PLENARY TANZANIA: Evangelization Prefect from Vatican Smiles at TEC AMECEA Reception 

By Luke Bisani

Prefect of the Congregation for the Congregation for the Evangelization of People at the Vatican in Italy has applauded the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) for the wonderful reception of delegates who are attending the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) 20th Plenary Meeting.

Speaking on arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport on Saturday afternoon, Prefect Luis Antonio Cardinal Gokim Tagle commended TEC for the coordination in preparing for the plenary.

“I have noticed right the hospitality and the organization of the bishops here; the involvement of priests and the Episcopal Conference has been excellent,” said Cardinal Tagle.

Concurring with the Cardinal, the Chairman of AMECEA Rt. Rev. Charles Sampa Kasonde also applauded TEC and Catholic Christians in Tanzania for putting up resources together for preparations for the Plenary.

“We are very grateful to the Tanzanian Episcopal Conference that is hosting our special co-vocation so that we renew our strength to continue to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, so thank you very much for the hospitality by all our brothers and Sisters here in Tanzania,” said Bishop Kasonde.

Archbishop of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia His Eminence Berhaneyesus Cardinal Demerew Souraphiel CM who also arrived in Tanzania for the plenary meeting also smiled at the reception given by TEC to all the delegates of the AMECEA meeting.

Cardinal Souraphiel who is the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) further commended all AMECEA member countries for the prayers towards the successfulness of the 20th Plenary of the AMECEA.

The 20th Plenary of the AMECEA in Tanzania- Dar Salaam will witness delegates deliberating on the delicate matter of ‘Care for our common home’ stipulated in Pope Francis’s teaching on Laudato si.

Laudato Si’ is an encyclical of Pope Francis published in May 2015. It focuses on care for the natural environment and all people, as well as broader questions about the relationship between God, humans, and the Earth.

The Plenary will be officially opened at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium with high Mass on 10th July 2022 under the them “Environmental Impact on Integral Human Development”.