Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo-Besungu has urged newly appointed bishops from across the African continent to embrace a life and mission deeply rooted in communion.
He made the call during the opening of a seminar for new bishops in Accra, Ghana, on February 14, 2025.
Cardinal Ambongo-Besungu described the February 13-17 seminar as an opportunity to deepen the bishops’ understanding of SECAM’s mission and their role in the larger African Church. “I encourage you to embrace a life and mission rooted in communion, cooperation, and shared responsibility, particularly within our continental institution, SECAM,” he stated.
The Cardinal emphasized that the ongoing synodal journey, which is central to the Church’s renewed vision, invites not only personal and communal conversion but also structural and pastoral transformation.
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He explained that “Synodality is not just a methodology but a vision—one that revitalizes the Church by fostering a deeper attentiveness to God’s voice through His people.”
In his address, Cardinal AMBONGO underscored that the Church in Africa is uniquely positioned to embody the principles of synodality, citing the continent’s deep traditions of community spirit, fraternity, and solidarity.
“This vision resonates deeply with traditional ecclesial practices in Africa,” he said, noting how values such as Ubuntu and Palaver have shaped the African Church’s approach to communal life.
The Archbishop also recalled the 1994 Synod’s adoption of the ecclesiological model of the Church as “the Family of God,” which he said was a response to the challenges of division and conflict that have often plagued the continent.
“By fostering unity over division, rejecting alienation and exclusion, and embracing a continuous renewal of life in communion, this model envisions the Church as a living testament to reconciliation, solidarity, and shared belonging,” he explained.
