The gift of language, a sacred trust from God, came vibrantly alive at the III Pan-African Catholic Congress on Theology, Society, and Pastoral Life, held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, August 5–10, 2025. More than a conference, this Jubilee of Hope gathering was a decisive moment when Africa declared with one voice: “Theology has come home to Africa.” Its echoes are…
❝ Canon Law is not a weapon; it is a response of hope,” — Ernest B.O. Okonkwo Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire At the heart of the III PACTPAN Congress, held at the University of Abidjan, a powerful message resonated through the halls: Canon Law must evolve—not as a rigid set of rules, but as a living response to the hopes and…
❝ AfriCaP is committed to planting the seeds of faith by telling the stories of Catholicism on the African continent and amplifying the voices from the peripheries,” — Fr. Dr. Ikenna Okafor Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire The III Congress of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN), held in Abidjan, marked a historic moment for African theological scholarship with the…
I arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in early August, filled with a theologian’s curiosity about the third Pan-African Catholic Jubilee Congress. What I found over the next five days was more than an academic gathering; it was a profound journey of faith that began the moment I stepped onto the grounds of the Catholic University of West Africa. Organized by…
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire The Catholic University of West Africa, Abidjan played host to the III PACTPAN Congress, a landmark event that drew together voices across the continent and Europe in a spirited celebration of unity, learning, and renewal within the African Church. Far from a conventional academic gathering, the congress emerged as a dynamic space for intercultural dialogue and theological reflection,…
❝ This gives me great hope, not only for Africa, but for the future of the Church throughout the world.” — Fr. Dowling The III PACTPAN Congress in Abidjan transformed into a vibrant intercontinental dialogue, drawing together Church leaders, theologians, clergy, and laity from Africa, Europe, and North America. Far more than a reunion, the event became a crucible for…
From Abidjan to South Sudan and Nigeria to Zambia, youth leaders, survivors, and the Church unite to confront modern slavery and build a future of faith, dignity, and transformation. ❝ If we walk together, we can transform obstacles into opportunities.” — Lucien Djodssounoukoun A Congress of Resolve in Abidjan The humid air of Abidjan could not dampen the electric atmosphere…
In a landmark moment for African Catholicism, the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) unveiled a sweeping 25-year strategic vision at the III Pan-African Catholic Jubilee Congress (PACTPAN) in Abidjan. The plan, described by Church leaders as a transformative roadmap, aims to redefine the African Church’s role in evangelisation, leadership, self-reliance, and societal renewal. Developed through years…
The III Pan-African Catholic Congress revealed five surprising gifts that show how Africa can help reinvent the Church’s mission and prophetic witness for the 21st century. ❝ “The footprints of God in Africa trace the path toward a flourishing future shaped by an African Church confident in her gifts. This is a Church that invests in her own assets, renews…
Introduction The Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) is a community in motion, a testament to the power of a synodal Church in Africa. The network’s 3rd Congress, held in Abidjan from August 5 to 10, 2025, was a profound “lived experience of synodality.” Guided by the spirit of the Synod on Synodality and the Jubilee Year, the theme…