Kampala – “Ecclesia in Africa and the proclamation of Christ in times of synodality” is the theme of the Pan-African Missionary Conference, which opened this morning in Kampala at St. Mary’s Seminary .
The two-day conference, promoted by the International Secretariat of the Pontifical Mission Union, which operates within the Dicastery for Evangelization , was organized in close collaboration with the National Directions of the Pontifical Mission Societies of English- and French-speaking Africa, specially those of Uganda, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire, and in cooperation with the local bishops, the rectors of the two main seminaries in Kampala , and their staff.
In this Jubilee Year, 30 years after the publication of the Apostolic Exhortation “Ecclesia in Africa” and 50 years after the Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Nuntiandi,” the conference aims to provide a space for exchange and shared reflection on the current challenges of mission in the local churches of Africa, in continuity with similar mission conferences that have been convened in recent decades.
“Thank you for your interest and commitment, not only to deepening our reflection on the evangelizing mission of the Church in Africa in light of the aforementioned ecclesial documents, but also and above all at renewing the missionary spirit and zeal in you and therefore in everyone for a new missionary springtime of the Church, so greatly dreamed of by Pope Francis, of blessed memory, and emphasized by Pope Leo himself, a new missionary movement for a new missionary springtime in the Church,” Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization , said in a video message to the conference participants.
Cardinal Tagle highlighted how the Pan-African Conference fits well into the series of conferences organized by the Pontifical Missionary Union , beginning with last year’s conference on “Ecclesia in Asia,” which was promoted by its Secretary General, Father Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen OFMConv, who also opened the Pan-African Conference, which began this morning, with an introductory address.
At the start of the conference, Father Nguyen also showed video messages from the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies from other continents, who wished to support this important initiative “from afar.” He then opened the conference sessions with a presentation entitled “Ecclesia in Africa 30 Years Later: A Jubilee review in light of Evangelii Nuntiandi,” in which he addressed, in particular, the historical origins and context in which “Ecclesia in Africa” was born. The Secretary General of the Pontifical Mission Union highlighted the commonalities between the missionary teachings of “Ecclesia in Africa” and “Evangelii Nuntiandi” and outlined several priorities with regard to the current mission of evangelization.
The two-day conference continues with lectures, panel discussions, and debates. A video message from the Secretary of the Missionary Dicastery, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, is expected tomorrow.
The themes at the heart of today’s Pan-African Missionary Conference are reflected in the titles of the lectures and debates, which range from “The Church of Christ – Family of God: The path and relevance of an ecclesiological metaphor from a missionary perspective” to “The Epochal change and cultural challenges of evangelization in Africa today,” with a particular focus on the pastoral work of consecrated women in Uganda. The conference will also explore the continuities between “Ecclesia in Africa” and the Final document of the Synod on synodality and the orientations of missionary pastoral care in Africa. Particular attention will be paid to the topics “Socio-political crises in contemporary Africa: a kairos for justice and peace?” and “Technological progress and social communication tools as areopagi and instruments of evangelization in Africa.”
On Friday, November 14, two interconnected lectures will address the topics “Africans and the Missio ad gentes today in Africa” and “Africans and the Missio ad gentes today in Europe.” Further lectures and discussions will focus on issues of great political and social impact, as well as on the relationships between different faith communities, as indicated by the titles of other conference contributions: “Pan-Africanism and Christianity between protagonistism and antagonism: the need for dialogue” and “The problem of land ownership in Africa: towards a new evangelization of the land,” and “Dialogue and mission: challenges of interconfessional and interreligious coexistence.”
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