Vatican Official to Grace IMBISA Gathering to Address Challenges Posed by Conflicts
The Vatican is sending a high-level official to a regional bishops' gathering in Pretoria to address socio-political and environmental challenges in Southern Africa. The workshop aims to empower religious leaders to advocate for the marginalized and victims of conflict.
Why it matters
This event demonstrates the Catholic Church's efforts to integrate global institutional policy with grassroots activism in regions facing significant socio-economic instability.
Johannesburg, 09 October, 2026 / 11:36 pm (ACI Africa).
The Secretariat of the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) is set to host the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD) in a workshop organized around challenges arising from conflicts in the region.
The October 12-16 workshop will be held in Pretoria on the theme, “Empowering religious leaders to engage in effective advocacy for socio-political, economic, and environmental issues in the IMBISA region.”
In a statement announcing the workshop, the Secretariat said the event will bring together Bishops and Justice and Peace officials from the various Episcopal Conferences within the region.
The Secretariat further disclosed that the participation of Sr. Alessandra Smerilli from the Vatican has has already been confirmed.
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