Missionaries from Africa, Global South Fruits of Earlier Evangelization: Vatican Archbishop

Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu said the increasing number of missionaries from Africa and the Global South arriving in Western countries represents the results of earlier evangelization efforts returning to the universal Church. Speaking to Agenzia Fides, the Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization cautioned against viewing these missionaries only as a solution to declining priestly vocations. He stated that there is not a global shortage of priests, but rather a redistribution of them.

The Archbishop's comments come ahead of the first international conference for "The Church of the Sheaves," a Vatican missionary initiative. Scheduled for October 22–24 at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, the conference brings together Church leaders, scholars, and pastoral workers to discuss mission as a reciprocal relationship.

The initiative seeks to improve missionary training and encourage cooperation between churches in the Global North and Global South. It also intends to help Catholic communities manage migration, demographic shifts, and new pastoral needs.