The Vatican Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples urged African Bishops to promote a spirit of solidarity and unity in their local Churches to build a new Africa.
Archbishop Protase Rugambwa advised African prelates to live with affective friendship for a deep concern for the Universal Church and other Churches.
He was speaking to hundreds of delegates on Sunday July 21, during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar or SECAM.
AMECEA News Online quoted him saying that such collegial affect is to be actualized and expressed in different ways, even institutional.
The Archbishop called for translation of unity into a tangible participation in the activities of SECAM and its structures, regarding both personnel and finances.
He encouraged the delegates to advocate for an establishment of a just social order based on reconciliation, justice and peace.
The Archbishop told the participants to keep the message of Pope Francis alive which speaks on the need for transformation and conversion in the Church.
The SECAM Plenary that started on July 20 to end on July 29 is under the theme: ‘Church-family of God in Africa, celebrate your jubilee! Proclaim meet and welcome Christ your Saviour.’
It attracted over 300 delegates from Africa, Madagascar, Europe, America, Asia including cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, religious men and women, representatives of various partners and selected institutions.
SECAM is a fruit of the efforts of African Bishops who during the second Vatican Council (1962-1965) resolved to establish a continental structure to unite the Church in Africa and promote collaboration in pastoral ministry.