Cardinal Ambongo calls Pope Leo XIV’s first meeting with African Bishops a milestone for renewed Vatican–Africa relations and shared pastoral mission.
Newsroom (20/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) The President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, has described the first official audience between Pope Leo XIV and the leadership of the Church in Africa as a historic and “very important meeting” signaling a new chapter in relations between the African continent and the Holy See.
Speaking to Vatican News after the January 17 encounter, Cardinal Ambongo said that while Pope Leo XIV had previously met individual African Bishops, this audience marked the first formal engagement with the SECAM leadership since the new pontificate began. Originally slated for December 18, 2025, the meeting had been postponed due to the Pope’s apostolic trip to Turkey.
The SECAM delegation was composed of top figures from across the continent: Cardinal Ambongo, First Vice President Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza of Nigeria’s Diocese of Yola, Second Vice President Archbishop José Manuel Imbamba of Saurimo in Angola, and Secretary General Father Rafael Simbine.
Sharing Africa’s Voice with the New Pontiff
“It was really an important meeting,” Cardinal Ambongo affirmed, noting that the audience established official contact with Pope Leo XIV for the first time since his election. The leaders also briefed the Pope on the conclusions of their 2025 Plenary Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda, which centered on the theme “Christ, source of hope, reconciliation and peace.”
The Cardinal said the theme reflected the Church’s mission in the face of persistent conflict and instability across Africa. “Africa is a continent marked by multiple crises. This theme helped us analyze in depth our mission as pastors in a continent characterized by suffering and instability,” he explained.
Despite mounting social and political challenges, Ambongo emphasized that Africa’s Church remains resilient and deeply connected to the people. He echoed the late Pope Francis’ principle that “the Church does not belong to any political camp but stands with the people,” describing African Catholics as “dynamic and radiant.” Recalling Pope Benedict XVI’s portrayal of Africa as “the spiritual lung of humanity,” Ambongo affirmed that the Church continues to draw strength from its faithful even as it shares in their suffering.
Hope and Healing from the Universal Shepherd
Cardinal Ambongo also highlighted Pope Leo XIV’s expressed desire to visit Africa, calling the prospect “both pastoral and prophetic.” Such a journey, he noted, would nurture faith while providing comfort to societies that continue to grapple with war, displacement, and poverty.
“When the Pope comes to a country in crisis, it is to give hope,” Ambongo reflected. “His voice comforts the people, confirms them in their commitment, and helps them not to be discouraged.” A papal visit, he added, reinforces Christian perseverance: “Even if things are going badly today, Christian hope tells us to hold on.”
For the SECAM President, the Pope’s role as the “universal Shepherd” remains essential in guiding African nations toward peace and coexistence.
Cry for Dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Turning to his homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cardinal Ambongo voiced deep concern over the enduring violence in the country’s eastern provinces. He condemned the diversion of national resources toward war and armament instead of social development.
“For more than a year now, the Church has been advocating dialogue. No solution will come from weapons, but from sitting around a table where everyone can express their concerns,” he said. Initiatives like the Washington and Doha peace processes, he observed, are steps in the right direction but remain insufficient without broader inclusion.
Ambongo urged for a comprehensive national dialogue bringing together the government, opposition—both armed and unarmed—and civil society, stressing that only through conversation can the Congolese people hope for a durable peace.
Toward a Renewed Partnership of Faith
As Africa confronts ongoing crises while maintaining its spiritual vitality, Cardinal Ambongo envisions SECAM’s strengthened ties with Pope Leo XIV as central to shaping the next phase of Vatican–Africa collaboration. Grounded in faith and marked by realism, the January audience, he said, represents not only a formal introduction but also a reaffirmation of the Church’s shared mission: to be a voice of reconciliation, peace, and enduring hope for Africa and the world.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACi Africa
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