print

The 5th General Assembly of the Reunion of Episcopal Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA), held in Dakar from May 5 to 12, 2025, in the presence of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, concluded with a press conference on Saturday, May 10, marking the presentation of the outcomes of this important sub-regional gathering. Held under the theme: “For a Synodal and Autonomous Church at the Service of Justice and Peace in West Africa,” the assembly brought together over a hundred bishops to deeply rethink the identity and mission of the Church in the region.

A Structural Transformation of the Church

Far from mere formal speeches, this 5th plenary assembly laid concrete foundations for the structural transformation of the Catholic Church in West Africa. In his closing message, Bishop Alexis Touabli Youlo, President of RECOWA and Bishop of Agboville (Côte d’Ivoire), expressed a clear intent: to build a Church that is faithful to the universal Magisterium while being deeply rooted in West African realities. The bishops addressed the challenges of autonomy with clarity—be they spiritual, cultural, educational, financial, or synodal.

Toward an Autonomous Church

The assembly held extensive discussions on the economic autonomy of the Church. The bishops emphasized the need for a mature Church to generate its own resources, free from external dependency. This model of autonomy requires transparent management, solidarity, and fidelity to the Gospel. Bishop Alexis Touabli Youlo stressed that this autonomy is grounded in the contribution of the faithful, virtuous management, and a culture of transparency.

A Synodal and Inclusive Church

The synodal vocation of the Church was reaffirmed: it must be a space of inclusion where women, youth, the poor, and marginalized individuals fully participate in the Church’s mission. The bishops called for a reconciled, just, and sustainably peaceful West Africa. The Church intends to play a prophetic role in this social transformation, seeking to be the “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” (Mt 5:13–16).

Commitment to Justice and Peace

The bishops of RECOWA see themselves as agents of change in society. They aspire to a West Africa free of conflict and commit to concrete actions:

  • Peace education, by integrating mediation and non-violence into schools
  • Intercommunity dialogue, especially between ethnic and religious groups
  • Economic justice, through investments in marginalized areas
  • Security reform, for better training of law enforcement officers
  • The fight against corruption and organized crime, seen as major obstacles to development
  • Ecological justice, by integrating environmental education from an early age
  • Good governance, both within the Church and in the States, emphasizing integrity, participation, and accountability

Fidelity and African Rootedness

In a context marked by the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the West African prelates reaffirmed their fidelity to Church teaching while calling for theological reflection rooted in African realities. They insisted: “We must think for ourselves in strict fidelity to the Gospel,” stressing that faith must be celebrated from who we are, in our languages and rites. The bishops thus invite the faithful to pray for a fruitful and missionary pontificate, capable of listening to the peripheries and acting with boldness.

In short, this 5th General Assembly of RECOWA marks a decisive step toward a more autonomous, synodal, and prophetic West African Church, resolutely committed to justice and peace.

Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu
Les derniers articles par Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu (tout voir)