..Discusses 2025-2050 pastoral vision
Catholic bishops across Africa have converged on Kigali for the 20th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), with a collective call to end all ongoing armed conflicts on the continent.
“The theme of this Plenary Assembly: ‘Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation, and Peace’ deeply touches the soul of our continent. In a world fractured by wars, poverty, forced displacements, and ecological crises, we turn our gaze to Christ, who is the living source of healing and renewal,” Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, president, SECAM and Archbishop of Kinshasa, stated in his opening.
The plenary had in attendance over 250 Catholic bishops representing various episcopal conferences across Africa and representatives from other continents—Asia, Latin America, North America, and Europe. The plenary started on Wednesday, July 30, and will conclude on Monday, August 4, 2025.
According to Besungu, the Church in Africa must be a sign and sacrament of unity, justice, and lasting peace. He also urged the bishops to be instruments of reconciliation, stating that Christ walks with Africa.
“It is He who walks with Africa in its wounds, who reconciles divided hearts, and who offers hope where despair threatens. As disciples, we are called to become artisans of peace, prophets of hope, and instruments of reconciliation. This is not only a theological conviction but a pastoral urgency,” Besungu stated.
Arnaldo Sanchez Catalan, Apostolic Nuncio to Rwanda, called for continued peace initiatives between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially regarding the conflict in eastern Congo. “There are high hopes for genuine, lasting peace. Many attempts have been made in the past. We pray that this time, peace talks and agreements will hold and bring about lasting peace.”
Justin Nsengiyumva, Rwanda’s Prime Minister, in addressing the assembly, stated that the Church and government of Rwanda have spared no effort in ensuring the success of the SECAM Plenary, and commended the Church for being a reliable partner of many governments, especially in social services, education, and health.
“Africa is at a crossroads. The wounds of the past are still healing, and new global pressures are emerging. But within these challenges lies a unique opportunity for renewal. The Church in Africa, as a voice of conscience, has a vital role to play in inspiring ethical leadership, promoting dignity, and reinforcing the moral compass of our nations,” Nsengiyumva stated.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, in attendance at the SECAM Plenary in solidarity of the World’s bishops, and suggested practical ways the Church in Africa could collaborate with the Dicastery.
Later, during a plenary session held at the Kigali Convention Centre, the Bishops were reminded of SECAM’s purpose. The session aimed to reaffirm why the continental association of bishops exists and to familiarise ‘younger bishops’ with SECAM’s raison d’être.
The presentation was led by Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, Ghana’s Archbishop of Cape Coast, who took the assembly through a reflection on SECAM’s history, sharing statistics, quotes from previous plenaries, and relevant Church documents.
