As we enter the final week of 2025 and prepare to move into the new year, African Catholic Press reflects on the word that has arguably played the most important role in our activities over the past twelve months. That word is ‘hope,’ a word that conveys the enduring power of optimism. Perhaps Pope Francis’ designation of this year as a Jubilee Year of Hope profoundly influenced the unconscious impulses that guided our thoughts and activities throughout the year, in ways deeper than we might realise.
Hope is a force that permeates all aspects of human existence and endeavour. It is that quiet but persistent voice that encourages us to believe in something better, even when circumstances seem bleak. In times of uncertainty, hope acts as a guiding star, leading us through the darkness and inspiring us to persevere. It is not simply an abstract concept or wishful thinking: hope is a psychological resource that has tangible effects on our lives, shaping our attitudes, behaviours and resilience.
At its core, hope is about seizing opportunities that lie beyond the horizon. It is the belief that, no matter how difficult a situation may be, change is possible and a better future awaits us. This belief motivates us to make the right decisions, strive to achieve our goals and overcome challenges, despite setbacks, obstacles or disappointments. People who hold on to hope are often able to withstand adversity with greater strength, drawing on their inner strength to keep moving forward. They are able to create tunnels where others see only dead ends.
Hope is also a shared asset that fosters connections between people. In communities facing hardship or among individuals facing personal struggles, hope can be contagious, spreading through words, gestures, and acts of kindness. It reminds us that we are not alone in our quests and that together, we can imagine and work towards better outcomes. Hope can be found in stories of recovery, in acts of compassion, in the courage to create, and in the simple encouragement of a friend.
Reflecting on hope reminds us that it is both a choice and a practice, a choice which we consciously made this year, one we supported with actions and which yielded desirable results. By choosing hope, we embraced uncertainty with courage rather than fear. We responded to lack not with despair, but with hard work. By practising hope, we nurtured our optimism even in difficult circumstances. Ultimately, it was hope that gave us the audacity to dream, to act, and to believe in the possibility of a publishing house called African Catholic Press. The official birth of AfriCap in August 2025 at the 3rd PACTPAN International Congress in Abidjan thus demonstrated our ardent faith in transformation, for ourselves and for the world around us. And as Pope Benedict XVI reminds us, in the words of Saint Paul, “SPE SALVI facti sumus”—in hope we were saved, (Rom 8:24).
Ikenna U. Okafor
Publisher, African Catholic Press
