The Catholic Church in Eastern Africa has declared young people its top pastoral priority for the next four years, placing youth formation and participation at the centre of its evangelisation mission across the region.
The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), Rt. Rev. Charles Kasonde, during the opening Mass of the 21st AMECEA Plenary Assembly in Kenya.
Addressing bishops, clergy, religious leaders and young delegates, Bishop Kasonde said the decision reflects the Church’s recognition that young people are central to its future and must be given a stronger sense of belonging within the Catholic community.
“Your Bishops 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.
AMECEA brings together Catholic bishops from countries in Eastern Africa, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan and Djibouti. Its plenary assemblies, held every four years, set pastoral priorities and provide direction for the Church’s mission in the region.
This year’s gathering is taking place under the theme, “AMECEA’s Synodal Journey with Young People: Building Bridges of Communion, Hope, Justice and Good Governance,” reflecting the Catholic Church’s broader Synodal process, which seeks greater participation of lay faithful, especially young people, in the life and mission of the Church.
Bishop Kasonde said previous regional engagements with young people, including major youth gatherings in Kampala, Uganda, and Ethiopia, had shown that young Catholics remain a driving force in sustaining the Church and expanding its evangelisation efforts.
He noted that the Church has consistently placed young people high on its agenda, recalling that the 1989 AMECEA Plenary focused entirely on youth under the theme, “Youth on the Move Towards the Year 2000.”
The bishop also pointed to the continued attention given to young people by successive Popes through apostolic letters, encyclicals and pastoral messages addressing issues such as faith, education, employment and responsible use of technology.
He cited Pope Leo XIV’s recent message encouraging young people to use the internet responsibly and to ensure digital platforms become tools for truth, dialogue and human dignity rather than division and misinformation.
Turning to the young delegates attending the assembly, Bishop Kasonde urged them to represent the aspirations of millions of young Catholics across Eastern Africa who were unable to attend the gathering.
“You are not here only for yourselves. You are here on behalf of millions of young people across our region. Return to your countries as ambassadors of hope,” he said.
He also thanked the Catholic Church in Kenya for accepting to host the plenary at short notice, describing the move as a demonstration of solidarity and commitment to the regional Church.
The resolutions and pastoral priorities adopted during the assembly are expected to guide the work of Catholic dioceses and bishops’ conferences across Eastern Africa over the next four years, with renewed emphasis on youth ministry, participation in Church life and promoting justice, hope and good governance.
