“You are called to be agents of transformation”: Catholic Bishop at Launch of National Youth Day in Ivory Coast

Abidjan, 01 March, 2025 / 7:38 PM

Young people in Ivory Coast must take an active role in shaping the future of the Church and society, Bishop Joseph Kacou Aka of the country’s Catholic Diocese of Yamoussoukro has said.

In his homily at the launch of preparations for the National Youth Day scheduled for August 2025, Bishop Aka urged youths in the West African nation to deepen their personal relationship with the person of Jesus Christ.

“You are called to be agents of transformation,” the Ivorian Catholic Bishop said during the February 22 Eucharistic celebration that was held at the Our Lady of Africa, Mother of All Grace Marian Shrine in the Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan.

At the celebration that had nearly 2,000 representatives of young people from Ivory Coast’s 15 Dioceses in attendance, Bishop Aka cautioned youths against a faith that is merely a repetition of what has been heard.

Reflecting on Jesus’ question to his Apostles regarding his identity, the Local Ordinary of Yamoussoukro Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in February 2023 underlined the need for a personal confession of faith in the example of Peter, who recognized Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of God.”

“Our knowledge of Jesus must be personal,” he said during the February 22 event convened to set the spiritual foundation for the National Youth Day slated for August 19–24 in the Diocese of Yamoussoukro, under the theme: “My child, why have you done this to us?” (Luke 2:48).

He encouraged youths to boldly profess Jesus as the Messiah in a world where Christian faith is often questioned. Expressing his hope for the upcoming National Youth Day (Journées Nationales de la Jeunesse – JNJ), he said, "Yamoussoukro will shout Jesus!”

He reminded youths that they are not only the future but also the present of the Church and society. Rejecting the idea that their role is confined to the future, he emphasized their responsibility today in shaping a better society. 

Bishop Aka went on to challenge Ivory Coast’s youths to be “living stones” in the construction of a more just and peaceful country. “You must build a country of fraternity, solidarity, peace, and justice,” he said.

The Ivorian Catholic Bishop urged youths to reignite their mission as builders of the Church and the nation in the example of Peter, confessing their faith and becoming “living witnesses of faith.”

“The passage from Matthew that we have just heard reminds young people that they are called to be living witnesses of faith and to build a better world founded on hope and fraternity," Bishop Aka said, urging young people “to rise to the challenge of transforming both society and the Church.”

Justin Assalé contributed to this story