5 May 2026

«The Pan-African Capuchin Congress (PACC) serves as a convoking of prominent Capuchin superiors from Africa and Madagascar, alongside the General Minister and his Councilors, to reflect on the experiences of the Capuchin Friars in Africa». BR. Worku Demeke, OFMCap. The main purpose of the Congress is to strengthen the Capuchin identity within Africa by fostering the human and fraternal connections that underpin their existence, which include formation, mission, economic stewardship, and collaborative witness in partnership with local Churches and the global community. As of now, PACC has taken place five times, with the sixth congress planned to be held at St Francis friary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from February 1 to 6, 2027. Normally, the Congress is organized in one of the African countries, as determined by the General Minister and his councilors. The General Minister is responsible for convening and presiding over the Congress. The five previous congresses have been held in the following nations: It is clear that a multitude of issues have been addressed in all these Congresses, resulting in various directives intended to influence the life and mission of the Capuchins in Africa. However, the resolutions made during the second and fifth PACCs hold particular importance. At the second Congress, it was decided that the Capuchins in Africa ought to be organized and coordinated in a more cohesive manner rather than being divided into smaller factions. Consequently, the previous associations, which consisted of two in East Africa and two in West Africa, have been dissolved, leading to the establishment of two new conferences, namely EACC and CONCAO. Additionally, during the fifth PACC, both conferences came to an agreement to form an assembly referred to as the Capuchin Assembly of Major Superiors of Africa, with the aim: When we concentrate on the VI PACC, the moto of the congress is “LET US START AGAIN”, a phrase used by St. Francis of Assisi to teach his followers that the spiritual life is a continuous journey rather than a destination, and no one should satisfied with his spiritual progress and exposed to pried. The topics that will be addressed in this congress consist of six: The Capuchin Assembly of major superiors in Africa has developed a strategic framework aimed at effectively addressing these issues, ensuring that the congress yields significant results. This strategic framework is organized into three primary timelines: which are the pre-celebration timeline, the celebration timeline, and the post-celebration timeline. To ensure the effectiveness and impact of the congress, the participation of every individual brother is essential. Accordingly, as of January 20, 2026, all Capuchins operating in Africa are involved in a range of activities. These include reflecting on the questionnaires of the baseline assessment, contributing to the writing of articles related to the topics, being updated about the progress made by the preparatory commission, and engaging in prayer for the success of the VI PACC, among others. Consequently, to facilitate this, the assembly has established a webpage at the domain https://www.camsafrica.org/. Additionally, it utilizes social media platforms such as WhatsApp, WhatsApp channel, YouTube, Twitter, and others. The anticipated number of participants includes 100 brothers along with a potential 30 invited guests. Therefore, the total expected attendance is approximately 130.