Nairobi — Young people are at the center of the reflections taking place during the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), which opened on Sunday, July 19, at the Catholic University in Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi.
In his opening address, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Kisumu, President of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke directly to the youth of the region, saying: "The Church loves you, believes in you, and invites you to participate fully in the life and mission of the Church and in the life of your respective countries. Together, let us build societies founded on love, justice, unity, faith, and the enduring values of our Catholic and Christian tradition."
"Do not be robbed of hope," said Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery of Promoting Integral Human Development, in his homily during the Assembly's opening Mass. Referring to Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, the Cardinal stressed that the Pope describes dialogue as an essential diplomatic tool for preventing conflict and restoring trust between nations.
AMECEA President, Bishop Charles Joseph Sampa Kasonde of Solwezi (Zambia), announced that young people will be the Catholic Church's pastoral priority across the region for the next four years. "The bishops of AMECEA make young people our pastoral priority for the next four years for three reasons: We want to demonstrate that young people are worth the effort and to help them develop a sense of belonging to this Holy Mother Church," Bishop Kasonde said.
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Around 140 bishops are taking part in the Assembly, representing the AMECEA member Episcopal Conferences of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, together with the Apostolic Vicariates of Djibouti and Somalia, which are affiliated members of the Association.
The event has also brought together representatives of local political institutions. Among them was Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who spoke on behalf of Kenyan President William Ruto. In his address, Mudavadi called for stronger regional cooperation to promote peace, good governance, and youth empowerment throughout Eastern Africa, emphasizing that these three pillars are essential for sustainable development and economic growth. Acknowledging the Catholic Church's commitment to equipping providing "young people with the right values, skills and opportunities," the Kenyan politician said that "together we can unlock Africa's immense potential and secure a more stable and prosperous future."
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