Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions for the Catholic Church, with millions of new baptisms and an increase in vocations annually. The Catholic population in Africa has grown significantly, from around 185 million in 2013 to an estimated 230 million by the end of 2025.
Also, vocations are still on the rise, and in Africa, the number of priests rose by more than 1600, while it is decreasing in Europe and America. There is little surprise that also for the Holy See, this continent is increasingly important.
Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation of Divine Worship, who was created cardinal by Saint John Paul II and has served under three Popes, explains the significance in Pope Francis’ unique approach to Africa:
“Pope Francis, people will appreciate his love for the poor, for the forgotten, for the migrants, for those far away. Pope Francis privileges the weak, not so much the strong or the powerful. The statistics office of the Church in the Vatican, tells us that every year, the number of Catholics in Africa is going higher, higher. The number of priests and sisters is also rising.”
The growth of the Catholic Church in Africa is giving to the world figures like Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi, who is on the road to becoming Nigeria’s first Saint. The 92 year old Cardinal recalls the impact Blessed Tansi had on his life.
“He was the first priest I knew,” he shared. “In 1940 he brought me into the church: baptism first, my first communion at his hands, he prepared me for my confirmation.”
“When he was our parish priest,” His Eminence continued, “to see him was like a homily, like a sermon. Even when he did not speak, to see him celebrate mass, you could not be indifferent.”
That is, the Cardinal added, “Fire is warm if you are near fire, you cannot be indifferent. You will be affected even if you don’t know that it is a fire. Just come near it. Eventually there will be an effect on you.”
Father Adrien Sawadogo, a Missionary of Africa, for the order of the ‘White Fathers’ from Burkina Faso, explains how the Church can use the example of African saints to bring the Gospel to all people.
He noted, “There are many, many untold saints in Africa. Many untold Saints. Now what should or can the Church of Africa be doing to make more saints? I would say not make more saints, but bring forth the testimonies of these so many unnamed and untold saints.”
Pope Francis has undertaken five trips to Africa, visiting countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Central African Republic, and South Sudan, addressing both economical and spiritual issues. Father Adrien explains why it’s crucial that Pope Francis travels to these countries and meets with the African people.
“That living physical presence, communicating body and mind and word,” he emphasized, “it’s, for Africa, very important.”
He added, “Writing a letter is good, talking and sending a message is good, but coming to visit has no price, no equal. That’s why it’s important that he goes physically because they believe in a Church that is one, that has a head, that is leading the flock.”
“And if you look at the different visits,” Father pointed out, “you see the joy of people, to see him, they just want to see him, that’s enough.”
Father Oswald Mallya, another Missionary in Africa (Tanzania), believes that the Holy Father’s efforts will have a lasting impact on the African communities.
He shared, “I would say that personally, Pope Francis, I will remember him for his efforts to look after the wounded sheep. Pope Francis’ visits in Africa have been very much focused on wounded flock, which are found in conflict areas. And right from the beginning, he was not afraid to go to these conflicted zones.”
Father added, “Another thing is also his love for people who are not even Christians. That for me is a very good example of following his Master, Jesus, whose love was indiscriminate, whose love was unconditional. He reached out to both gentiles, pagans, everybody. And I think Pope Francis has tried to put that into practice. It is a challenge, it is a call to Christians, also for us, to rethink that, because very often our love is very much limited.”
Pope Francis’ outreach to Africa has set the tone for the Catholic Church in this region. It is an enormous continent facing huge challenges: from violent conflicts to religious persecution, from unspeakable poverty to massive corruption. But it is also the place where a good part of the future of the Church can be found.
“I think too of Africa,” Pope Francis mentioned in his 2018 Christmas Urbi et Orbi message. “May the Holy Child, the king of peace silence the clash of arms and allow a new dawn of fraternity of rise over the entire continent.”
Adapted by Jacob Stein
