“Meet Christ to Proclaim Him,” Says Cardinal Peter Turkson at SECAM Plenary

Kigali, Rwanda – 30 July 2025: Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences, urged African bishops and Church leaders to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ in order to proclaim Him with courage and conviction.

He was preaching during the inaugural Holy Mass of the 20th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), held at Regina Pacis Parish in Kigali, Rwanda.

“God is our Father and the Church is our Mother. We must meet Christ personally to proclaim Him with our lives,” said Cardinal Turkson in his homily.

The 20th SECAM Plenary Assembly is being held from 30 July to 4 August 2025 at the Kigali Convention Centre. The theme of the assembly is: “Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace: the Vision of the Church-Family of God in Africa for the Next 25 Years (2025–2050).”

Welcoming the delegates, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali, thanked them for their presence and support. After the Mass, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa and President of SECAM, expressed gratitude to all participants and guests.

Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior, Secretary General of SECAM, gave the general introduction to the assembly. Cardinal Ambongo also presented the Triennial Report of SECAM during the opening session.

Special invitees to this year’s plenary include Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), and Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, President of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM).

SECAM was born from the vision of young African bishops during the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), who desired to speak with a united voice. Recognizing this need, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples invited regional episcopal presidents for consultations in 1968.

In 1969, SECAM was officially launched during the historic visit of Pope Paul VI to Kampala, Uganda — marking the first-ever papal visit to Africa. Since then, SECAM has become the voice of the Church in Africa and Madagascar, promoting unity, mission, and advocacy on the continent.

By Catholic Connect Reporter from SECAM Plenary Assembly