SECAM: Elects New Leaders, Pope Confident Local Churches Remain Beacon of Hope
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
After the four-day plenary assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in Kigali, Rwanda, new office bearers were elected to carry on the work of the continent for the next three years, 2025-2028.
It was announced after the elections on Saturday, August 3, that His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo Besungu, the Archbishop of Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been re-elected the President of SECAM
Cardinal Ambongo took over following the death of His Eminence Richard Kuuia Cardinal Baawobr, who was appointed President of the Continental Church in Africa at the end of the 19th SECAM Plenary Assembly in July 2022, and died shortly afterwards in November.
The Bishops also elected Rt. Rev. Stephen Dami Mamza, Bishop of the Diocese of Yola in Nigeria, as the first Vice-President of SECAM, and Most Rev. José Manuel Imbamba of Saurimo Archdiocese in Angola, as the second Vice President. The treasurer has remained Rt. Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji of Keta-Akatsi Diocese, Ghana.
The Prelates from across the continent also re-elected Rev. Fr. Rafael Simbine, Junior, a member of the Clergy of Mozambique’s Catholic Diocese of Xai-Xai, as the Secretary General of SECAM, together with Rev. Fr. Zéphirin Moube as the First Deputy Secretary General and Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina as Second Deputy Secretary General.
Meanwhile, a message from the Holy Father was read to SECAM delegates, where the Pope shared his spiritual closeness and confidence in the local Churches in Africa being a beacon of Hope.
“His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, sends cordial greetings to you and all those gathered in Kigali for the twentieth plenary assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar. He prays that your deliberations on the theme, “Christ, Source of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace,” will highlight the importance of fostering an intense experience of the love of God that awakens in the Hearts the sure hope of salvation in Christ,” the message read in parts.
The Holy Father encouraged the Bishops to promote unity, particularly in parts of society fractured by division and polarization.
“In this way, the Holy Father is confident that your local Churches will remain tangible signs of hope for all people,” Pope Leo XIV said in a message read by Protase Cardinal Rugambwa of the Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora in Tanzania on Saturday, August 2, adding that he has entrusted the plans of the Church in Africa to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of hope.
