At Planned Sierra Leone’s National Pilgrimage, Catholic Bishops Hope to Foster “path of conversion”

He says, “In a world suffering from the impacts of wars, conflicts of various kinds, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased threats to the climate, the Holy Father hoped that the Jubilee Year would be an opportunity for the Church to be a witness to trust in God, who offers us a hope that does not disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5).”

While launching the Jubilee Year, which is set to conclude at Epiphany 2026, Archbishop Tamba Charles notes that the late Pontiff desired that the yearlong period “would be a time of conversion, with emphasis on the mercy of God and the forgiveness of sins.”

The Catholic Archbishop, who also serves as the President of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL), emphasizes that the planned National Pilgrimage is a response to the late Pope Francis’ invitation to Catholics to participate in pilgrimages as part of spiritual conversion.

In his letter, Archbishop Tamba Charles says that the people of God in the country are invited to participate in the pilgrimage irrespective of their religious background.

“The Bishops invite Catholics of all political affiliations, Christians of the various denominations and ministries, people of other religions, and men and women of goodwill to join us in this pilgrimage of hope,” he says.

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Archbishop Charles Tamba adds, “The climax of the pilgrimage will be a solemn Mass, concelebrated by all the Catholic Bishops in Sierra Leone and assisted by the priests working in all four dioceses.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.