Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yaounde (Fides Service)- A meeting in the capital of Cameroon Yaounde organised by a group of African Bishops Conferences to mark the 10th anniversaryof the post Synodal Ecclesia in Africa issued by Pope John Paul II, closes today 17 September.
Local sources said “at least 20 bishops from different African countries, as well as clergy and religious and a large crowd of lay Catholics gathered for the meeting. One main theme for reflection was that of the Family since it was the Special Synod for Africa which first highlighted the reality of the Church-Family-of-God”. The anniversary meeting opened on 14 September with a solemn Mass in Our Lady of Victory cathedral in Yaounde. Participants gathered in the capital’s Congress Hall to listen to reports on the local Churches in Benin, Burkina Faso, Repubblica Centrafricana, Costa d’Avorio, Gabon, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo presented by the respective delegates . The reports focussed on seven main points drawn from the Apostolic Exhortation: new evangelisation; education systems; individual commitment in the life of the church; holiness; inculturation, justice and peace; social communications.
It was Yaounde on 14 September 1995 that Pope John Paul II signed the “Ecclesia in Africa”, written on the basis of recommendations offered by the Special Synod of Bishops for Africa. The purpose of the document was “to share with the whole Church the fruits of reflection and prayers, discussion and debate”. Its publication marked the opening of the stage of implemention of the findings of the Synod held in Rome 10 April - 8 May 1994. This was Pope John Paul II’s first important document on Africa. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 17/9/2005 righe 25 parole 268)
