Category: In The Press

The Ethiopian Crown Council extends its deep condolences to the Roman Catholic Church and its faithful around the world – and particularly to the numerous Catholic congregations in Ethiopia – for the passing last week of His Holiness Pope Francis I. Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President of the Crown Council, has released a statement commemorating the late Pope and his legacy of peace and love.

“I had the good fortune to meet His Holiness Pope Francis in May 2021,” Prince Ermias said.[1] “Pope Francis embodied compassion and the courage to work towards peace. His mission will live on in our own work, in our own service, in our decision to advance his values in Ethiopia and around the world.”

When Prince Ermias met with Pope Francis, it renewed a relationship between the Holy See and Ethiopia dating back many centuries. The Vatican had hosted Ethiopian pilgrims ever since the fifteenth century. A century ago, Pope Benedict XV converted a hostel for those pilgrims into the Pontifical Ethiopian College, the only seminary of its kind within Vatican walls, and a special stop on Prince Ermias’s 2021 visit. Prince Ermias’s grandfather, Emperor Haile Selassie I, met with Pope Paul VI in November 1970.

“I was honored,” Prince Ermias said, “to visit Pontifical Ethiopian College during my visit to meet Pope Francis, and I felt as if he and I represented the continuity of our respective legacies, spiritual and secular. But I understood his humanity, his love of the poor, his devotion to his calling to mean that we should not focus on memories of our past, but on building our shared future.”

Prince Ermias noted the Pope’s personal role in the search for peace and reconciliation in the Horn of Africa. “Pope Francis passionately prayed and appealed for peace and stability in South Sudan,” Prince Ermias noted. “We will never forget the moment in 2019 when His Holiness knelt and kissed the feet of South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. We know that he also prayed for peace in Ethiopia after our meeting in 2021. In turn, we now pray that Pope Francis’s transition from mortality to immortality will lead to the restoration of peace and national cohesion in South Sudan, and that Ethiopia’s spiritual and secular leaders will follow his example in praying and working for peace on our own home.”

Prince Ermias also noted, “Pope Francis was known for concluding his audiences with one simple, powerful request: ‘Pray for me.’ And now, with hearts full of faith and memory, we do just that. He was a truly gifted, blessed and humble human being. In this world of uncertainty, fear, and violence, his wisdom will truly be missed. We will pray for his soul in unison.”

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[1] https://ethiopiancrown.org/meeting-at-the-vatican-between-hh-pope-francis-i-and-hih-prince-ermias-sahle-selassie/

6 ጥር 2017 / 15 January 2025 – On January 14, 2025, His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, and Patron of the Royal Ethiopian Trust, together with his wife, Princess Saba Kebede and other members of the Imperial family of Ethiopia, were present at the re-consecration of Addis Ababa’s Holy Trinity Cathedral following extensive renovation of the building.  Prince Ermias was appointed as Fundraising Ambassador for fundraising efforts for the Cathedral outside of Ethiopia in November 2023.

The ceremonies began with the ታቦቶች/Tabots (Arks) of the Cathedral being carried in procession from the Church of Beále Wold where they were enshrined while the Cathedral was being restored.  The Tabots were then brought to the front of the Cathedral before celebrating guests and faithful, while His Holiness Patriarch Abune Mathias I, Patriarch of Ethiopia, Archbishop of Axum and Echege of the See of St. Tekle Haimanot, assisted by numerous Archbishops, priests and deacons of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, blessed the outside walls of the cathedral and then the interior, before he re-consecrated the three altars of the Cathedral and re-enshrined the Tabots upon them.  Their Imperial Highnesses Prince Ermias and Princess Saba, along with other senior members of the Imperial family, were guests of honor to witness the re-dedication of this holy site built by His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie.  The Cathedral hierarchy and the Renovation and Development Committee of the Cathedral offered special thanks to Prince Ermias for his efforts towards raising funds towards achieving the completed restoration.

His Holiness the Patriarch in his remarks published in honor of this occasion noted that:

 The ancient Israelites in the time of Moses established the Tent of the Tabernacle to carry out their religious rites, and King Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem that served as the site of worship of the Almighty for 364 years.  After the passing of these houses of worship, the New Testament Church of Christ was established in the Upper Room of Zion in the home of the mother of St. Mark the Evangelist by the Holy Apostles and their teachings, as well as the efforts of the scholars of the early church, spreading across the world and down to our time….and so in the time of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie, with amazing skill and refinement, this great church was built to celebrate great celebrations, to enthrone our fathers the Holy Patriarchs, to consecrate the Bishops, to honor leaders of the country and other important people upon their passing, and lay them to rest.  As the age and deteriorated condition of Altar of Victory Holy Trinity Cathedral raised the concern of all of you our children in the Holy Spirit, both in the country and abroad, your great efforts to preserve this landmark and pass it on to future generations has borne fruit, and for that we offer thanks to God and congratulate you.

His Imperial Highness has expressed his great pleasure that this holy site, and monument to his grandfather Emperor Haile Selassie, as well as to many great patriots of the struggle against fascist occupation has been restored.  He is also deeply honored by the thanks offered to him personally for his efforts.

LALIBELA 29 ታኅሣሥ 2017 / 7 January 2025 His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President of the Ethiopian Crown Council (shown at right), is in Lalibela, Ethiopia, celebrating the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord today. His Highness wishes all Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians a blessed Christmas.

The famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, recognized as World Heritage Sites, are among Ethiopia’s most treasured pilgrimage sites. Traditionally dated to the reign of the great medieval emperor Gebre Meskel Lalibela, they are a symbolic representation of Jerusalem, and commemorate Ethiopia’s age-old ties to the Holy Land.

Prince Ermias is in Ethiopia in January for a series of important events, including the formal reopening of Menbere Tsebaot Cathedral, more commonly known as Holy Trinity Cathedral, in Addis Ababa on January 14. On January 5, His Highness attended a celebration (shown below) in honor of those who contributed to the renovation of Trinity Cathedral. Prince Ermias spearheaded a fundraising campaign in 2023 and 2024 resulting in a major contribution to that renovation.

His Highness thanks all friends of the Ethiopian Crown Council for their support of this initiative.

On November 11, 2024, Lij Nebyat Aklilu Demessie, Public Relations Officer and Advisor to the Crown Council of Ethiopia, participated in an international prayer day for global peace on behalf of HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile Selassie. The event was organized by the “Light Must Unite,” a global peace effort founded by entrepreneur and visionary philanthropist Michael King Jr. and public relations, special events, branding and marketing guru Cygalle Dias, alongside the Light Must Unite Initiative co-founders Makonnen Hanna and Barbara Blake-Hannah of Jamaica. The panel was co-moderated by fashion icon, Joseph DeAcetis as well as music producer and entrepreneur, Makonnen Hanna with closing remarks made by founders Michael King Jr. and Cygalle Dias.

The mission of the “Light Must Unite” is to unite communities worldwide in the fight against violence, to foster peace, and to encourage positive societal transformation. During the Crown Council of Ethiopia’s official state visit to Jamaica in 2022, both Makonnen and Barbara Blake-Hannah accompanied Prince Ermias, Princess Saba Kebede, and advisors to the Crown Council.

The international prayer day event commenced with video tributes from historical figures including the late Emperor Haile Selassie, President John F. Kennedy, and American hotelier and humanitarian Conrad Hilton. The event featured a distinguished panel of speakers from diverse fields such as business, the arts, and philanthropy, including Matthew W. Rockefeller, J. Bradley Hilton, Chaka Khan, Young Wylin, Marla Maples, Jimmy Levy, Khalilah Camacho Ali, Xana Romeo, Ana Carla Sinclair, Sheila Chamberlain and other notable figures. The discussions centered around the power of prayer, meditation, peace, and unity.

Prince Ermias, who was unable to attend in person, submitted a written speech that was delivered by Lij Nebyat. Prince Ermias’ speech opened with a powerful quote from Emperor Haile Selassie on the importance of peace and the ongoing effort required to achieve it. Prince Ermias emphasized the universal need for peace and collective security, particularly in light of the global challenges facing humanity.

As a panelist in his own right, Lij Nebyat also spoke about the work of Selassie Stand Up, Inc., an organization he founded to promote the legacy of Emperor Haile Selassie. He highlighted the organization’s advocacy for the creation of a statue of the Emperor in the African Union Headquarters as a constant reminder of the Emperor’s commitment to peace, unity, and collective security. Lij Nebyat was also successful in getting approval from the Government of Jamaica to build a statue of HIM Emperor Haile Selassie during the Crown Council of Ethiopia’s official State Visit to Jamaica in 2022.

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Please see HIH Prince Ermias’ written speech below:

Greetings Distinguished Guests, Conference Participants, Ladies & Gentlemen:

In the words of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie: “Peace is a day-to-day problem; it is the product of a multitude of events and judgments. Peace is not an ‘is,’ it is a ‘becoming.’” This means that achieving peace is an ongoing process that requires constant effort and attention to detail, rather than a single moment or state that can be simply attained and then easily sustained; it’s about actively working towards peace every day, making choices that contribute to it, and recognizing that peace is always evolving and needs to be continuously cultivated.

Peace requires a just cause, dedication, determination, commitment and resolve. It is a product of a multitude of events and judgments because peace is impacted by each and every one of us as well as the decisions we make individually and collectively. Peace is a process and a journey that starts within each and every one of us. Peace is dependent on how we chose to act and also interact with others.

During such troubling times, the universal necessity of peace cannot be overemphasized. We, therefore, must continue to strive in our efforts to achieve the ideals of humanity, global peace, collective security and unity.

As President, and on behalf of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, We thank the organizers of the Light Must Unite for this opportunity, international day of prayer for peace and the global call for unity. We implore each and every person to do his or her part in prayer, meditation and action to achieve ideals of humanity, global peace and unity.

Thank you so very much for this opportunity and organizing this very important meeting. Together, in prayer, unity and collective action we can achieve.

May God Bless you all!

The Annual Victory of Adwa Dinner for 2024 was held 23 March 2024 in Washington, DC.

Proceeds from the sale of photographs on this website – which also includes photos from the 2019-2023 Victory of Adwa Dinners – will go to support The Crown Council of Ethiopia.

Last month, representatives of the Ethiopian Crown Council traveled to Panama for an official visit hosted by the Panamanian government. HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie, President of the Crown Council, led the delegation, which included his wife HIH Princess Saba Kebede and advisors to the Crown Council representing the Moa Anbessa Institute. The trip, organized by the Tourism Authority of Panama, included meetings and events with Panama’s ministries of Foreign Affairs, Culture, and Tourism. These activities were part of a larger event on the theme of reunion between Africa and the African diaspora. Other guests included Her Majesty Queen Diambi of Congo’s Bakwa Luntu people; His Royal Highness Doctor Rilwan Sulaiman, Emir of Bauchi (Nigeria); and His Royal Highness Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the ooni of Ife (Nigeria).

On May 19, Prince Ermias gave a speech on the subject of colonialism and “The Unfinished Road to Freedom.” He described Ethiopia’s unique role in African history as the continent’s sole unconquered country and stressed the role that the Ethiopian monarchy played in unifying Ethiopia in the face of European aggression. He suggested that the final step in the liberation process was to “decolonize our minds.” He invited the audience to consider Africa’s wars over ethnicity, ideology, and natural resources, and asked “whether these are really our own values, or whether they have been imposed on us from the outside.” In his concluding remarks, he argued that “Africa’s traditional monarchies are a symbol of Africa’s freedom,” and called upon all Africans to “build a new generation of Africans proud of our traditions.”

On May 24, Prince Ermias joined the leadership of the Rastafarian community of Panama at an event hosted with the Ministry of Culture and the National Secretariat for the Development of Afro-Panamanians. Leading Rasta intellectuals presented on the topic of Rastafarians as a nation without a state. Prince Ermias gave a speech exploring the connections between the Rasta movement, Ethiopia’s church, and Ethiopia’s crown. He recorded the long history of support the African diaspora and the Rasta movement have given the Ethiopian crown, particularly during World War II and the years since the revolution of 1974.

In this speech, Prince Ermias invited the Rasta community to build closer ties to Ethiopia and to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. “The church gives me a goal and a guide,” he said in his concluding remarks, “the inspiration we can find in the humility, love, and forgiveness of Jesus and his ultimate sacrifice. The crown gives me a burden to carry, the obligation I owe to my cousins, my uncle, my grandfather, and to all of our ancestors, the duty I have to preserve the memory of my family and its role in the history of my culture and my people. So I have both a burden and a guide. The Rastas who have grown ever closer to our church and the Rastas who stand loyal to our crown have carried the same burden with me, following the same guide.”

Coverage of the Crown Council trip to Panama in the press and in social media has been extensive, and Prince Ermias’s speech to the Rasta community received live televised coverage. Ethiopian news site Borkena published a statement about the trip by the Moa Anbessa Institute on June 7. That statement read, in part:

It is our belief that the process of healing and reconciliation for the purposes of promoting and fostering peace and unity on the basis of a common history and identity starts with education, understanding and an open heart to learn and to forgive. Thus, it is only when we understand, forgive past injustices and reconcile with our history that we can begin to chart a path forward built on mutual trust, confidence and partnership beneficial to all people including the environment in which we live.

The Crown Council is grateful to support from the Moa Anbessa Institute and for the presence of its representatives on this trip. The Moa Anbessa statement makes an important point. Education and understanding are crucial for peace and reconciliation, both in Ethiopia specifically and Africa more generally. The Crown Council invites all Ethiopians to join in this journey, and invites everyone to remember the crucial role that Africa’s traditional institutions have to play in building bridges of peace and reconciliation, and in building Africa’s future.