N’Djamena: The African Church continues to find inspiration and guidance in Pope Saint John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation, Ecclesia in Africa, even thirty years after its release, according to Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa. Speaking at the 13th Plenary Assembly of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACERAC), the Cardinal highlighted the enduring urgency of the document in addressing contemporary pastoral and societal challenges across the continent.
The ACERAC assembly, taking place in N’Djamena, Chad, carries the theme: “The Challenges of the Church, the Family of God in Central Africa: 30 Years after Ecclesia in Africa.” Cardinal Ambongo, also President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), reflected on the Exhortation as a pastoral roadmap for an Africa emerging from colonialism, dictatorship, and societal divisions, yet marked by vibrant faith and hope.
In his address, Cardinal Ambongo echoed the vision articulated by Pope John Paul II at the conclusion of the 1994 African Synod: the Church in Africa is called to embody communion rooted in love, reconciliation, justice, and peace. “Ecclesia in Africa was more than a document; it was a guide for a continent in transition, calling the Church to be a source of hope, moral guidance, and social engagement,” he said.
The Cardinal reminded the assembly that, three decades later, the exhortation’s vision remains vital and urgent. He invited the bishops to undertake a process of ecclesial self-examination: assessing what initiatives have borne fruit, identifying fragile or incomplete areas, and renewing the Church’s commitment to its mission in African societies.
“The Church must continue to act as an agent of reconciliation, justice, peace, and hope faithful to the Gospel while actively responding to the concrete realities of African communities,” Cardinal Ambongo emphasized.
Highlighting practical directions for the Church, the Cardinal outlined three priorities:
Formation of Peacemakers: Seminaries, Catholic universities, and educational institutions must train men and women capable of promoting peace, rooted in the Gospel, Catholic Social Teaching, and practical skills in dialogue and conflict resolution.
Synodal Pastoral Governance: Strengthening synodal listening, shared responsibility, and transparency at diocesan and parish levels was urged, fostering unity akin to a family where decisions are made collaboratively and inclusively.
Prophetic Social Engagement: The Church should continue to develop justice and peace commissions, promote civic education, support victims of violence, and create spaces for dialogue that advance reconciliation and social cohesion.
As the plenary assembly progresses in N’Djamena, Cardinal Ambongo encouraged the bishops to embrace the conviction that, even after thirty years, the African Church must demonstrate that it is living authentically as the “Family of God.” This vision, he stressed, is not merely symbolic but a transformative mission capable of shaping the continent’s social, moral, and spiritual landscape.
“Ecclesia in Africa remains a beacon for our times,” he concluded, urging the Church to embody its message through concrete pastoral action, communal discernment, and unwavering commitment to justice, peace, and the Gospel.