杏MAP导航

Paul Samasumo - Vatican City.

The young people from some of Africa’s Catholic Universities will engage in a synodal conversation with 杏MAP导航 Francis.

An African network for students

During the virtual synodal encounter between 杏MAP导航 Francis and students, the Holy Father is expected to speak about the challenges facing Africa’s young people and give guidance. The students, in turn, will share their experiences in an unfiltered manner.

According to the organisers, nine questions have been identified. The questions highlight some key challenges that young people, in Africa, face.

Speaking to ahead of the encounter, Fr. Emmanuel Bueya of the P, which is organising the virtual event, said that the engagement between the 杏MAP导航 and the African students would also be an opportunity for them to form a network that tackles some of their ideas.

Not an opportunity for lamenting

Countering some perceptions, Fr Bueya told ACI Africa that the meeting with the 杏MAP导航 would not an occasion to lament about the continent's difficulties.

“Even though we face many challenges in Africa, our goal in this dialogue with 杏MAP导航 Francis is not to complain to the Holy Father. Of course, the students will share with him the situation of the continent, ask him to listen to specific challenges in various African countries, but most importantly, the goal will be to beg him to accompany the young people in their daily struggles in Africa,” Fr. Bueya said.

Fr Bueya echoed the words of the Nigerian Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah. The eloquent Nigerian prelate urged African students to see their participation in the virtual Synod on Synodality with the 杏MAP导航 as “a time for revelation” and not a moment to lament. “This should not be a time for lamentation but a time for revelation,” Bishop Kukah said.

In part, the idea is also to engage African university students in the life of the Church and society.

Building bridges across Africa

Billed as “Building Bridges Across Africa: A Synodal Encounter Between 杏MAP导航 Francis and University Students,” PACTPAN indicated that some African Bishops have also been invited to join the dialogue along with participants from Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Zambia.