Ecclesia in Africa at 30: Cardinal Ambongo calls it an ‘urgent’ roadmap for the continent’s Church

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), recently emphasized the enduring relevance of Pope Saint John Paul II’s 1995 Apostolic Exhortation, Ecclesia in Africa, as the Church marks its 30th anniversary.

Ecclesia in Africa (The Church in Africa) was issued by Pope John Paul II on September 14, 1995, in Cameroon’s Capital, Yaoundé. It was the pontiff’s response to the deliberations and proposals of the African bishops, aiming to chart a course for the Catholic Church on the continent at the dawn of a new millennium.

Its key themes included enculturation: the rooting of the Christian faith in African cultures and traditions, the Church as the family of God, and justice and peace, as well as evangelization.

The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation was a landmark document that affirmed the vitality and maturity of the African Church. It gave a formal papal endorsement of an “African” way of being Catholic and set the pastoral agenda for the Church on the continent for decades to come, focusing on a faith that is both authentically Christian and authentically African.

Addressing the 13th Plenary Assembly of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACERAC) in N’Djamena, Chad, the Archbishop of Kinshasa described the document as a “true pastoral roadmap” that remains “more urgently needed than ever” for a continent facing complex challenges.

“Ecclesia in Africa was a true pastoral roadmap for the continent emerging from colonialism, dictatorship, and divisions—speaking to an Africa marked by vibrant faith and great hope,” Cardinal Ambongo said.

He said the “profound vision” offered by Pope John Paul II of the Church as Family of God remains “strikingly relevant thirty years later.”

“30 years are not only a chronological marker, but a time of ecclesial examination of conscience. They call us to discern with lucidity what has borne fruit—in particular the vision of the Church as Family of God—and what remains fragile or unfinished,” the SECAM President said.

The cleric noted that in line with the Apostolic Exhortation, the mission entrusted to the Church has remained urgent, with Christians encouraged to remain “artisans of reconciliation, justice, peace, and hope, in fidelity to the Gospel and in dialogue with the concrete realities of our peoples.”

According to Ambongo, the Central Africa sub-region, for instance, is ravaged by conflict and insecurity. He described how “violence, armed groups, and the fragility of peace processes” inflict deep wounds on individuals and communities. Beyond the immediate violence, he warned that the region’s social fabric is fraying under the pressure of “ethnic tensions, polarization, and the rise of mistrust.” Compounding this crisis, he added, is systemic corruption and poor governance, which undermine human dignity and stall any real progress.

He called for an “ecclesial self-examination” to discern what has borne fruit and what has not, urging bishops to internalize three key priorities: the formation of peacemakers, synodal pastoral governance, and prophetic social engagement, all to authentically live out the Church’s identity as the “Family of God.”

“The family means belonging, where no one is excluded and where every voice counts,” the Congolese Cardinal said.

“It implies listening and solidarity, capable of healing wounded memories.” And that, he said, speaks to the idea of synodality, a hallmark of Pope Francis’ Pontificate.

In comments to CWR, leading Nigerian cleric, Mathew Hassan Kukah said that synodality remains an important way of being Church.

“The world’s beauty lies in appreciating the hills and valleys on the landscape,” the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese said. “It is not a case of either hierarchy or a plateau of identity. The important thing for me is the gifts that we all bring and for us as leaders of the church to have the humility to allow the free flow of ideas and talents,” he told CWR.

“The men and women on the pews are our mothers, fathers, teachers, and leaders in other respects. The authority that derives from hierarchy focuses more on harvesting these gifts and helping to place them at the service of our church as family. As St. Paul says, there is a variety of gifts, but one giver.”

The Bishop of Sokoto acknowledged that the Church is witnessing “serious reverses” in its previous gains. He warned that its moral authority is being undermined by “corrosive politics” in some regions, while also observing a troubling decline in participation in the sacramental life of the Church.

He further identified the rise of neo-paganism, the emergence of oriental religions, and other internal challenges as significant concerns.

To address these issues, Bishop Kukah emphasized that seminary training and the formation of future pastoral leaders must prioritize the “social gospel” and a deeper understanding of Africa’s political and social fabric. He noted a decline in both the quality of Catholic participation in politics and the Church’s overall impact, asserting that the Church “cannot rest on its oars or be nostalgic about a past given that the ground is shifting.”

Regarding the competitive religious landscape, he pointed out that Pentecostal and other movements are largely born “from the womb of the Catholic Church.” He argued that the necessary response is “greater, more forceful evangelization and deeper Catechesis.” This, he explained, is crucial to counter the effects of “fast food spirituality,” which has been amplified by new media developments and artificial intelligence.

Bishop Kukah concluded that the Church cannot shy away from these technological advancements but must instead “educate ourselves” to learn how to use them effectively for its mission.

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