in Cardinal Tumi’s favour, in spite of public clamour he should be more involved in politics. The church exhorts Christians to be involved in the political life of their country. Is it that Cardinal Tumi cannot be involved in active politics? If yes, Why?
This distinction is necessary. Cardinal Tumi resolved never to belong to a political party and never to take part in a political meeting. This is not to say that he, or any pastor for that matter, should be disinterested in political affairs. In political issues people are free to take whatever decisions they like to take. The interest of a Pastor of Souls is for the common good and that involves politics but he himself does not adhere to a political party or promulgate political decisions and expecting all the Christians to follow him. The priest, who is a man of unity for all, has to steer clear of becoming partisan. So Cardinal Tumi does not go in for Partisan politics but this does not mean he is disinterested in what concerns the common good and the people’s common welfare.
A few years back, while reacting to government’s accusation that he wanted to take over political leadership, Cardinal Tumi explained that each citizen has a right to aspire for the highest office of the land, you both seem to think differently. Do you not see this as a contradiction in his personal and public philosophy?
I do not see any contradiction. Actually, Cardinal Tumi could not have said that every Cameroonian should aspire for presidency. What he would have said is that it is the right of every Cameroonian to aspire for that office, provided he is driven by the desire of the common good.
Many Cameroonians cannot really say who among the two of you is more an icon of the church, yet no two people are the same. Are there any issues over which the two of you have disagreed?
Icon in this sense is a living image, which for the church is based fundamentally on Baptism. Every Christian by reason of his Baptism is called upon to be an icon of Jesus Christ, such that a priest would be an icon in his own way, a Christian in his own way and the Cardinal in his own way, but that is not exclusive to him. As for any disagreements between us, I do not think we have ever had any.
Is there any way in which he has inspired you as a person or a priest?
I first talked about the three resolutions he took during his ordination and how he has tried to be loyal to them even when many Cameroonians have appealed and continue to appeal that he repeals them for the sake of patriotism and to defend the common good. Those are qualities I admire in him and I believe that they should inspire everyone especially those aspiring for the Catholic Priesthood.
Would you liken Cardinal Tumi to the pioneer Bishop of Nkongsamba, Mgr Ndongmo, in their respective political epochs?
In Mgr. Ndongmo’s time some people in power saw in him a threat to their political positions but Bishop Ndongmo was only doing his work as a Bishop. He used to tell us that we are not there as priests to talk about Heaven as if the Earth does not exist. In other words people work out their salvation here on earth.
Father Paul, you have retired for about four years now. Do you have any advise for Cardinal Tumi as he takes his own retirement?
I do not have any advice for Cardinal Tumi on how he should retire, but I would like to draw Christians and the public’s attention to the fact that Cardinal Tumi is now retired and that the current Archbishop of Douala is His Grace Samuel Kleda. So anyone paying Cardinal Tumi a visit should ensure that it is a strictly private visit and not a business visit, so to speak.
In your opinion, what do you consider as the greatest legacy he is leaving for the church in Douala in particular and Cameroon in general?
I cannot really say, but one of the things I will consider as a heritage pertains to the clergy. What I would call complete detachment from any earthly ambition: money in particular, property and generally amassing wealth. Somebody who has accepted the work and mission of a Catholic Priest should be completely detached from whatever earthly attachment and make himself available in serving God’s people. I think this is one of the greatest legacies Cardinal Tumi is leaving behnd, particularly for priests. There is also his rigour in being faithful to his call as a Priest, rather than using it as a mean of social advancement. Finally, I must include MACACOS, which is a very vital achievement for Douala Archdiocese.
An evaluation can only be made by the person who invited him to become a priest, our Lord Jesus Christ. Who am I to evaluate another priest and human being? However, I know that Cardinal Tumi became a priest of the then Diocese of Buea on the second Sunday of Easter on April 17, 1966. On that day he took three resolutions: First, unquestioning obedience to his Bishop, second, never to say anything from the pulpit which would hurt anybody and third, never to take part in a political meeting and never to belong to any political party. Those who know him will testify that he has been faithful to those resolutions.
Now that he has retired is there anything you can as his brother, friend and fellow priest, say he has left undone for the church wherever he has served as a shepherd?
Personally, I think Cardinal Tumi has carried out his work as a priest and a bishop in a manner the church expected of him. There will certainly be some omissions which only our Lord Jesus Christ and, perhaps some people who know him better, might be aware of, but for me I think that he has been a Pastor as a Pastor ought to be.
Father Paul, with our human failings, we sometimes take resolutions and later on modify or re-evaluate them. You have consistently argued in Cardinal Tumi’s favour, in spite of public clamour he should be more involved in politics. The church exhorts Christians to be involved in the political life of their country. Is it that Cardinal Tumi cannot be involved in active politics? If yes, Why?
This distinction is necessary. Cardinal Tumi resolved never to belong to a political party and never to take part in a political meeting. This is not to say that he, or any pastor for that matter, should be disinterested in political affairs. In political issues people are free to take whatever decisions they like to take. The interest of a Pastor of Souls is for the common good and that involves politics but he himself does not adhere to a political party or promulgate political decisions and expecting all the Christians to follow him. The priest, who is a man of unity for all, has to steer clear of becoming partisan. So Cardinal Tumi does not go in for Partisan politics but this does not mean he is disinterested in what concerns the common good and the people’s common welfare.
A few years back, while reacting to government’s accusation that he wanted to take over political leadership, Cardinal Tumi explained that each citizen has a right to aspire for the highest office of the land, you both seem to think differently. Do you not see this as a contradiction in his personal and public philosophy?
I do not see any contradiction. Actually, Cardinal Tumi could not have said that every Cameroonian should aspire for presidency. What he would have said is that it is the right of every Cameroonian to aspire for that office, provided he is driven by the desire of the common good.
Many Cameroonians cannot really say who among the two of you is more an icon of the church, yet no two people are the same. Are there any issues over which the two of you have disagreed?
Icon in this sense is a living image, which for the church is based fundamentally on Baptism. Every Christian by reason of his Baptism is called upon to be an icon of Jesus Christ, such that a priest would be an icon in his own way, a Christian in his own way and the Cardinal in his own way, but that is not exclusive to him. As for any disagreements between us, I do not think we have ever had any.
Is there any way in which he has inspired you as a person or a priest?
I first talked about the three resolutions he took during his ordination and how he has tried to be loyal to them even when many Cameroonians have appealed and continue to appeal that he repeals them for the sake of patriotism and to defend the common good. Those are qualities I admire in him and I believe that they should inspire everyone especially those aspiring for the Catholic Priesthood.
Would you liken Cardinal Tumi to the pioneer Bishop of Nkongsamba, Mgr Ndongmo, in their respective political epochs?
In Mgr. Ndongmo’s time some people in power saw in him a threat to their political positions but Bishop Ndongmo was only doing his work as a Bishop. He used to tell us that we are not there as priests to talk about Heaven as if the Earth does not exist. In other words people work out their salvation here on earth.
Father Paul, you have retired for about four years now. Do you have any advise for Cardinal Tumi as he takes his own retirement?
I do not have any advice for Cardinal Tumi on how he should retire, but I would like to draw Christians and the public’s attention to the fact that Cardinal Tumi is now retired and that the current Archbishop of Douala is His Grace Samuel Kleda. So anyone paying Cardinal Tumi a visit should ensure that it is a strictly private visit and not a business visit, so to speak.
In your opinion, what do you consider as the greatest legacy he is leaving for the church in Douala in particular and Cameroon in general?
I cannot really say, but one of the things I will consider as a heritage pertains to the clergy. What I would call complete detachment from any earthly ambition: money in particular, property and generally amassing wealth. Somebody who has accepted the work and mission of a Catholic Priest should be completely detached from whatever earthly attachment and make himself available in serving God’s people. I think this is one of the greatest legacies Cardinal Tumi is leaving behnd, particularly for priests. There is also his rigour in being faithful to his call as a Priest, rather than using it as a mean of social advancement. Finally, I must include MACACOS, which is a very vital achievement for Douala Archdiocese.
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