22/07/2026
AMECEA Chairman Makes Youth a Pastoral Priority
The Chairman of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), Rt. Rev. Charles Kasonde, has declared young people a pastoral priority for the Catholic Church in the region over the next four years.
Bishop Kasonde made the declaration during the Opening Mass of the 21st AMECEA Plenary being held in Kenya, where he said the Church considers young people as a vital force in sustaining the Catholic faith and advancing evangelization for generations to come.
“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,” said Bishop Kasonde.
He said the Church’s previous engagements with young people, including major gatherings in Kampala, Uganda, and Ethiopia, had demonstrated the important role of the youth in keeping the Church vibrant and strengthening its evangelisation mission.
Bishop Kasonde further pointed to the Church’s longstanding commitment to young people, recalling the 1989 AMECEA Plenary, which focused on youth under the theme, “Youth on the Move Towards the Year 2000.”
He also highlighted the commitment of the Holy Fathers to addressing the aspirations and challenges facing young people through their teachings and encyclicals. He cited Pope Leo XIV’s recent message to young people, which encouraged them to use the internet responsibly.
The AMECEA Chairman urged young delegates participating in the plenary to become ambassadors of hope for the millions of young people across Eastern Africa who were unable to attend the gathering.
He also commended the Catholic Church in Kenya for agreeing to host the 21st AMECEA Plenary at short notice.
The plenary is being held under the theme, “AMECEA’s Synodal Journey with Young People: Building Bridges of Communion, Hope, Justice and Good Governance.
