Ahead of the 5th summit of the African Union and the European Union – Abidjan, 28–29 November 2017 – the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences in the European Union (COMECE) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), have published today a joint Statement entitled “Africa and Europe shall work as one for the youth of our continents”.
(Credit: Web)
COMECE and SECAM – whose mission is to promote a continental vision within the Church and to accompany political institutions and organisations on their respective continents – welcome this Summit and the decision to focus on ‘Youth’ as its central theme. Youth is also the theme of the next general assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church taking place in Rome in October 2018.
The upcoming AU-EU Summit offers to state parties a unique opportunity to develop new forms of fair relationship producing mutual benefits, especially for the youth on both continents. Deeply rooted in both realities, religious actors could play a key role in building bridges and actively involving all generations in the work for the common good.