“Africans and Christians”: Transitioning from Missionary-Guided to a Self-Determining Local Church

Valentine Ugochukwu Iheanacho

doi:10.25159/2412-4265/15842

Authors

Valentine Ugochukwu Iheanacho University of the Free State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/15842

Keywords:

Africa, Catholic Church, popes, bishops, SECAM, synod, evangelisation, development

Abstract

Pope Paul VI (1963–1978), in his homily on 31 July 1969 at the closing Mass of his pastoral visit in Kampala (Uganda), told the gathered faithful that his main mission was to foster what they already were: “Africans and Christians.” Lurking behind that papal assertion was the fear that Christianity might fade away in sub-Saharan Africa after attaining political independence. That fear came close to becoming a reality in Guinea when Sékou Touré, the country’s post-independent president, experimented with Marxist ideology by expelling foreign missionaries and even imprisoned the first Guinean-born bishop. As it turned out, the Guinean experiment became one of the few rare exceptions. The post-missionary Catholic Church in Africa is believed to have started its trajectory of growth and transition in the 1970s. In terms of a continent-wide consciousness as a local church, the 1974 Synod of Bishops in Rome allowed African bishops to come together to assess the situation of their local church and its post-missionary future. Their continental body, the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), gave them the platform to speak in unison. Using the historical narrative approach, this research demonstrates the historical/transitional curves of Catholicism in sub-Saharan Africa in the last fifty years. Its point of reference is the 1974 Synod in Rome, whose fiftieth anniversary of convocation is in October 2024.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biography

Valentine Ugochukwu Iheanacho, University of the Free State

Research Fellow Department of Historical and Constructive Theology Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State

References

African Bishops. 1975. “Dichiarazione Finale, Evangelizzazione e Corresponsibilità (Evangelisation and Co-responsibility).” In Le nuove vie del Vangelo: I Vescovi Africani parlano a tutta la Chiesa, edited by G. Butturini. Bologna: EMI.

“African Report.” 1990. In Third World Theologies: Commonalities and Divergencies, edited by K. C. Abraham. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock.

Agenzia Fides. 2004. “Africa/Congo: Archdiocese of Brazzaville Commemorates Cardinal Emile Biayenda Abducted and Murdered 25 Years Ago.” Agenzia Fides, 24 March. Accessed 11 January 2024. https://www.fides.org/en/news/2011?idnews=2011&lan=eng.

Allen, J. 2012. “Sixteen Years Ago Today, Death Came for the Archbishop.” National Catholic Report, 29 October. Accessed 5 March 2023.https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/sixteen-years-ago-today-death-came-archbishop.

Atemanke, J. 2024. “Catholic Archbishop Known for Freedom, Democracy Advocacy in Togo Dies at 93.” Aciafrica, 9 January. Accessed 15 January 2024. https://www.aciafrica.org/news/9987/catholic-archbishop-known-for-freedom-democracy-advocacy-in-togo-dies-at-93.

Benedict XVI. 2009a. “Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate.” Vatican, 29 June. Accessed 9 January 2024.https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate.html.

Benedict XVI. 2009b. “Address of Holiness Benedict XVI during luncheon with Synod Fathers.”Vatican, 24 October. Accessed 16 January 2024. https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2009/october/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20091024_pranzo-padri-sinod.html.

Benedict XVI. 2009c. “Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Members of the Roman Curia and Papal Representatives for the Traditional Exchange of Christmas Greetings.” Vatican, 21 December. Accessed 16 January 2024. https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2009/december/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20091221_curia-auguri.html.

Benedict XVI. 2012. “Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio On the Service of Charity.” Vatican, 11 November. Accessed 17 December 2023. https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-vi/en/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20121111_caritas.html.

Bowers, P. 2002. “African Theology: Its History, Dynamics, Scope and Future.” Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology 21 (2): 109–126.

Bühlmann, W. 1978. The Coming of the Third Church. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

Calderisi, R. 2006. The Trouble with Africa: Why Foreign Aids Isn’t Working. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

Calderisi, R. 2013. Earthly Mission: The Catholic Church and World Development. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Caritas Africa and SECAM. 2010. “Mumemo Declaration: A New Pentecost for Africa.” Caritas Africa and SECAM, 26 May. Accessed 15 January 2024. https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/mumemo-declaration-english.pdf.

Carter, S.E. 1975. “The Synod of Bishops 1974: An Assessment.” International Review of Mission 64 (255): 295–301. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-6631.1975.tb01187.x

Casanova, J. 1996. “Global Catholicism and the Politics of Civil Society.” Sociological Inquiry 3 (66): 356–373. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-682X.1996.tb00225.x

Cavanaugh, R. 2019. “This Was Once Africa’s Largest Cathedral, But Its “Throne” Cannot Be Filled.” Aleteia, 15 July. Accessed 25 October 2023. https://aleteia.org/2019/07/15/this-was-once-africas-largest-cathedral-but-its-throne-cannot-be-filled/.

Cerchietti, G., G. Grieco, and L. Lalloni. 2010. “Un Cielo senza Nuvole.” In Il Cardinale Bernardin Gantin: Missionario Africano a Roma, Missionario Romano in Africa, edited by G. Cerchietti, G. Grieco, and L. Lalloni. Cittá del Vaticano: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Culbertson, H. 2023. “The Three ‘Selfs’ of Indigenous Churches.” SNU. Accessed 1 April 2024. https://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/3selfs.htm#:~:text=The%20three%20%22selfs%22%20that%20Henry,foreign%20money%2C%20and%20foreign%20personnel.

Dederen, R. 1975. “Synod 1974: No New Sound in Rome.” In The Ministry XVLVIII (4): 8–10. Accessed 9 January 2024. https://cdn.ministrymagazine.org/issues/1975/issues/MIN1975-04.pdf.

Elenga, Y. C. 2006. “The Congolese Church: Ecclesial Community within the Political Community.” In The Catholic Church and the Nation-State: Comparative Perspectives, edited by Paul C. Manuel, Lawrence C. Reardon and Clyde Wilcox. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.

Evuters. 1977. “Cardinal is Murdered in Congo; His Death Linked to President’s.” The New York Times, 24 March. Accessed on 10 January 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/24/archives/new-jersey-pages-cardinal-is-murdered-in-congo-his-death-linked-to.html.

Foster, E. 2019. African Catholic: Decolonization and the Transformation of the Church. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674239432

Francis. 2013. “Address to Participants in the Pilgrimage from the Diocese of Brescia.” Vatican, 22 June. Accessed 10 January 2024. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2013/june/documents/papa-francesco_20130622_pellegrinaggio-diocesi-brescia.html.

Gifford, P. 2016. Christianity, Development and Modernity in Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190495732.001.0001

Hanson, E. O. 1990. The Catholic Church in World Politics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400858606

Henriot, P. 2011. “A Balancing Act: Facing the Challenge of Implementing the Directions of the Second African Synod” In Reconciliation, Justice, and Peace: The Second African Synod, edited by A. E. Orobator. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

Hickey, R. 1982. A Case for an Auxiliary Priesthood. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

Iheanacho, V. U. 2021. Historical Trajectories of Catholicism in Africa: From Catholicae Ecclesiae to Ecclesia in Africa. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock.

Iheanacho, V. U. 2022. “The Catholic Church and Prophetic Mission: Transitioning Church-State Relations in Africa.” Religions 13 (4): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13040339

Ilo, S.C. 2017. “The Enduring Significance of Populorum Progressio for the Church in Africa.” Journal of Moral Theology 6 (1): 57–79.

Kenyon, P. 2018. Dictatorland: The Men Who Stole Africa. London: Head of Zeus.

Konings, P. 2007. “Church-State Relations in Cameroon’s Postcolony: The Case of the Roman Catholic Church.” Journal for the Study of Religion 20 (2): 45–64. https://doi.org/10.4314/jsr.v20i2.47771

Kroeger, J. 2013. “Papal Mission Wisdom: Five Mission Encyclicals 1919-1959.” In A Century of Catholic Mission: Roman Catholic Missiology 1910 to the Present, edited by S. Bevans. Oxford: Regnum International. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1ddcmxp.12

McGoldrick, T. 1998. “Episcopal Conferences Worldwide on Catholic Social Teaching.” Theological Studies 59: 22–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/004056399805900102

McNamara, K. 1975. “The Fourth Synod of Bishops.” The Furrow 26 (1): 5–24.

Meredith, M. 2006.The State of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence. London: Free Press.

Ngolet, F. 2000. “Ideological Manipulations and political Longevity: The Power of Omar Bongo in Gabon since 1967.” African Studies Review 43 (2): 55–71. https://doi.org/10.2307/524984

Novak, M. 1991. Will It Liberate? Questions about Liberation Theology. Lanham, NY: Madison Books.

O’Neill, P. 1972. “Christianity Advances in Africa.” The Furrow 23 (9): 544–549.

Ogunu. O. 2005 Documents of the Catholic Church in the African World. Bologna: EMI.

Paul VI. 1967a. “Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Catholic Christi Ecclesiam.” Vatican 6 January. Accessed 9 January 2024. https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/it/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-proprio_19670106_catholicam-christi-ecclesiam.html.

Paul VI. 1967b. “Apostolic Letter Africae Terrarum.” Vatican 29 October. Accessed 11 January 2024. https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/it/apost_letters/documents/hf_p-vi_apl_19671029_africae-terrarum.html.

Paul VI. 1969a. “Address to the Parliament of Uganda.” Vatican, 1 August. Accessed 29 December 2023. https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/speeches/1969/august/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_19690801_parlamento-uganda.pdf.

Paul VI. 1969b. “Homily at the Eucharistic Celebration at the Conclusion of the Symposium Organized by the Bishops of Africa.” Vatican, 31 July. Accessed 12 January 2024. https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/homilies/1969/documents/hf_p-vi_hom_19690731.html#:~:text=The%20first%20of%20these%20aspects,6.

Paul VI. 1975a. “Opening Address.” In Synod of Bishops – 1974. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference.

Paul VI. 1975b. “Closing Address.” In Synod of Bishops – 1974. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference.

Paul VI. 1975. “Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nundiandi” Vatican, 8 December. Accessed 9 January 2024. https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi.html.

Pelzel, P. M. 2004. “Gremillion, Joseph Benjamin.” New Catholic Encyclopedia., 15 May. Accessed 9 January 2024. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/gremillion-joseph-benjamin.

Pius XII. 1957. “Encyclical Fidei Donum: On the Present Condition of the Catholic Missions, especially in Africa.” Vatican, 21 April. Accessed 16 January 2024. https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_21041957_fidei-donum.html.

Roman Catholic Mission Somalia. 2013. “Missionaries Murdered in Somalia: Bishop Pietro Salvatore Colombo O.F.M.” Roman Catholic Mission Somalia, 21 August. Accessed 25 October 2023. https://rcmsomalia.blogspot.com/2013/08/missionaries-murdered-in-somalia-bishop.html.

Sangu, J. D. 1974. “Report on the Experiences of the Church in Africa in the Work of Evangelisation in Africa.” Paper presented on behalf of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa, the Synod of Bishops on “Evangelisation in the Modern World.”, Rome, 1974

Sarr, L. 2020. “Being an Archbishop in Africa comes with a Political Role.” LaCroix, 10 September. Accessed 5 January 2024. https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/being-an-archbishop-in-africa-comes-with-political-role/12988.

Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). 1981. “Justice and Evangelisation in Africa.” In Documents of the Catholic Church in the African World, edited by O. Ogunu. Bologna: EMI.

Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). 1981. “The Church and Human Promotion in Africa Today” In Documents of the Catholic Church in the African World, edited by O. Ogunu,. Bologna: EMI.

Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). 2019. “Kampala Document. That they may know Christ and have life in abundance (Jn 17:3, 10:10). Accra: Secam Secretariat.” SECAM. Accessed 29 March 2024. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mzojsnefg_Xk9U-Eu1c1UEZIATwLaaVi/view?usp=sharing.

Synod of Bishops. 1975a. “Declaration.” In Synod of Bishops – 1974. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference.

Synod of Bishops. 1975b. “Statement on Human Rights and Reconciliation.” In Synod of Bishops – 1974. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference.

Time Magazine. 1974. “Religion: Bold Bishops, firm Pope.” Time, 11 November. Accessed 15 January 2024. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,911522,00.html.

Walls, A. 1995. “Christianity in the Non-Western World: A Study in the Serial Nature of Christian Expansion.” Studies in World Christianity 1 (1): 1–25. https://doi.org/10.3366/swc.1995.1.Part_1.1

https://doi.org/10.3366/swc.1995.1.1.1

Weigel, G. 2022. To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II. New York, NY: Basic Books.

Wynn, W. 1988. Keepers of the Keys: John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II. New York, NY: Random House.

Zalot, J. D. 2002. The Roman Catholic Church and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

Zurlo, G. A. 2023. “Barret, David B. (1927–2011).” School of Theology. Accessed 10 January 2024. https://www.bu.edu/missiology/missionary-biography/a-c/barrett-david-b-1927-2011/.