Advertisement

Catholic Church in Africa

Catholic Theologians in Africa Decry “politics of the stomach” Hindering Co-responsibility in Church’s Pastoral Ministry

Sep 3, 2024

The Church in Africa is burdened by tribalism, among other challenges that are hindering co-responsibility in ministry, which the multi-year Synod on Synodality proposes, Catholic Theologians who are behind the ongoing weekly synodal conversations have said.

“Synodality is a new word for an old idea in Africa”: Cardinal Onaiyekan

Sep 2, 2024

Africa’s experience of “Church as a family of God” makes Synodality, which invites the  people of God to journey together in communion, participation and mission, “a new word for an old idea”, John Cardinal Onaiyekan of Nigeria has said.

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, relator general of Synod on Synodality, speaks to the media on June 20, 2023, at the temporary headquarters of the Holy See Press Office in Vatican City. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Catholic Church in Africa "not afraid to speak": Synod on Synodality Organizer, Cardinal Hollerich

Aug 20, 2024

The prelate told La Croix that the Church in Africa is one that is “alive and full of faith” and that he came to Benin to “learn.”

Credit: PACTPAN

Catholic Theologian Urges Apostolic Nuncios to Acknowledge Diversity of Church in Africa “as a gift” to Universal Church

Aug 19, 2024

To foster the good relations between Apostolic Nunciatures and the Church in Africa, representatives of the Holy Father on the continent must strive to acknowledge the diversity of the Church in Africa “as a gift” to the global Catholicism, an official at the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN)  has said.

Credit: PACTPAN

Vatican-based Nigerian Catholic Archbishop Defends Holy See’s Commitment to Diversity in Diplomatic Service

Aug 19, 2024

The Holy See is increasingly diversifying the membership of its diplomatic service, a Vatican-based Nigerian Catholic Archbishop, who previously served as an Apostolic Nuncio has said.

Prelates at African Synodal Palaver Appeal for Patience, Understanding, amid Criticism of “not smelling like sheep”

Aug 13, 2024

Being a Catholic Bishop in Africa involves a lot of work that sometimes leaves Bishops exhausted, participants at a the10th session of the ongoing synodal palavers have been told, and urged to be more patient with their shepherds who sometimes appear not to be available for everyone.

Let’s “do necessary groundwork” to Evangelize Effectively amid Increasing Challenges: Cardinal in South Africa

Aug 10, 2024

Wilfrid Fox Cardinal Napier of South Africa is calling on his colleagues in the Episcopacy, members of the Clergy, and women and men Religious to put in place strategies that will make them “effective agents of evangelization”.

Church in Africa asked to Address Cultural Impediments to Healthy Relationships between Local Ordinaries and Religious

Aug 5, 2024

Patriarchal structures that characterized the traditional African setting were introduced in the Church and have continued to affect the relationship between Local Ordinaries and those in Religious Life, a Kenyan theologian has said.

Religious leaders in Africa during a meeting in Rwanda's capital, Kigali. Credit: Caritas Africa

Faith Leaders in Africa Appeal for “debt forgiveness” ahead of 2025 Jubilee Year

Jul 23, 2024

Religious leaders in Africa are appealing for the continent’s debt cancellation ahead of the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year to reduce the financial burdens that various African countries are grappling with.

Celebration of the 2023 SECAM Day at the SECAM headquarters in Accra, Ghana. Credit:

Catholic Church in Africa Challenged to Send Pastoral Agents to “missionary-poor areas” on the Continent

Jul 20, 2024

As the Church in Africa continues to supply missionaries to other places in the world experiencing a decrease in personnel, attention must also be given to places in Africa that equally have a shortage, the leadership of Symposium of Catholic Bishops in Africa has appealed. 

A group of 30 U.S.-based members of the Catholic Women Association (CWA) hailing from the Central African nation of Cameroon attend the United States National Eucharist Congress in Indianapolis. Credit: Victoria Arruda, EWTN News

“A wonderful event”: U.S.-based Cameroonian Catholic Women on National Eucharist Congress in Indianapolis

Jul 19, 2024

A group of 30 U.S.-based members of the Catholic Women Association (CWA) hailing from the Central African nation of Cameroon have lauded the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis as a memorable event that gives them hope to even future participation.

“An Adult Church”: Symposium of Africa’s Catholic Bishops Laud Growth of the Church in Africa

Jul 18, 2024

Following decades of evangelization, the Catholic Church in Africa “has taken root and is now an adult”, the leadership of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has said.

Mrs. Bridget Itsueli, the Founder and Chairperson of Relate Africa Organization for Marriage and Family. Credit: Relate Africa Organization for Marriage and Family

“We need to listen to women at the grassroots”: Catholic Marriage Expert on Why African Marriages are Breaking

Jul 9, 2024

Many African marriages are breaking because women are no longer comfortable with their roles in the family, a Nigerian Catholic expert on marriage and family has said.

A poster announcing the series of online conversations bringing together African theologians, priests, and religious, as well as laity in Africa. Credit: PACTPAN

What the Church in Africa Can Learn from Eastern Churches on Living Synodlity

Jul 1, 2024

The Church in Africa can tap from the experience of Eastern Churches on the continent on living the Synod on Synodlity, participants at a virtual conversation have said.

“Seeds of Synodal Church already sprouting all over Africa”: African Member of Theological Commission of Synod

Jun 28, 2024

The spirit of the Synod on Synodality has been introduced in Africa and is spreading across the world’s second-largest and second-most populous continent, an African member of the Vatican Theological Commission of the Synod has said. 

A poster announcing the series of online conversations bringing together African theologians, priests, and religious, as well as laity in Africa. Credit: PACTPAN

Catholic Archbishop in Ivory Coast Proposes Three “effective approaches for participative synodality in Africa”

Jun 27, 2024

Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, the recently appointed Local Ordinary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan in Ivory Coast is proposing three approaches that he says are “effective” in facilitating a participative Synodal process in Africa.

115 Bicycles for catechists in the Diocese of Mpika, Zambia. Credit: ACN

Africa Received Most of 2023 Aid to the Church in Need International Funding: Report

Jun 22, 2024

In the year 2023, Africa received the biggest chunk of support from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, a Catholic charity foundation that supports the suffering Church all over the world.

Dr. Sylvia Ruambo. Credit: PACTPAN

Catholic Researcher on Why Africa’s “wisdom” is at the Core of Synod on Synodality

Jun 20, 2024

At the core of the Synod on Synodality conversations in Africa is the African way of living that includes the wisdom and traditions elders on the continent dispense, an official at the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) has said.

A poster announcing the series of online conversations bringing together African theologians, priests, and religious, as well as laity in Africa. Credit: PACTPAN

Large Catholic Episcopal Conferences Stifling Bishops’ Voices, Togolese Theologian Says, Advocates for “small groups”

Jun 18, 2024

A Togolese Catholic Priest has proposed the splitting of Bishops’ Conferences, Dioceses, Parishes, and other groups that are seen as too large into units where “everyone’s voice is heard”.

A poster announcing the series of online conversations bringing together African theologians, priests, and religious, as well as laity in Africa. Credit: PACTPAN

Catholic Church in Africa Urged to Tap into Diaspora Communities to Grow Continent

Jun 14, 2024

Catholic Bishops and religious communities in Africa have been urged to harness the potential of the diasporic communities in growing the continent.