The President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) says the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is “a historic and special synod in many ways.”
Addressing African delegates at the SECAM Synod preparatory meeting underway in Nairobi, Kenya, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu expressed gratitude to Pope Francis “for choosing 67 participants from Africa and the islands to attend the Synod, including 5 cardinals, 48 bishops, 6 priests, 6 sisters and 2 lay faithful.”
“This is a historic number that fills us with joy… In a way, we are privileged to have been invited to take part in this synod. The Synod on Synodality is a historic and special synod in many ways,” said Cardinal Ambongo Besungu in the Wednesday, August 16 welcoming address.
The August 15-18 preparatory meeting which brings together participants from across Africa, seeks to enable all participants to know one another, to recap some of the fruits from the Continental Synodal Assembly, to help the participants familiarize themselves with the Instrumentum Laboris (working document), and to offer participants the opportunity to share their expectations for the upcoming Synodal Assembly.
In his address, the Congolese Cardinal reminded participants about the meaning of synodality, he said “It is worth noting that synodality, as a new way of being Church, is at the heart of Pope Francis’ concerns. It reminds us that “we form one People of God, so let us journey together, in order to experience a Church that welcomes and lives this gift of unity, and that is open to the voice of the Holy Spirit”.
He added, “According to Pope Francis, synodality is a “style” that is revealed in the way the Church must live out its mission, which expresses the nature of the people of God who are on the move and gather together in assembly, called by the Lord Jesus and animated by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel to the world.”
Cardinal Ambongo Besungu further said the African delegation’s “participation in this Synodal Assembly will enrich our understanding of synodality, for the experience of Small Christian Communities, which characterises the Church in Africa, harbours aspects of synodality, such as the recognition that each member of the Community has a unique and crucial role to play in its mission because they have received gifts from the Holy Spirit enabling them to work in the service of the Kingdom of God.”
In his concluding remarks, SECAM’s President reminded the participants that their “participation in this Synodal Assembly in Rome requires a great sense of responsibility from each and every one of us because when we return, we will be asked to make our contribution so that the Church in Africa and the islands truly become a Church that listens to the people and a synodal and missionary Church.”
He called on the participants gathered at Mariapolis Retreat Centre in Nairobi, Kenya to “take this seminar to heart as our “pre-synod” and live it as a vibrant experience of listening to one another and walking together, guided by the Holy Spirit towards the gathering place where we will experience synodality in the universal Church.”
