21st AMECEA Plenary: “Building bridges of communion, hope, justice and good governance”

The Chairman of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), Most Rev. Charles Kasonde, has declared youth ministry the Church’s top pastoral priority for the next four years. He made the announcement on July 19, 2026, during the opening of the 21st AMECEA Plenary in Kenya, under the theme: “AMECEA’s Synodal Journey with Young People: Building Bridges of Communion, Hope, Justice and Good Governance.”

During the opening Eucharist of the 21st AMECEA Plenary on July 19, 2026, at the Catholic University in Eastern Africa (CUEA), in Nairobi, Most Rev. Charles Kasonde, Bishop of Solwezi (Zambia), declared: “Your Bishops make young people our pastoral priority for the next four years for three reasons: We want to demonstrate that young people are worth the effort and to help them develop a sense of belonging to this Holy Mother Church.”

Bishop Kasonde said the decision reflects the Church’s commitment to nurturing young people as a vital force for sustaining the Catholic faith and advancing evangelisation.

Ambassadors of hope

The bishop cited previous youth engagements in Kampala, Uganda, and Ethiopia, saying they had demonstrated the crucial role young people play in keeping the Church vibrant. He also recalled the 1989 AMECEA Plenary on youth and highlighted the continued commitment of successive Popes, including Pope Leo XIV, who recently encouraged young people to use the internet responsibly.

Bishop Kasonde urged delegates attending the plenary to become ambassadors of hope for millions of young people across the region and commended the Catholic Church in Kenya for hosting the assembly at short notice.

Bridge-builders of communion

Meanwhile, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, encouraged thousands of young people gathered at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa not to lose hope despite global challenges.

Reflecting on Jesus’ parables of the mustard seed and the wheat and the weeds, Cardinal Czerny said Christians are called to recognise the Kingdom of God already at work in the world through faith, patience and active participation.

Quoting Pope Francis’ 2013 homily, he urged the youth: “Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope,” encouraging them to become bridge-builders of communion and peace.

SECAM News, with AMECEA