“The Church in Ivory Coast needs your fire”: Catholic Bishop at Opening of Sixth National Youth Day

“Christ wants to act through you to lift hearts, console the wounded, and build a civilization of peace, justice, and truth,” the Ivorian Catholic Bishop said.

“Young Catholics, I would like to invite you to act so that no one says that the truth is finished,” Bishop Aka said at start of the August 19-24 event.

He also encouraged young people to strengthen their faith and hope for a better future for the entire world, which faces many conflicts, particularly in West Africa, where terrorist violence persists, and in Ivory Coast, which is preparing for its presidential elections in October. 

“You carry within you the persistent joy of those who know that God always keeps His promises,” he said.

Reflecting on the theme of the ongoing Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope”, Bishop Aka told the youth that hope does not disappoint and emphasized that this Jubilee year is a year of true discipleship. 

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“A year of discipleship is much more than a simple program; it is a way of life. The Lord, in calling you, does not promise wealth or ease. He promises the joy of true love, the beauty and strength of a mission,” he said.

He urged young people “not to be afraid, but to walk confidently in the footsteps of Christ.”

“May this year be for each of you a path of living hope, a school of truth and concrete sincerity, a burning witness of love and honesty,” Bishop Aka implored.

Justin Assalé is a Catholic journalist from Ivory Coast. He holds a diploma in communication and advertising. Working for Ivory Coast’s national Catholic radio, he is a correspondent of ACI Africa in Francophone West Africa.