From 22 to 26 September 2026, the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) animators from the Anglophone and Francophone Franciscan Conferences of Africa gathered in Kivumu, Rwanda, for the JPIC Continental Meeting to share experiences, identify the continent’s main challenges, and strengthen collaboration in the JPIC mission.
Hosted by the Custody of Our Lady of Kibeho, the meeting also brought together representatives of the General Government of the Order, the General Secretariats for Formation and Studies and for Missions and Evangelization, as well as the Franciscan Network in Africa.
A JPIC Mission Rooted in the African Context
Throughout the meeting, participants shared the work being carried out by different Franciscan Entities in areas such as assistance to migrants and refugees, care for creation, peacebuilding, support for young people and students, and initiatives addressing poverty and situations of vulnerability.
These experiences provided an opportunity to recognize both the progress made and some of the major challenges facing the continent: conflict and social and political instability, migration, extreme poverty, exploitation and competition for natural resources, limited resources to sustain projects, and the need to ensure greater continuity in JPIC processes.
In this context, Fr. Siphelele Gwanisheni, OFM, General Definitor for Africa, encouraged participants to embrace the JPIC mission with a prophetic and creative attitude, with particular emphasis on strengthening communication, collaboration and peacebuilding.
Collaboration, Formation and Evangelization
One of the main themes of the meeting was the need to further integrate Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation into the different dimensions of Franciscan life and mission.
Fr. Daniel Rodríguez Blanco, OFM, Director of the General Office for JPIC, addressed the importance of strengthening collaboration between JPIC and the General Secretariats of the Order.
This perspective was further explored from the standpoint of formation by Fr. Edson Nhatuve, OFM, Vice-Secretary General for Formation and Studies, and from the perspective of evangelization by Fr. Francisco Gómez, OFM, Secretary General for Missions and Evangelization, who participated online and guided a reflection on the Ratio Evangelizationis.
The meeting highlighted a shared conviction: JPIC is not an isolated area of Franciscan mission, but a dimension that permeates formation, evangelization and the presence of the friars in the different realities of the continent.
The value of networking was also explored through the participation of Sr. Mary W. Sebastian, LSSJ, who presented the experience of the Franciscan Network in Africa and emphasized the importance of connections, information sharing and mutual support in strengthening common initiatives.
Memory, Peace and Hope in Kibeho
The meeting concluded with a pilgrimage to the Kabgayi Genocide Memorial and the Shrine of Our Lady of the Word in Kibeho.
At Kabgayi, the friars paid tribute to the victims of the genocide and renewed their commitment to working for reconciliation and peace. The subsequent visit to Kibeho provided a time for prayer and spiritual renewal, culminating in the celebration of the Eucharist.
After several days of dialogue, reflection and fraternity, the JPIC animators returned to their Entities with the challenge of continuing to build a more connected and collaborative mission, capable of responding, through the Franciscan charism, to the social and environmental realities facing Africa.
