SECAM President Calls for Spirit-Led Renewal of the Church in Africa

The President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungi, has called on Church leaders and delegates gathered in Kigali for SECAM’s 20th Plenary Assembly to open themselves to the Holy Spirit for the renewal of the Church in Africa and the healing of its societies.

While delivering his opening address on Thursday, July 31, as working sessions began at the historic gathering, Cardinal Ambongo described the Assembly as a “spiritual moment” rather than just an administrative exercise.

“We are here not merely to discuss matters of structure or planning, but to discern together the mission of Christ in our time and context,” he told the over 200 delegates from across Africa and beyond, and said, “Let us seek not only administrative outcomes but spiritual renewal.”

Held in the context of the 2025 Jubilee Year and the ongoing global Synodal journey, the Assembly is being seen as a decisive moment for the Church in Africa.

“This 20th Plenary Assembly is no ordinary gathering. It marks a historic milestone in the life of SECAM,” the Archbishop of Kinshasa, Congo said, and urged the delegates to reflect on the Church’s journey over the last five decades and discern its future with courage and unity.

The member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin expressed deep gratitude to the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda and the local Church, who are the hosts, for their generous hospitality and thorough preparation. He praised Rwanda as a land “that bears witness to both the wounds of history and the strength of resurrection,” recognizing the country’s continued role as a symbol of healing and reconciliation on the continent.

The Cardinal also thanked the Government of Rwanda for its cooperation and support, and highlighted the positive partnership between Church and State in promoting peace, justice, and human dignity.

Calling on participants to work with humility and bold faith, Cardinal Ambongo emphasized the need for a Church that is “prophetic in voice, inclusive in action, committed to justice, and rooted in the Gospel of hope.” He urged the bishops and delegates to remain attentive to the needs of the poor, the displaced, the youth, and the marginalized.

He further entrusted the Assembly to the intercession of Our Lady of Kibeho, and concluded with a prayer that the plenary may bear lasting fruit for the Church across Africa and its islands.

The 20th Plenary Assembly of SECAM, hosted in Kigali, brings together bishops, clergy, religious, and lay leaders from across the continent to reflect on the theme of hope, reconciliation, and peace in light of Africa’s realities and the Church’s evolving mission.

SECAM with Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA