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Christian Professionals in Africa Express Spiritual Solidarity with Catholic Church amid Election of New Pope

Nicholas Waigwa

By Nicholas Waigwa

Nairobi, 08 May, 2025 / 4:02 pm (ACI Africa).

Members of the Africa Christian Professionals Forum (ACPF) have expressed their spiritual solidarity with the universal Church during its transitional period of electing a new successor to St. Peter, following the passing on of Pope Francis on April 21.

In an interview with ACI Africa on Thursday, May 8, ahead of the Pan-African Conference on Family Values (PACFV) scheduled to take place in Nairobi starting May 12, ACPF Chairperson Ann Mbugua expressed hope that the new shepherd of the Catholic Church will continue to realize the biblical calling to nurture and strengthen the body of Christ.

“We are praying that the Spirit of God will guide the process,” she said, in reference to the ongoing Papal Conclave, which began on Wednesday, May 7, to elect the 267th Pope.

She went on to express ACPF’s optimism that the late Pope Francis' successor will “fulfill the biblical mandate of taking care of and enriching the body of Christ.”

“We hope that the Church will promote and protect the family as instituted by God in the Garden of Eden,” Ms. Mbugua added, alluding to the theme of the 2025 conference, “Promoting and Protecting Family Values, Culture, and Family Heritage in Africa.”

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Emphasizing the need to focus on using shared values, faith, and culture for a more cohesive African continent that upholds the sanctity of life and family, the ACPF official said the outcome of the five-day forum is intended to strengthen “policies and initiatives that support the well-being of families and communities across Africa.”

In a message she shared with ACI Africa  ahead of the conference, she encouraged participants to be guided by “the values we share, our collective faith, and a vision for an Africa that remains strong, united, and rooted in its rich cultural and moral foundations.”

Ms. Mbugua described the Nairobi conference as a unique platform for dialogue, collaboration, and collective action for representatives from governments, faith leaders and professionals to renew their “collective commitment to advancing the cause of family, life, and values across the continent.”

“This year is different in the sense that more nations are participating, and so we have high synergy expectations,” she told ACI Africa on May 8, in reference to the May 12–17 conference.

In the five-day event, the ACPF chairperson says participants will have the privilege “to engage in enriching plenary sessions, insightful panel discussions, focused breakout sessions, and cultural exchanges” that will encourage them to “drive meaningful change” in their communities.

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According to the organizers, the five-day event will begin with a three-day ACPF Family Conference from May 12 to 14, followed by a joint celebration of the International Day of Families (IDOF) with the Government of Kenya on May 15 at Strathmore University. On May 16, the ACPF family will join the Church for a Family Symposium.

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