More than 200 bishops of West Africa met from 23-29 January at Yamoussoukro, the political capital of the Ivory Coast, for a plenary assembly to set up a regional Episcopal Conference made up of all the Episcopal Conferences present in the 16 English, French and Portuguese-speaking countries of West Africa. The theme of the meeting was: The Church–the Family of God in West Africa–at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace.
The encounter concluded with a solemn Eucharistic Liturgy celebrated in Our Lady of Peace Basilica in Yamoussoukro. “May our parishes and cathedrals become instruments of reconciliation, justice and peace,” urged Cardinal Théodore Adrien Sarr, president of the new Episcopal Conference. “There should be no discriminations based on religion, ethnic group or political adherence.”
The Daughters of St. Paul participated with deep joy and emotion in this significant moment of ecclesial communion and helped to enrich it by means of a very well stocked book display.