“Common vision” for Witnessing Hope in Africa 2025-2050

In a concept note on the July 30 – August 4 Plenary Assembly, the leadership of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) explain the background of the identified need, the context of the 20th Plenary Assembly, and its objectives. The four-page concept note shared with ACI Africa also contains a highlight of the various sessions and expected outcomes of the SECAM Plenary Assembly to be realized under the theme, “Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace: The Vision of the Church Family of God in Africa for the Next 25 Years (2025–2050)”.

SECAM leadership has noted that while the Catholic Church in Africa “continues to grow in number and vitality,” the continent “remains deeply wounded by persistent conflicts, political instability, coups, and widespread human suffering, leaving millions displaced, traumatized, or living without hope”. The Church in Africa, SECAM leadership has further noted, “faces the urgent task of responding prophetically and pastorally to these realities.”

“There is a pressing need for a common vision that will guide the Church in Africa to be a credible witness of hope, reconciliation, and integral development,” the leadership of Africa’s Catholic Bishops has noted, highlighting this need under the problem statement in the concept note. SECAM leadership adds that the needed “common vision” would be “rooted in synodality, shaped by the lived experiences of the people, and capable of transforming the continent over the next 25 years.”

According to the leadership of SECAM, the main objective of the 20th Plenary Assembly is “to define and adopt a coherent and prophetic vision for the Church in Africa over the next 25 years, especially as it responds to the continent’s urgent needs for peace, justice, healing, and integral human development.”

SECAM leadership recognizes the significance of the choice of Rwanda as the venue of the 20th Plenary Assembly, a country that is part of the regional Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEAC).

“The choice of the ACEAC region as the venue for this gathering offers a meaningful occasion and profound opportunity for the Church in Africa and its Islands to manifest deep solidarity with the Church and the peoples of the Great Lakes region, who have long endured profound social, political, and economic hardships,” SECAM leadership says, adding that countries of ACEAC “grapple with persistent political instability, corruption, and civil unrest.”

The leadership of SECAM further describes the choice of Rwanda as “both symbolic and strategic” and “a place where the Church, as a wounded healer, can reflect on her mission to be a sign of reconciliation and a builder of lasting peace.”

In the concept note, SECAM leadership alludes to a preparation of what is described as “Vision Document (2025-2050)”, which the delegates to the Plenary Assembly to be held in the capital city of Rwanda, Kigali, are to “formally receive and approve ... as the guiding ecclesial and pastoral roadmap for SECAM.”

SECAM delegates are also to “discern” how the people of God in Africa “can engage more actively and credibly in peacebuilding, post-conflict healing, and dialogue”. The delegates of SECAM at the Kigali Plenary Assembly are to take up the task that the multi-year XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the Synod on Synodality, which Pope Francis officially inaugurated in 2021 and later extended to 2024 gave to the Catholic Bishops in Africa.

Specifically, following the first session of the Synod on Synodality that took place from 4-29 October 2023, concluding with a 42-page summary report, and the 2-27 October 2024 second session that concluded with a Final Document of the XVI Assembly, Africa’s Catholic Bishops were called upon “to promote theological and pastoral discernment on the issue of polygamy”. The Synod on Synodality that was realized under the theme, “For a synodal Church: Communion, participation and mission.” also encouraged SECAM members to foster “the accompaniment of people in polygamous unions coming to faith.”

During the October 2024 Synod on Synodality session, the President SECAM, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo, outlined “a four-phase plan” that he said Catholic Bishops in Africa have agreed upon to address the challenge of polygamy on the continent. According to the concept note shared with ACI Africa, SECAM delegates at the Kigali Plenary Assembly are to “evaluate and adopt the pastoral document on polygamous unions, as part of the Church’s response to complex social realities.”

The Plenary Assembly delegates are also “to deepen reflection on synodality, missionary discipleship, and inculturation in a wounded and plural Africa”. An additional specific objective of the upcoming Plenary Assembly, according to the concept note, will be “to renew and restructure SECAM’s leadership and mechanisms in view of the challenges ahead.”

SECAM members are drawn from eight regional associations, which include ACEAC, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa Region (ACERAC), and the Regional Episcopal Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA/CERAO).

Other regional associations are the Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy of Egypt (AHCE), the Regional Episcopal Conferences of North Africa (CERNA), Madagascar and Episcopal Conferences of Indian Ocean (CEDOI), and the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA).

Expected participants in the 20th Plenary Assembly of SECAM include Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops from the eight SECAM regions; Vatican officials; representatives from other continental Catholic Bishops’ Conferences; representatives of Theologians, Religious Orders and Laity; peacebuilding experts and ecumenical observers; media personnel; and other “special invitees”.

Some of the planned activities include an opening ceremony on July 31, thematic presentation sessions, group work, a “closed session” for SECAM members, and a closing ceremony, among others. In the concept note on the Plenary Assembly, SECAM leadership calls upon “all members of SECAM and beyond to walk with us in prayer, discernment, and hope.”

“From the ashes of war, we raise a new vision. With Christ, peace is possible. With faith, Africa shall rise,” SECAM leadership says in the concept note shared with ACI Africa.

ACI Africa