Catholic leaders and faith-based organizations are gathering in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to advocate for reparations for Africans and people of African descent.
The two-day workshop, taking place from February 27-28, 2025, aligns with the African Union’s (AU) theme for the year: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”
Organized by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in collaboration with the AU Catholic Chaplaincy, HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), COPAB (Pan African Conference on Ethics and Bioethics), IAPD-Africa (Interreligious Association for Peace and Development), and the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) of the African Union Commission, the gathering will focus on addressing the historical injustices of slavery, colonization, apartheid, and systemic oppression.
For centuries, the African people have endured economic, social, and psychological wounds inflicted by historical atrocities. Inspired by the Catholic Church’s unwavering commitment to justice, human dignity, and reconciliation, SECAM and its partners seek to amplify the call for reparative justice in line with the Church’s mission to uphold the dignity of all people.
His Eminence Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, President of SECAM, affirmed the Church’s role in this cause saying, “The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers and champions of justice. Reparations are not merely about financial restitution; they are about healing, restoring dignity, and ensuring a future where the African people and their descendants thrive.”
The Catholic Church has long recognized the need for reparations as part of its mission to promote justice. Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, emphasized the importance of addressing historical wrongs and lifting up marginalized communities. The workshop in Ethiopia aims to bring these teachings into action on a continental and global scale.
The workshop will bring together AU officials, diplomats, scholars, human rights advocates, and faith leaders to discuss faith-based perspectives on reparations, economic justice, and healing from historical trauma.
