Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has conveyed a powerful message of hope, reconciliation, and unity to the participants of the 20th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), currently underway in Kigali, Rwanda. Through a heartfelt message delivered on his behalf by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, the Pope encouraged African Church leaders to deepen their experience of God’s love and become enduring symbols of peace in their communities.
Held under the theme "Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace," the Assembly draws bishops from across Africa and Madagascar for a week of reflection, collaboration, and renewal. In his message addressed to Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM, Pope Leo emphasized that true reconciliation must begin with a spiritual transformation rooted in divine love.
“The Holy Father prays,” the message reads, “that your deliberations will highlight the importance of fostering an intense experience of the love of God that awakens in hearts the sure hope of salvation in Christ.” He further urged participants to promote unity in regions torn apart by division, tribalism, and political strife.
Pope Leo also expressed confidence that the local Churches of Africa will continue to stand as “tangible signs of hope” for all people, especially the marginalized and oppressed. By embodying Christ’s message of peace and compassion, the Pope believes the African Church can be a guiding light for a continent seeking healing and harmony.
The Pope entrusted the fruits of the Assembly to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, calling her the “Mother of Hope.” He closed his message with an Apostolic Blessing to all participants, offering it as “a pledge of communion in the Lord.”
As Africa continues to face challenges ranging from conflict to poverty, Pope Leo's message calls on the Church to be a proactive agent of transformation, not just through words, but through a lived witness of faith and fraternity.