At the invitation of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), COMECE Secretary General, Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, took part in the 20th Plenary Assembly held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 30 July to 4 August 2025. Read SECAM Assembly Final Declaration
SECAM 20th Plenary Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda. (Photo: SECAM)
This offered Fr. Barrios Prieto the possibility of sharing some of the most recent COMECE initiatives concerning Africa, including joint activities with SECAM, emphasising the importance of further strengthening collaboration between the episcopates of Africa and the European Union. It also offered the possibility of drawing attention to relevant initiatives in the context of EU–Africa relations, including the upcoming 7th Summit between the leaders of the 27 EU Member States and the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) to be held in November.
President of SECAM, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa. (Photo: SECAM)
The Plenary Assembly brought together more than 250 participants, including cardinals, bishops, priests, religious men and women, lay leaders, young people and representatives of partner organisations from across Africa and beyond.
Centred on the theme “Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation, and Peace”, the meeting provided an opportunity to evaluate progress since the previous Assembly in Accra (2022) and to present SECAM’s long-term pastoral vision for 2050 structured around twelve “foundational pillars”, including evangelisation, family leadership, youth engagement, care for creation, digital mission and political responsibility.
The Assembly also included discussions on key pastoral and social challenges, accompanying Catholics “in complex cultural realities”, such as polygamous unions, as well as discussions on governance, justice, peace, interfaith dialogue, climate change, and safeguarding.
Holy Mass at the Regina Pacis Remera Parish, Kigali Archidiocese. (Photo: SECAM)
On this occasion, the current President of SECAM, H.Em. Card. Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, was re-elected for another mandate. Also, Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior, current General Secretary of SECAM, who visited COMECE this year, was re-elected unanimously for another mandate. COMECE warmly congratulated both Cardinal Ambongo and Fr. Rafael on their re-election and expresses its strong commitment to further strengthening cooperation with SECAM.
The Assembly concluded with a solemn Eucharistic celebration attended by tens of thousands of pilgrims in the Sanctuary of our Lady of Kibeho. Notably, also, around 20,000 young people from all dioceses of Rwanda and from parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo attended the Holy Mass, on the occasion of the 2025 Jubilee of Young People.
The Assembly adopted a Final Declaration, which is available at the following link.
Videos of the event can be found at the following links: Day 1 – Day 2 – Mass