Catholic Church in Africa
The Latest
Lifting of moratorium on death penalty in Congo ‘a step backwards,’ cardinal says
In a March 17 interview, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo said he finds it “abnormal that a government that claims to be... Read more
African cardinal: Fiducia Supplicans seen as ‘cultural colonization, Western imperialism’
In a March 17 interview, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo deplored the lack of “synodality” in the release of the DDF document... Read more
German bishops to Church in Africa: Initiate canonization of German martyrs
A representative of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference has challenged African Church leaders to initiate the canonization processes for German... Read more
Vatican statistics: Africa had biggest increase in Catholics, while numbers fell in Europe
Catholics in the world numbered 1,375,852,000 people at the end of 2021, with an overall increase of 16.2 million compared... Read more
Catholic priest in Nigeria freed on Pentecost Sunday after three days in captivity
Father Matthias Opara, a Nigerian Catholic priest who was abducted on May 26 while returning from a funeral, has been... Read more
Pope Francis: Congolese Catholics are ‘a lung’ for the universal Church
“Thank you, because you are a lung that helps the universal Church breathe!” Pope Francis said at his final meeting... Read more
Visit the Burkina Faso street named in honor of Pope Benedict XVI
The thoroughfare in Ouagadougou is known as Pope Benedict XVI Street. Read more
Bishop: ‘Nigeria is waiting’ for justice in Pentecost Sunday church massacre
Six months have passed since 39 Catholic worshipers were slain and dozens injured in a June 5 attack on a... Read more
Vatican sends papal nuncio expelled by Nicaragua to Africa
Archbishop Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag will be the apostolic nuncio in Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania. Read more
New cardinal from Ghana to undergo heart surgery in Rome
Cardinal Richard Kuuia Baawobr is expected to undergo heart surgery in Rome by the end of this week, according to... Read more
The Church must do more for survivors of sexual abuse, Vatican official says
The Church must do more for anyone affected by sexual abuse, “even when the Church can appear tarnished because of... Read more
Expressing 'great sorrow,' Pope Francis apologizes for postponed Africa trip
The pope apologized Sunday for having to call off his July visit to Congo and South Sudan due to his... Read more
'It was a miracle I escaped': Nigerian sister recounts deadly shooting
Sister Nkiru was returning home from a marriage ceremony with other people when armed assailants opened fire on their vehicle. Read more
Ethiopian bishops call for ceasefire in Tigray crisis
As the war over control of Ethiopia's Tigray region expands into neighboring regions, the country's bishops on Saturday urged an... Read more
Religious freedom advocates warn that church closures are ‘wrong direction’ for Algeria
The closure of several Christian churches in Algeria, as well as court convictions of Christians for undermining Muslim beliefs, are... Read more
Catholic priest among 11 people kidnapped in Nigeria’s Kaduna archdiocese
Gunmen in northern Nigeria killed eight people and kidnapped 11 others. Read more
Religious leaders in Ivory Coast appeal for dialogue ahead of presidential election
Religious leaders in Ivory Coast have appealed for dialogue and peace ahead of the presidential election, scheduled for Oct. 31... Read more
Catholic bishop: Mali coup 'a big failure for our democracy'
The military coup in Mali is “a big failure for our democracy,” the president of the country’s Catholic bishops’ conference... Read more
Pope appoints new archbishop for booming African diocese
Bishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya, the new Archbishop of Bamenda in Cameroon, came to international attention during the 2018 meeting of the Synod... Read more
Full text of Pope Francis' in-flight press conference from Madagascar
This is the full transcript of the Pope's Sept. 10 in-flight press conference from Antananarivo, Madagascar to Rome Read more
