Vatican City | June 6, 2025 –
On the fifth day of the final week of the 22nd General Assembly of the Society of African Missions (SMA), delegates were received in a special audience by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican—a deeply spiritual and historic moment in the life of the Society.

The audience, held in one of the Apostolic Palace halls, brought together three religious congregations:

• The Society of African Missions (SMA), celebrating its 22nd General Assembly,
• The Third Order Regular of St. Francis, marking their 113th General Chapter, and
• The Formators of the Servants of the Paraclete, an institute founded in 1942 dedicated to supporting priests in difficulty.

In his address, Pope Leo XIV warmly greeted the superiors general and their council members, particularly those recently elected. He reflected on the spiritual significance of General Assemblies, calling them “a vital time of discernment not only for religious communities, but for the Church at large.”

Although the three congregations emerged from different historical contexts and charisms, the Pope emphasized their shared mission: “You are united by your love for Christ, and by your commitment to live and serve within the beautiful harmony of the Church—the mystical Body of Christ.”

Turning specifically to the Society of African Missions, Pope Leo XIV hailed the missionary legacy of Venerable Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac, the SMA’s founder in 1856. “The SMA is a shining witness to the missionary spirit that lies at the heart of the Church’s life,” the Pope said, highlighting the Society’s resilience through trials and its capacity to draw strength from adversity.

Quoting Brésillac’s missionary wisdom, the Holy Father urged the SMA to remain faithful to the simplicity of apostolic preaching and to embrace the “folly of the Cross” with sincerity and peace, especially in times of misunderstanding or rejection. “Be men filled with Christ, free of attachments, proclaiming the Gospel with one heart and one hope,” he said. “This is a sign of courage, and a sign of grace, for the entire Church.”

Following the audience, SMA delegates, along with Our Lady of Apostles Sisters, SMA confreres, and staff and students from the Nocetta community, made a Jubilee pilgrimage to the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Superior General carried the Jubilee Cross at the head of the procession, passing it among the participants in a symbolic gesture of shared mission and renewal during this Jubilee Year.

The day was not only solemn and celebratory on a spiritual level, but also marked with personal joy. Fr. Basil Soyoye and Fr. Eric Aka celebrated their birthdays, adding a note of fraternity and festivity to the day. Meanwhile, it was yesterday that Fr. John Kilcoyne quietly marked his 42nd anniversary of priesthood, a milestone acknowledged by his fellow delegates with gratitude and admiration.

The group departed Rocca di Papa early in the morning—breakfast was served at 5:45 a.m., and buses left promptly at 6:30 a.m. to navigate Rome’s busy traffic.

As Pope Leo XIV concluded his message, he left the delegates with these words:

“Dear friends, thank you for your visit, which reveals three luminous dimensions of the Church’s beauty: commitment to conversion, enthusiasm for mission, and the warmth of mercy. I bless you all and pray, during this novena of Pentecost, that you may be ever more docile instruments of the Holy Spirit, in accordance with God’s plans.”

With only days remaining before the close of the General Assembly, the Vatican visit stands as a powerful spiritual anchor—a reminder of the Society’s call to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth, in communion with the Church and under the guidance of the Spirit.

By Dominic Wabwireh