06/07/2026
Catholic Bishops in Cameroon have concluded their 51st Ordinary Plenary Assembly with a call on the people of God in the Central African nation to reject division and violence and work together for peace, unity, and integral human development.
In his remarks during the closing Mass of the May 31 to June 5 Plenary Assembly in the Catholic Archdiocese of Yaoundé, the President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea, urged citizens and leaders alike to embrace dialogue, service, and national solidarity as the country faces social, political, and economic challenges.
“The Cameroonian society of today and tomorrow should be one where peace is not a simple slogan but a personal and institutional style that rejects every form of division and violence,” Archbishop Nkea said during the Friday, June 5 Eucharistic celebration.
He envisioned a society where leaders “listen attentively to citizens, where public authority serves as a bridge rather than a source of division, and where those entrusted with power place themselves at the service of the people.”
The Local Ordinary of Cameroon’s Bamenda Archdiocese also underscored the vital role of young people in shaping the future of the nation, describing their energy and creativity as “invaluable assets for building a peaceful and prosperous Cameroon.”
Calling on citizens to overcome resignation and feelings of helplessness, he underscored the need for all Cameroonians to recognize diversity as a “treasure capable of fostering lasting peace and social cohesion.”
“The 51st Plenary Assembly is coming to an end, but in fact the work has only just begun,” Archbishop Nkea said, noting that NECC members would return to their respective Episcopal Sees with a renewed commitment to promoting peace through their pastoral ministry and personal witness.
He emphasized that local Churches have a responsibility not only to proclaim the Gospel and administer the sacraments but also to “defend human life, especially the lives of the most vulnerable members of society.”
Archbishop Nkea further underscored the Church’s role in addressing contemporary challenges, including those posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies.
He said the Church must continue to provide moral guidance and bear witness to Christian values in an increasingly digital world.
More: https://www.aciafrica.org/news/22201/cameroons-catholic-bishops-conclude-51st-plenary-assembly-with-call-to-reject-every-form-of-division-and-violence