AFRICA/UGANDA - Cardinal Ouédraogo elected President of SECAM
Tuesday, 30 July 2019
Kampala (Agenzia Fides) - At the close of the SECAM Golden Jubilee Celebrations and Plenary Assembly, the Bishops of Africa elected the Archbishop of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Cardinal Philippe Nakellentuba Ouédraogo as the new President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). The SECAM Jubilee was celebrated on the occasion of the 18th Plenary Assembly of SECAM, held from 19 to 29 July 2019, in Kampala (Uganda), on the theme "Church-Family of God in Africa, celebrate your Jubilee! Proclaim Jesus Christ, your Savior", (see Fides 22/7/2019).
The Assembly, which ended with a celebration in the Shrine of the Martyrs of Uganda, in Namugongo, was attended by 9 Cardinals, 55 Archbishops, 106 Bishops, as well as numerous priests, men and women religious and laity. In their final exhortation, the African Bishops reaffirm their commitment to "the family founded on the union of man and woman remains the first place of evangelization" and "the pastoral care of migrants and refugees and in support of an integral ecology (see Laudato Sì)". The socio-political dimensions of evangelization and calls on politicians and governments to work for the wellbeing of their people.
The document emphasizes that "children and young people are crucial in the work of evangelization", and need therefore "be given special attention and quality Christian education to make them effective witnesses to Christ". Likewise "women have an irreplaceable role and place in the Church and in society. Their participation in education and evangelization is indispensable". In order to keep the momentum of the Jubilee alive, SECAM will publish the "Kampala Document" which "will help the people of God to deepen their knowledge of Christ our Savior and make it known as the Way, Truth and Life". (L.M.) (Full Text- Agenzia Fides, 30/7/2019)
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