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Africa
South African Appointed to New Vatican-based Youth Advisory Body “surprised, honored”
A year after the Synod of Bishops' special assembly on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment proposed the creation of an advisory body that would reinforce the work done by the Vatican-based Youth Office of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, one of the 20 members appointed to the newly established International Youth Advisory Body, South African Dominique Yon, has shared with ACI Africa about her reaction at the news of her appointment announced Sunday, November 24.
Catholic Biblical Scholars in Nigeria Urge Leaders “to make integrity their rule of life”
At a time when many African countries are grappling with the menace of corruption and some Church leaders raising their voices against the vice in their respective countries, Catholic scholars in Scripture from Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria reflected about the challenge of corruption in society at a recent meeting.
Church in Ethiopia Has Fulfilled Pope’s Request, Prayed for Persecuted Orthodox Christians
Weeks after Pope Francis requested prayers for persecuted Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia who were targeted in ethnic clashes in the Oromia region, leaving dozens of people dead, the Catholic Church in country has fulfilled this request and organized for prayers.
Laudato Si’ An Inspiration to Ongoing Multi-Agency Conference on Agroecology in Kenya
Some four years after Pope Francis released the Encyclical Letter ‘Laudato si’ (on care for our common home) in which he made recommendations toward environmental protection and decried human activities leading to degradation and global warming, the widely circulated document has inspired the multi-agency conference on agroecology, the first of its kind in the East African country of Kenya, one of the organizers of the four-day event told ACI Africa in Nyahururu, the venue of the convention.
8-Day National Prayer for Reconciliation in Ivory Coast Set for Advent Sunday, December 1
In line with the recommendations of Pope Benedict XVI's Post-synodal Exhortation Africae Munus in which he called on the Church in Africa to organize a day of prayer for reconciliation, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ivory Coast (CECCI) is organizing an eight-day prayer event in all the dioceses of the country to pray for peace and reconciliation in the West African nation, beginning Advent Sunday, December 1.
Bishops in DR Congo Decry Renewed Conflict, Killings, want “cycle of violence” Prevented
Following incidences of renewed violence in the Eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that have resulted in the killing of civilians, Bishops in the central African nation have expressed concern that, if not addressed urgently, their country could plunge “into a cycle of violence” that risks worsening the already deplorable living conditions of the Congolese.
Christian activist’s arrest in Egypt prompts warnings of crackdown on dissent
Human rights groups have voiced concern over the arrest of a Coptic Christian activist in Egypt, on terrorism-related charges. Critics argue the arrest is an attempt to silence those who disagree with the government.
Bishops in Togo Want Electoral Reforms Before 2020 Presidential Poll, Date Unknown
As the West African country of Togo looks gears up for Presidential Election scheduled for early next year, the country’s Catholic Bishops have invited the government to initiate reforms in the electoral process to guarantee a free, fair and transparent poll even as the exact date of the elections is yet to be announced.
World Family of Radio Maria Launches Station in Kenya’s Capital, Targets Live Events
The World Family of Radio Maria with presence in 80 countries, 23 of them in Africa, launched an additional station in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi Monday, November 25, striving to report from the grassroots and engaging audiences in live events.
Death Toll in Kenya Landslides Rises to 58, Local Church Appeals for Help
With at least 58 people confirmed dead and property destroyed including homes following ongoing heavy rains in Kenya’s West Pokot region causing landslides, Catholic Church officials are calling for urgent assistance to save lives.
Attaining Food Security Key Focus of First Multi-Agency Conference on Agroecology in Kenya
Months after the global community was invited to work toward realizing the United Nations (UN) Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 launched in May 2019 and offering, among other goals, an opportunity to eradicate hunger, a multi-agency conference has been convened in Kenya’s Nyahururu town with participants taking food security as one of the key focus areas.
“Help us fight arms trafficking in Africa”: Cardinal to Leaders, International Community
Following reports that give accounts to an increase in terrorism and armed conflict in some parts of Africa with experiences in Africa’s Sahel region contrasting the process recorded in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, an African Cardinal has regarded access to arms a key factor in insecurity on the continent and appealed to relevant political leaders and the international community to help stop the proliferation of weapons in Africa.
Togo’s Lome and DR Congo’s Mbandaka-Bikoro Archdioceses Get New Shepherds
In two separate appointments released Saturday, November 23, Pope Francis named Togolese Bishop Nicodème Anani Barrigah-Benissan the new Archbishop of Lomé, Togo and Bishop Ernest Ngboko Ngombe, the new Archbishop of Mbandaka-Bikoro in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
Church Officials Call for Accountability from South Sudan’s Pre-Transitional Leaders
Following reports that the government of South Sudan recently released US$40 million out of the pledged US$ 100 million to the National Pre-Transitional Committee (NPTC), an entity created to facilitate the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), Church officials in the world’s youngest nation have called for transparency and accountability on the part of those at the helm of NPTC.
As Bishop Predicted, Main Opposition Party Boycotts Tanzania’s Local Government Elections
On Sunday, November 24, the East African country of Tanzania held local government elections, with the main opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Mapinduzi (CHADEMA) boycotting the polls, a phenomenon Bishop Joseph Roman Mlola of Kigoma had hinted to in an interview with ACI Africa November 21.
Kenyan-born Nun Winner of 2019 Opus Prize, Receives US$1 Million, “totally humbled”
Kenyan-born nun ministering in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was on Thursday, November 21 named the winner of this year’s Opus Prize, receiving US1 million at Saint Louis University’s (SLU) Center for Global Citizenship in Missouri, USA.
Nuns from First Native Order in Sub-Saharan Africa Make "pilgrimage of faith"
As the members of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa continue their yearlong celebration of 150 years since they were founded, an event graced by the Holy Father in February, Uganda-based Bannabikira (Daughters of Mary) Sisters who were founded by a Missionary of Africa Prelate have joined the celebration by organizing a day of thanksgiving realized through a “pilgrimage of faith.”
Planned Bookfair in Ghana’s Accra Archdiocese to Create Missionary Awareness
In an effort to intensify the evangelization mission of the Church after last month’s celebration of Extraordinary Missionary Month (EMMOCT2019), which Pope Francis announced, the newly-created Mission Office of Ghana’s Accra Archdiocese has organized a bookfair aimed at creating missionary awareness.
Zambians in “dire need of help” Due to Prolonged Drought, Bishop Appeals
Following months of unpredictable rainfall and increased temperatures in Southern Africa including Zambia that have led to a drought described as one of the worst in decades, a Church leader in Zambia has appealed for help terming the situation in the landlocked country as serious.
Church in Malawi Set to Begin “Year of the Bible” at Advent, To Engage All Catholics
The Catholic Church in Malawi is set to launch the year of the Bible at the beginning of the Advent Season, Sunday, December 1, a pastoral initiative aimed at encouraging Catholics in the southeastern Africa country to intensely reflect on the word of God throughout the year 2019-2020, a Malawian Prelate told ACI Africa.
