During a mass celebrated in Gitongo Parish, Mutaho commune, by Bishop Simon Ntamwana, Archbishop of Gitega Archdiocese, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Evariste Ndayishimiye, during his intention, thanked the Almighty God for protecting Burundi, during the year 2020.

The President of the Republic implored the Lord to continue keeping Burundi and the Burundians, in his hands, during the year 2021 and the years to follow. He also asked for divine strength so that he could properly accomplish the mission entrusted to him by the Burundians to rule Burundi during the 7 years of his mandate. He wished all Burundians a year of peace, security, good health and prosperity.

That mass which marked the beginning of the 4-day thanksgiving prayer was enhanced by all the presidential family and the high personalities of the country, the officials and senior executives of the country, the population of Gitongo parish and the servants of God from Gitega Archdiocese.

In his homily, the Archbishop of Gitega, Bishop Simon Ntamwana asked the Catholic Church believers in particular and all Burundians in general, to always pay respect to God in everything and everywhere because he is alpha and omega. Based on the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew (2: 13-18), Bishop Simon Ntamwana asked the Burundian authorities and all Burundians in general to avoid the worst like that which King Herod committed by killing all children up to the age of two in Bethlehem and throughout the region, for sectarian interests.

Bishop Simon Ntamwana further asked the Burundians to always obey the commandment of love, according to the holy bible, and the Burundian authorities to properly serve the Burundian people.