“We do not come with empty hands”: Catholic Bishop in South Africa on Faith Communities at G20 Forum

“Hunger is not just a policy failure—it is an affront to human dignity. Exclusion from education is not just inequality—it is a theft of God-given potential. Unpayable debt is not just poor planning—it is a modern form of oppression,” he says.

The South African Catholic Bishop, who chairs the Justice and Peace Commission of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), cautions the G20 forum against the temptation to “remain a platform for the wealthy and powerful to reinforce the status quo.”

The G20, he says, “must become a vehicle for transformation, for solidarity, and for hope. For Africa, this is not merely a policy agenda—it is a call to conscience.”

He notes that despite Africa being home to “the youngest population on Earth, to vibrant movements of renewal, and communities rich in resilience and faith,” the continent is “at a crossroads” due to the burden of “unjust financial systems, debilitating debt, ecological degradation, and global neglect.”

“This tension defines the African condition in our time: abundance in potential, yet constricted by external rules and internal inequities,” Bishop Mbuyisa says, highlighting the reason why faith leaders, civil society actors, academic institutions, and policy-makers are set to meet in South Africa for the Symposium on Global Justice and Solidarity.

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He adds, “Our shared goal is to bring Africa’s voice—and Africa’s soul—into the heart of the G20 agenda. This effort is coordinated under the umbrella of the Solidarity for One Humanity, One Future network.”

“As Pope Francis constantly reminded us, true global leadership begins not with dominance, but with dialogue. In Fratelli Tutti, he urged us to build ‘a better kind of politics,’ one rooted in ‘social love’ and ‘a sense of belonging to one another.’ This is not naïve idealism,” he says, underscoring the place of dialogue as “the only path to a sustainable, peaceful, and humane future.”

Bishop Mbuyisa goes on to fault the current global financial architecture, calling Africa’s mounting debt burden a “moral scandal” that has robbed millions of access to essential services.

He laments the continent’s disproportionate debt servicing obligations, which have forced many African governments to spend more on repaying loans than on healthcare and education.

“This is not because African nations are reckless, but because the global financial system is rigged against them. Private creditors charge African nations exorbitant interest rates. Multilateral institutions impose rigid conditions,” he says.

Referring to late Pope Francis’ long-standing advocacy for debt justice, he reminds G20 leaders that “debt should not be paid at the price of unbearable sacrifices.”

He underscores the need for comprehensive debt reform, saying, “In 2025, as the Church prepares to celebrate the Jubilee Year—a biblical tradition rooted in the forgiveness of debts—we must push the G20 to commit to real debt relief and the creation of a fair international insolvency framework.”

On South Africa’s presidency of the G20, Bishop Mbuyisa describes it as a “profound moral opportunity” that goes beyond a “geographical responsibility.”

He says, “Let South Africa’s G20 presidency not be remembered for polite communiqués and photo opportunities. Let it be remembered as the moment when Africa stood tall—not just to ask, but to lead.”

“Let us rise, with courage and conviction, to build a world where justice is not merely a slogan, but a lived structure,” he implores. 

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The South African Catholic Bishop goes on to emphasize that the G20 Symposium on Global Justice and Solidarity should not be dismissed as a “side event,” but recognized as a “spark.”

He says, “It is a spark. From it, we hope to ignite a movement rooted in the Gospel’s call to justice and the African tradition of Ubuntu: I am because we are.”

Nicholas Waigwa is a Kenyan multimedia journalist and broadcast technician with a professional background in creating engaging news stories and broadcasting content across multiple media platforms. He is passionate about the media apostolate and Catholic Church communication.