The Pope Paul VI annual lecture was given by Fr. Agbinkhianmeghe E. Orobator SJ at King’s College London with a talk entitled ““A Billion Reasons to believe in Africa: The long march from ‘the hopeless continent’ to ‘the spiritual lung of humanity”.

The Pope Paul VI annual lecture was given by Fr. Agbinkhianmeghe E. Orobator SJ at King’s College London with a talk entitled:

A Billion Reasons to believe in Africa: The long march from ‘the hopeless continent’ to ‘the spiritual lung of humanity.

Fr. Orobator SJ, who currently serves as the Provincial of the Eastern Africa Jesuit Province, focused on harmful stereotypes of Africa and the resilience of the continent in the face of such negative portrayals. He identified reasons to be hopeful and showed what Africa brings to the world, without ignoring the challenges that face and undermine the continent’s march to progress. Religious intolerance and poor leadership are just two of the issues which still need to be tackled.

Fr. Orobator SJ concluded: ““A crucial task facing the continent of Africa is to construct an image of itself and generate an agenda of development worthy of the belief, trust and investment of Africans and the global geopolitical fraternity.”“In spite of harmful stigmatization and stereotypical portrayal, Africa has defied formidable odds and demonstrated resilience and resolve borne on the courage and hope of a billion people.”“ As should be clear, belief in Africa is first and foremost belief by Africans in Africa!

The obstacles to progress are many. Yet the claim of a billion reasons to believe in Africa is not, as might at first be feared, fanciful and delusive; there is ground for a future full of hope.”

See below for a video of the full lecture.

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