Africa’s Catholic Bishops further condemn the continued exploitation of Africa's resources, which they say continues to fuel violent conflicts that results in deaths and destruction on the continent.
“We know that Africa's rich mineral deposits, truly a potential source of prosperity, have instead continued to be a source of conflict. The desire to control and appropriate these resources motivates powerful nations and multinational corporations to fund armed factions in some African countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, etc, thereby perpetuating violence, displacement and instability,” they lament.
In the statement that SECAM President, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa in DRC signed, Africa’s Catholic Bishops echo the words of Pope Francis in his January 2023 speech in Kinshasa, DRC, to those who persistently scramble for the resources of Africa, “Hands off the Democratic Republic of Congo! Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa, it is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered.”
In a call for unity and reconciliation, SECAM Standing Committee members urge the people of God to embrace the message of Christ, the Prince of Peace during the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year.
“As we embrace this Jubilee Year as Pilgrims of Hope, we are reminded that even in the darkest times, hope must never fade,” they say, and add, “The Jubilee invites us to renew our trust in God, strengthen the bonds of communion, and seek new paths of healing and unity.”
“The message of Christ, the Prince of Peace, must resound loudly in Africa. We urge all people of goodwill—within the Church a beyond—to be instruments of peace, choosing dialogue over division, love over hatred, and hope over despair,” they emphasize in their two-page message shared with ACI Africa.
Making reference to the of the multi-year Synod on Synodality that was concluded on 27 October 2024 in Rome, SECAM Standing Committee members say, “If the Synod on Synodality ever had meaning, this is the time to demonstrate it. The call to walk together as a Church, listening to one another and acting in unity, must become a lived reality. The challenges before us compel us to greater collaboration among bishops, priests, religious, and the people of God everywhere.”
“No one can stand alone; we are one body in Christ. As shepherds of the Church in Africa, we commit to strengthening the structures of communion and ensuring that the Church remains a voice of truth, justice, and hope in our society,” SECAM members say.
In an appeal for prayer, Africa’s Catholic Bishops urge all institutions on the continent, including Catholic Dioceses, Parishes, and communities of women and men Religious to unite in a triduum of prayer and fasting from March 3-5.
“As followers of Christ, we are called to stand together in prayer for those in need and to seek God's intervention for peace and healing. We urge all believers to dedicate time for prayer, asking the Lord to bring an end to the war, to comfort the afflicted, and to guide our leaders toward justice and reconciliation,” they say.
