“Be builders of our Church”: Catholic Bishops in Congo Brazzaville to Young People in a Synodal Church

They continue, “Together with you, we want a Church where everyone finds their place and their role, without greed, rivalry, or crushing. So know that you have your role to play in the Church and in society and that we are with you and among you as Fathers and Shepherds.”

The Catholic Church leaders further extend their call for synodality to Priests and Consecrated Persons. 

“Help your brothers and sisters to live and walk together, each taking his or her share of responsibility in the missionary commitment, because every baptized person is a missionary. Be yeast in the dough for your brothers and sisters, true witnesses, disciples of Christ, who accompany, listen and dialogue to build a true Church-family of God,” the Catholic Bishops say.

Addressing the lay faithful, the Bishops call for greater responsibility in the Church's mission, saying, “We call you to commitment and active participation in the mission of the Church, the Body of Christ.” 

They note that the Church's voice must be heard through all its members—Clergy and Laity alike—working together in the spirit of synodality.

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Turning to national leaders, CEC members urge politicians to embrace synodality in their work, focusing on dialogue and the common good. 

“We urge you to promote the common good, respect human dignity, and ensure fundamental rights,” they say.

The Catholic Church leaders continue, “We urge you to listen to the cries of the people who are suffering from the evils we all know: violence, banditry, corruption, the culture of mediocrity and superficiality, favoritism, unemployment, police blunders, extortion, etc.).”

To the politicians, he further says, “Whatever your differences and divergences, give priority to dialogue, putting the love and good of the whole community at the center of your concerns. Synodality demands from us good governance that takes into account the marginalized in society and involves all its components in the sound management of public affairs.”

CEC members urge men and women of goodwill to “to become more involved in society, to promote the fundamental virtues that our country needs for its political and economic stability.”

They say, “Everyone must be committed to peace, justice, and a job well done. Let no one feel excluded from this common mission. Let those who have responsibilities in the Church or in society see themselves as mere servants, let them be exemplary and irreproachable in their conduct.”

CEC members implore, “May the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, and Our Lady of the Congo intercede for our local Church and for our country.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.