Christophe Zoa

Background and education

He was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon on 10 June 1961. He studied philosophy and theology at the Nkolbisison Major Seminary in Nkolbisson, Yaoundé. He continued his studies at the Catholic University of Central Africa at Yaoundé, where he graduated with a licentiate in Canon Law. Later, he earned a doctorate in the same subject from the Catholic Institute of Paris.

Priesthood

Christophe Zoa was ordained a priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Yaoundé on 15 June 1991 by Jean Zoa, archbishop of Yaoundé. He served as a priest until 30 November 2006. While a priest, he served in various roles and locations, including:

Assistant priest in Yaoundé Archdiocese 1991–1992

Parish priest in various parishes in the archdiocese 1992–2000.

Studies at the Université Catholique d'Afrique Centrale, in Yaoundé, leading to the award of a licentiate in a canon law 1994–1997

Studies in Rome, Italy at the Catholic Institute of Paris, leading to the award of a doctorate in canon law 2001–2005

Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Yaoundé 2005–2006

As bishop

On 30 November 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Reverend Father Christophe Zoa, previously a member of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Yaoundé, as auxiliary bishop of the same Ecclesiastical Metropolitan Province. He was contemporaneously appointed titular bishop of Hilta. He was consecrated on 3 February 2007 at Yaoundé by Simon-Victor Tonyé Bakot, archbishop of Yaoundé, assisted by Eliseo Antonio Ariotti, titular archbishop of Vibiana and Antoine Ntalou, archbishop of Garoua.

On 4 December 2008, the Holy Father transferred Bishop Christopher Zoa, previously auxiliary bishop of Yaoundé, to the Diocese of Sangmélima, Cameroon. He was installed at Sangmélima on 30 January 2009. He continues to serve as the local ordinary at Sangmélima.