Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Nov 16, 2017 / 00:44 am
In preparation for the fifth summit of the African Union and the European Union, the Catholic bishops' conferences of both continents issued a joint statement of support.
"The Commission of Bishops' Conferences in the European Union (COMECE) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) … welcome this event and the decision to focus on 'Youth' as its central theme," the bishops said.
"The Catholic Church is deeply rooted in both continents and as bishops we wish to address the spiritual expectations of people, and especially the youth."
Taking place on Nov. 28-29 in Abidjan, capital of Ivory Coast, the summit will draw political leaders to discuss future partnerships between the continents. The bishops observed that youth will also be a major theme of the 2018 Synod of Bishops, held next year at the Vatican.