as the Catholic Church navigates a period of transition following the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, challenges in Africa remain a key focus. cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SCEAM), recently addressed the ongoing issues of conflict, violence, and the need for lasting peace on the continent, emphasizing the importance of justice and equality in the new year. His remarks come as the Church in Africa continues to grapple with insecurity, particularly the rise in attacks against Christians in nations like Nigeria, alongside broader political and social instability.
The close of 2025 marked a period of significant transition for the Catholic Church, coupled with ongoing political and social challenges across Africa, according to Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SCEAM). The cardinal emphasized that lasting peace on the continent hinges on the conversion of its people and a commitment to truth, justice, and equality.
Françoise Niamien – Vatican City
2025 will be remembered by many Christians worldwide for a series of pivotal events, including the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope on January 6, 2026, the Feast of the Epiphany, the passing of Pope Francis, and the subsequent election of Pope Leo XIV. As the new year dawned, Cardinal Ambongo spoke with Vatican News, describing the Jubilee as “a Kairós for the entire Universal Church.” Africa continues to grapple with numerous conflicts, coups, and the alarming rise in kidnappings and killings of Christians, particularly in Nigeria.
Your Eminence, what are your wishes for Africa and the world as we begin the new year?
“May Christ, Prince of Peace, grant us His peace with His coming into the world on Christmas Day, and the certainty that a better world is possible. Therefore, I extend my best wishes for a harmonious and peaceful future to all the children of God who inhabit this earth.”
What is your assessment of Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas message to the world, delivered from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on December 25, 2025?
“I fully embrace the Pope’s appeal, which focused on the theme of peace, calling for an end to conflicts and violence around the world. We all know that 2025 was heavily marked by violence at various levels globally. It is comforting that the Holy Father is once again calling for peace, especially because many of our countries in Africa are experiencing conflicts that have lasted for many years.”
Pope Leo XIV stated: “If each one, instead of accusing others, first recognized their own faults and asked forgiveness from God, and at the same time put themselves in the place of those who suffer, showing solidarity with the weakest and the oppressed, then the world would change.” This call to personal accountability and empathy comes at a critical juncture for global stability.
The Pope’s message for the 49th World Day of Peace, themed “Peace is with you. Towards a disarmed and disarming peace,” resonated deeply with the cardinal. “I fully support the Pope’s appeal, which focused on the theme of peace, calling for an end to conflicts and violence around the world,” Ambongo said. “We all know that 2025 was heavily marked by violence at various levels globally, and it is comforting that the Holy Father is once again calling for peace, especially because many of our countries in Africa are experiencing conflicts that have lasted for many years.”
The Pope’s call for peace, the cardinal explained, is particularly relevant given the protracted conflicts in many African nations. He added that the concept of a “disarmed and disarming peace” underscores that true peace is built through dialogue and harmonious coexistence, not through weaponry. “Unfortunately, this current logic of our world is not one of seeking peace,” he said. “It is regrettable that today in the world, this logic of wanting peace through war prevails.”
The Holy Year, Cardinal Ambongo reflected, was a unique opportunity for spiritual reflection. Millions of pilgrims traveled to Rome to pass through the Holy Doors, and the theme of Hope resonated across all levels of the Church. “This special year, we experienced and celebrated at the continental, diocesan, and parish levels, with an adaptation of the program developed by Rome,” he said. He also expressed gratitude for the legacy of Pope Francis, who inaugurated the Jubilee on December 24, 2024, and acknowledged Pope Leo XIV’s commitment to continuing his predecessor’s work.
As president of SCEAM, Cardinal Ambongo urged all people of God in Africa to recognize the potential for a brighter future, despite the challenges of conflict, violence, famine, and natural disasters. He also highlighted the plight of young Africans migrating in search of better opportunities, often facing tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea. “At the end of the Year of Hope, I want to remind all our brothers and sisters in Africa that a better future is possible for our continent,” he said. “We must not despair; have confidence in our ability to transform and improve our future. Everything depends on Africans themselves: I would say that ‘the ball is in our court.’”
Reflecting on Pope Francis, Cardinal Ambongo recalled being created a cardinal by him in 2019 and subsequently appointed a member of the Council of Nine Cardinals. “The strongest memory I retain of him is that of a great pastor, a man who knew how to suffer with his people,” he said. “A man who had the courage to speak out and express what his people felt, especially the poor. Let us not forget that the first trip of his pontificate was a visit to migrants in Lampedusa. Furthermore, I retain from the deceased Pope all the passion he had for the poor, the needy, the marginalized. He was the defender of the cause of the poor.”
The cardinal emphasized Pope Francis’s strong connection to Africa, noting his five apostolic visits to ten countries between 2015 and 2023. He specifically recalled the Pope’s powerful message from the Democratic Republic of Congo, urging world powers to cease exploiting the continent. “Take your hands off the Democratic Republic of Congo, take your hands off Africa! Stop stifling Africa,” Pope Francis had said. The continent, Cardinal Ambongo explained, is often seen as a source of valuable minerals, exploited by global powers with little regard for the well-being of its people.
He extended this message to African leaders, urging them to prioritize the love and respect for their continent and to defend its resources. “It is time that in Africa it is understood that power is a service to be rendered to the populations,” he stated. The call for responsible governance comes as democracy faces setbacks across the continent, with wealth often concentrated in the hands of a few.
Cardinal Ambongo expressed deep concern over the increasing instances of kidnappings and killings of Christians in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cameroon, linked to the rise of Islamist jihadism. He stressed the need to address the root causes of this violence to prevent further polarization between Christians and Muslims.
Looking ahead, the cardinal highlighted the importance of the 20th plenary assembly of SCEAM, held in Kigali, Rwanda, from July 30 to August 4, 2025, on the theme: “Christ, source of hope, of reconciliation and of peace.” He described the assembly as a pivotal moment for the Church in Africa, offering a renewed focus on hope amidst the continent’s many challenges. “Christ is our source of hope in a context where there is neither peace nor harmonious coexistence between peoples,” he said. “Therefore, the African bishops presented Christ as a source of hope, but also and above all as a source of reconciliation, peace and good living together.”
