Mali’s Bishops are meeting from 19 January to 22 January in a plenary session discussing the financial situation of the Church, the sustainability of Catholic education, and appointments at the national level. In an interview with Vatican media, Father Abel Kassongué, Secretary General of the Bishops’ Conference, said the Church in Mali was living in a “delicate” socio-political and security context that calls for prayer and solidarity.
Moriba Camara, S.J. – Vatican City
According to Father Abel Kassongué, this meeting of the Mali Episcopal Conference (CEM) will primarily be “a time for work, discernment, and pastoral guidance” by the country’s prelates.
The goal, he said, is to “assess the current financial situation of the Church in Mali,” identify challenges, and develop “realistic responses, and solidarity-based orientations” to ensure the continuity and credibility of the Church’s mission in the West African nation.
Rethinking Catholic education
The Bishops will consider the state of Catholic education, which is going through “a difficult period” in Mali. A reflection on “the re-foundation of educational structures” is underway to strengthen “its stability and credibility.”
The Bishops will listen to reports and reflect on the status of the Catholic University of West Africa -Bamako Unit and the Mali-Gavardo Hospital, the latter presented as a “project supported by Italian volunteers and a beacon of hope for the health sector.” Finally, they will also make appointments and renew contracts for several national officeholders in some of the Church’s national institutions.
Discernment in a “delicate” context
The Bishops’ gathering is taking place against a socio-political and security backdrop that Father Kassongué describes as “particularly delicate,” marked by instability, population displacements due to jihadist groups, and economic difficulties that weaken social, educational, and health structures.
In this context, the Secretarg General emphasised, the Church “shares the sufferings, worries, and hopes of the people” and seeks to discern how to continue its mission of proclaiming the Gospel, promoting peace, social cohesion, and serving the most vulnerable, while adapting to the country’s realities.
Concluding his remarks, to Vatican News, Father Kassongué called for prayers and appealed for “ecclesial solidarity” to support Catholic education and social works in Mali.
