Ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to DR Congo on Tuesday, a Nigerian priest has said there needs to be more African representation in the Catholic Church.
“We Africans must be at the table. Africa has 236 million Catholics – the fastest-growing church in the whole world,” Father Stan Chu Ilo told BBC’s Africa Daily podcast.
He added that there are no African cardinals holding any major offices in the church.
In an interview alongside Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, a Ugandan nun who’s been described as the African Mother Teresa, Father Stan added that the Pope wanted Africa to have a voice.
“I have never seen Pope Francis so animated as I saw him at this virtual conversation between about 3,000 African young people,” he said.
“The Pope thinks, and I am also convinced, that we need to focus on how we would build the church and our society on the shoulders of these young people,” he added.
Sister Rosemary also said the Pope was coming at a crucial time because he could “bring a glimpse of hope to people” who had faced adversity for a long time”.
DR Congo is currently facing escalating conflict in the east of the country instigated by armed militia groups.
The Pope will also visit South Sudan which has faced conflict for years.
Source: BBC
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