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Africa
South Sudanese Bishop Supports Post-Election Referendum to Resolve States’ Controversy
Weeks after a South Sudanese Bishop recommended that the controversy around boundaries and the number of states in his country be resolved through engaging citizens in a poll, the Government of the world’s youngest nation announced Friday, December 6 that the divisive issue of states will require a referendum, a move the Bishop has once again welcomed.
“With concerted good will efforts, we can overcome”: Bishops in Liberia on Challenges
As Christians across the globe live the Advent Season, the Catholic Bishops in the West African nation of Liberia have used the occasion to call for collective efforts and reliance of God in facing the socio-economic challenges, encouraging dialogue and the nurturing of peace and security.
Pope Francis Condoles with Families of Seminary Formators in South Africa
Pope Francis has expressed his condolences to the families of the two priests, formators at Saint John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria, South Africa, who died in the December 3 road accident and made known his prayerful solidarity with the two others who survived the Tuesday afternoon tragedy.
Burkina Faso’s Koupéla Archdiocese to Have A New Shepherd: Papal Transfer
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Gabriel Sayaogo, who has been the Local Ordinary of Burkina Faso’s Manga diocese, the new Archbishop of Koupéla, an Archdiocese in the Eastern region of the West African country where Archbishop Séraphin François Rouamba has been the Shepherd.
Bishops in Zimbabwe Decry “Leadership Crisis”, Call for Comprehensive National Dialogue
Catholic Bishops in Zimbabwe are calling on citizens of the Southern Africa nation to shelf various forms of selfish tendencies and consider bringing their minds together for an all-inclusive and “a comprehensive national dialogue” that can help sort out the leadership crisis in their country and the nurturing of inclinations toward the “common good.”
Iraqi Cardinal Pleads for Help for Christians on Nineveh Plain
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako has appealed for financial and spiritual aid for Christians in the Middle East, especially in Iraq.
“Do justice to creation, it keeps shouting at us”: African Cardinal to Pilgrims in CAR
During the concluding Mass of the Annual National Pilgrimage in the Central African Republic (CAR) Saturday, December 7, the Archbishop of Bangui, Dieudonné Cardinal Nzapalainga called on the congregation of close to 25,000 pilgrims to make every effort to care for creation and have a sense of responsibility in the example of Mary.
New Vice Postulator of Canonization Cause of Kenya’s Cardinal Otunga “very excited, eager”
As the Catholic Church in Kenya prays for the beatification and subsequent canonization of the Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga who could eventually become first native saint of the East African country, the newly appointed Vice Postulator, Fr. Lawrence Njoroge has, in an interview with ACI Africa Thursday, December 5, shared about his new responsibility, which was announced November 19 through a circular signed by Nairobi’s Archbishop John Cardinal Njue.
“Launching of peace drive successful,” Cameroon Prelates Report on Sensitization Mission
Two Catholic Prelates, Christian Cardinal Tumi and Bishop Andrew Nkea who recently spearheaded a peace delegation to the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon in view of sensitizing citizens about the proposals made during the end-September early-October National Dialogue have described their mission as “successful” and a “good beginning.”
Churches Partner to Preserve Tropical Forest in DR Congo, Appreciate Laudato Si’
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Catholic Church has partnered with the Church of Christ of Congo (ECC) to preserve the tropical forest in line with Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter ‘Laudato si’ which calls on the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path.
Newly Installed Nigeria’s Abuja Archbishop Pledges to Engage Government on National Issues
The newly installed Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Abuja in Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama has, during his installation ceremony, promised to engage the government in matters that contribute to the common good of Africa’s most populous country, weeks after the country’s President said he would support the ministry of the Church leader in his country’s capital, Abuja.
The Two “Blesseds” Congolese Community in Rome Want Pope Francis to Canonize
On Sunday, December 1, at the three-in-one event marking 25 years since the inauguration of the Congolese Catholic Chaplaincy in Rome, 25th anniversary of the beatification of Catechist and martyr Isidore Bakanja, and the feast of Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta, citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) residing in the Italian capital pleaded with Pope Francis, who had joined them for a special Mass, to have Blessed Anuarite and Blessed Bakanja canonized.
Ethiopia’s Catholic Church Best Positioned for “mediation work, promoting peace”: Priest
In the wake of ethnic violence in Ethiopia’s Oromia region in October that resulted in the death of dozens of people and the persecution of Christians in the country, a Catholic Priest has identified the Catholic Church, which holds a minority Christian population, as best positioned for successful “mediation work” and reconciliation of the people in the Horn of Africa.
Heads of Catholics Institutions in Ghana Want “discipline, dialogue” Prioritized
The Association of Catholic Heads of Higher Institutions (ACHHI) in Ghana, at its 39th Annual National Conference, has expressed the need to prioritize discipline in the system of education in the West African nation and urged stakeholders in the education sector to, alongside discipline, promote dialogue in addressing students’ concerns.
Kenya’s Religious Leaders Endorse “Building Bridges Initiative,” Propose “refinement”
A week after the launch of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report, a much-awaited document with recommendations on ending post-election conflicts in Kenya, representatives of religious leaders in the East Africa country have, during their two-day meeting in Nairobi, endorsed the 156-page report, making some proposals for “further consultations and refinement.”
Newly Headquartered Episcopal Commission “to be voice of voiceless” in Burkina Faso
The Commission for Justice and Peace (CJP) under the Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso and Niger has taken the firm commitment of defending the rights of the poor and oppressed by promoting unity and solidarity amongst the population against the backdrop of increased cases of terrorist attacks targeting Christians including those gathered for worship.
“Accept court ruling, or challenge it peacefully, constitutionally”: Malawi Bishops
Following months of post-elections unrest in the Southeast African nation of Malawi and a court hearing expected Friday, December 6 on an election petition challenging the May 21 poll, Catholic Bishops in the country have called on the estimated 16.8 million Malawians to accept the court ruling or challenge such outcome through “peaceful and constitutional mechanisms” even though the final verdict is expected in February 2020.
Ghana’s Catholic Population Decline Requires “fisherman model of evangelization”: Bishop
While the Catholic population in the world’s second largest continent, Africa, continues to grow a Bishop in the West African nation of Ghana has raised concerns over the declining number of Catholics in his country, describing the phenomenon as a challenge that seems to indicate that pastoral agents “are not reaching all corners of our country” and that requires the application of the “Shepherd’s approach and the Fisherman’s model of evangelization”
Challenges of Malawians with Albinism to be Addressed in the Launched Two-Year Campaign
In a country where people living with albinism face persistent threats of being killed for their body parts, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has launched a two-year campaign to raise awareness throughout the country about the rights of people with albinism and their rights, CCJP National Coordinator has told ACI Africa.
Missionary Priest Rescues Children from Slavery in DR Congo Mines, Decries “indifference”
Fr. Willy Milayi, a Missionary of the Immaculate Conception priest ministering in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) rescues children who have fled the coltan mines by offering them a place to live and learn a trade.
