“Religion must connect, not divide us”: Cardinal Nzapalainga of CAR Ahead of Mission Congress in France

“One is not Christian alone, but with others. Seeing people come from the north, the south, the east, and the west, all calling themselves Christians, is comforting and fraternal,” the Spiritan Cardinal said referring to the November 7-8 congress bringing together 15,000 Catholics of all ages, from across France.

He emphasized that “mission is not yesterday or tomorrow—it is today. Through our baptism, we are sent toward others, because God is the first missionary.”

Cardinal Nzapalainga continued, “When we are baptized, we prepare to go forth. At every Eucharist, the Priest or Deacon says: ‘Go in the peace of Christ!’ What we have received, we must share.”

“Every baptized person is a missionary in their own environment: at school, in the market, on a construction site, in an office. The way I live my faith and carry out my work is what makes me a missionary,” the Catholic Church leader said.

The congress, now in its 10th edition, takes place at the iconic Accor Arena — a premier venue in Paris known for hosting major concerts and sporting events.

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The Mission Congress seeks to be a laboratory of evangelization in all its dimensions. It was established in 2015 through the initiative of several missionary leaders.

In the November interview, Cardinal Nzapalainga reflected on his peace mission in CAR together with leaders of other religious denominations.

“In the Central African Republic, our struggle—together with an imam and a pastor—was to save the human person created in God’s image. Here, in a secular country, there is much to be done as well: learning to know one another, to draw near, to engage in common struggles,” he said.

The Cardinal added, “Being firm in one’s faith allows for dialogue without fear. Jesus was not afraid to encounter those who were different: He spoke to them to announce redemption.”

Cardinal Nzapalainga also encouraged young people to embrace their faith without fear.

“We all carry within us an invisible link to the beyond. Being a believer is not naïve. It means asking questions of meaning,” he said.

Cardinal Nzapalainga added, “Faith helps us face death, which is not the end but a passage. Jesus went through death and awaits us. So, I say to young people: do not be lukewarm or timid—be living, joyful Christians.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.