21st Biennial PACE- APECA Pan African Conference Underway in Accra for Catholic Bible Scholars

The Conference which is  scheduled from September 9 to September 16 was officially opened at the Christ the Parish Hall in Accra on the theme, “The Bible and the African Child in the Post-Pandemic Age.” 

The theme aims to address the issues and challenges faced by African children in a world reshaped by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 21st  Pan-African Conference is expected to honor His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson on the occasion of his 75th birthday anniversary and his impactful contributions and leadership among Catholic Biblical Scholars.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 21st Biennial PACE-APECA Congress at Christ the King Catholic Church, Cardinal Turkson emphasized the need to be concerned for children living in difficult conditions.

According to him, the congress serves as proof of a commitment to the social well-being of children.

“If the idea is not to limit our concern for children in terms of solicitude before our Heavenly Father but also to develop the same sentiments of solicitude for children here on earth, then I would like to suggest that this is the proof of our concern and love for children,” he said.

He added that Catholics, lay faithful, and Christians in general must act as earthly angels to children in today’s post-pandemic age.

“Children should not only enjoy the solicitude of their Father in Heaven, but there should also be a lot of solicitude shown for children here on earth,” he stated.

The Pan-African Association of Catholic Exegetes (PACE) comprises Catholic biblical scholars from across Africa who have organized biennial biblical conferences since the 1980s to promote research in biblical ministry within an African context.

This year’s biennial congress will feature 70 cardinals, bishops, priests, religious figures, and lay scholars from 15 African countries.