The Secretary of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Sr. Tiziana Merletti, SFP, in a keynote address delivered on March 13, 2026, during the opening ceremony of the Regional Conference of Major Superiors of West Africa (RECOMSWA) and the Africa Religious Union (ARUG) joint conference, has described Consecrated Life as a safe space for transformation in Africa.
Delivering her address on the theme: “Consecrated Life for Transformation: Safe Spaces, Transformative Leadership, Witnesses of Hope” in Kumasi, Ghana, Sr. Merletti said consecrated life must become an environment where individuals experience spiritual growth, healing, and transformation.
Sr. Merletti, who represented the Prefect of the Dicastery, Sr. Simona Brambilla, MC, said Africa, though an ancient continent, remains vibrant and rich in hope, and therefore consecrated life must play a crucial role in the Church’s mission of transformation.
Quoting Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, she noted that consecrated life “is located at the very heart of the Church as a decisive element for her mission.”
She emphasized that transformation in religious life begins with a spirituality of communion, where consecrated persons share joys and burdens and build genuine fraternity. According to her, religious men and women are called to be “experts of communion” and witnesses of unity within the Church.
The Secretary also urged religious communities in Africa to create safe spaces that uphold human dignity and protect the vulnerable. “Safe spaces are not just physically protected locations. They are spiritual and relational environments where every person feels welcomed, listened to and respected,” she said.
Sr. Merletti further highlighted the importance of transformational leadership in consecrated life, describing authority as service rather than power.
“Leadership in consecrated life is not control but accompaniment,” she noted, adding that leaders must listen, promote co-responsibility, value the talents of members and act with transparency.
She said Africa, despite its social and economic challenges, remains a continent of hope, and consecrated men and women must continue to witness to that hope through their daily commitment to the Gospel.
The conference, held from March 12 to 15, 2026, at Christian Village–Santasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, brought together major superiors from fourteen of the fifteen member countries of RECOMSWA as well as members of ARUG. Fr. Clement Nandou, OSA a delegate from Rome accompanied the Secretary from the Dicastery as well as Fr. Vincent de Paul Boro, Deputy General Secretary of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa.
By: Sr. Agnes Mercy Nyatsoe, SMMC and Sr. Gifty Anastasia Blewu, SMMC
(Catholuc Sister Communicators network-Ghana. CASCON-GH)
