Mr. Merha Agonafer, Deputy Head of the Order of Malta Mission to the African Union participated in an intellectual retreat for Catholic prelates from across sub-Saharan Africa, on 28-29 May (2024) at the Sheraton Addis in the capital city of Ethiopia.

His Eminence Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel, Archbishop of Addis Ababa, has extended an invitation to the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture to host this conference in his own archdiocese and welcomed its participants.

His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze  delivered a keynote address to attendees, entitled “Pastoring Families amid Growing Confusion about Marriage and Sexuality.” Additionally, His Eminence Willem Cardinal Eijk offered remarks about the recent Dutch bishops’ statement on Fiducia Supplicans, which was followed by responses from a pair of participants prior to a wider discussion of the same.