General Meeting of Regional Superiors in Africa 2025 Ends with Call to “show the world way to synodality, hope”

They address the link between the Synod on Synodality and the ongoing Jubilee Year 2025, saying, “A synodal church is a sign of hope for the world because it's a church that listens, works with the most disadvantaged, the wounded of life, and seeks communion in love and solidarity.”

COMSAM members further express their commitment to “deepen our relationship with Christ so that, seeing the world through His eyes, we can influence and build Africa and Madagascar.”

“We commit ourselves to more justice and peace and the protection of the weakest in Africa and Madagascar by getting involved in setting up justice and peace, and the integrity of creation,” they add.

COSMAM members also pledge to “stir up hope at the heart of our Institutes and Congregations,” and by “encouraging the emergence of communities that promote peace, that join the poor and destitute in their fight for more justice, peace and fraternity.”

They encourage ICLSAL members in Africa to become “catalysts of communion, agents of ecclesial conversion, spaces of prophetic witness, adopting the values of Palaver, Ubuntu, and the values of the African tradition.”

COMSAM members further call for “a new spiritual culture, a new pastoral style that trains and listens to lay people, embodying our charisms to take over in collaboration.” 

They also express their commitment to collaborating “with our Bishops to build our Church in Africa,” and to “work together towards the autonomy of our Congregations as a prophetic witness to create an abundance of goods.”

COMSAM members go on to assure Pope Leo XIV of their “obedience, support,” and above all, their “humble prayers.”

COMSAM is a Vatican-endorsed confederation that SECAM established in 2005. It brings together Conferences of Major Superiors from across Africa and its islands to support, strengthen, and empower the Consecrated on the continent. COMSAM works in close partnership with the Vatican Dicastery for ICLSAL, the department of the Roman Curia that is responsible for matters concerning women and men Religious.

COMSAM aims to foster collaboration, provide formation, and encourage mission engagement among ICLSAL across linguistic and cultural boundaries in Africa.

The May 23-30 event in South Africa’s Catholic Archdioceses of Johannesburg and Pretoria brought together women and men Religious leaders from across Africa to reflect on the theme, “Hope, Synodality and the Empowerment of Consecrated Life in Africa.”

In his homily during the concluding Eucharistic celebration on May 30, Bishop Masilo John Selemela called on ICLSAL members in Africa to reclaim their missionary identity in a world marked by suffering, despair, and declining vocations.

“We are actually called to journey together for the transformation of the world... All of us are united by one thing. We are all missionary disciples of Jesus Christ, called to transform the world and to witness to the gospel values by the way in which we live,” Bishop Masilo said.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Pretoria Archdiocese identified “the biggest challenge that depresses” as being “the declining number of vocations in the world.”

“Maybe, perhaps, we have carried our mission, not so much as disciples, but as modern NGOs. And God is not calling us to be NGOs; God is calling us to be missionary disciples,” he said.

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The Catholic Bishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry in September 2022 underscored the need for spiritual renewal and authentic witness, saying, “We must always put our trust and faith in the Lord, knowing that with God, everything is possible.”

“We must take responsibility. We must be the Church that accepts to witness in a responsible, loving, and compassionate manner,” he said.

Meanwhile, in her closing remarks, Sr. Yamba expressed gratitude to the outgoing President and her team for their “exemplary development and their remarkable leadership over the past few years.”

The newly elected COMSAM President said the Assembly’s theme “reveals a capital importance and arouses a deep resonance in us.” 

She emphasized collaboration rooted in synodality to strengthen the Church’s mission and Gospel witness across Africa and Madagascar.

“It is essential that our work is constantly guided by love and service in order to manifest an irreproachable professional ethic,” Sr. Yamba said, adding, “We submit ourselves to God to guide our efforts and guarantee the good functioning of our Confederation.”

She continued, “We recommend the protection of Mary, Our Lady of Africa, that she obtain protection and benevolence from the Holy Trinity at the beginning of this new stage.”