Cairo, Egypt — U.S. chaplain delegation led by U.S. Africa Command Chaplain Colonel Karen Meeker carried out collaborative conferences to carry stability by way of religion and new avenues of collaboration in help of the warfighter whereas in Cairo, Egypt, March 17, 2025.
U.S. chaplain delegation led by U.S. Africa Command Chaplain Colonel Karen Meeker carried out collaborative conferences to carry stability by way of religion and new avenues of collaboration in help of the warfighter whereas in Cairo, Egypt, March 17, 2025.
Collectively AFRICOM’s engagement with the Patriarch performs a job in fostering unity, particularly in areas dealing with excessive poverty, illness, violence, drought, and insecurity. The Patriarch has devoted his life to establishing faculties, hospitals, church buildings, and orphanages in conflicted areas. Regional cooperation with this alliance promotes resilience and fostering unity with a shared imaginative and prescient.
“This go to exhibits how spiritual leaders can discover widespread floor and work collectively in the direction of a typical objective akin to peace and safety,” mentioned Chaplain Meeker. “We look ahead to persevering with this dialogue and exploring alternatives for collaboration in battle decision amongst peoples and nations.”
Obtained at St. Nicolas Church, the group met with His Holiness Theodoros II, Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa and Fr. Meletios, Chaplain Normal of the Hellenistic Forces Normal Employees. His Holiness Theodoros II traces his two-thousand-year lineage to St. Mark. The Patriarch oversees twenty-one archdioceses all through East, West, North and Central Africa. Their discussions targeted on shared values of resilience and outreach to susceptible communities.
This assembly laid the groundwork for AFRICOM to follow-on strategic spiritual chief engagements. It would additionally foster a collaboration with an Egyptian College that focuses on battle decision and character improvement. This program has efficiently skilled Jordanian Armed Drive imams with instruments to help peacebuilding efforts throughout the Center East.
“The chaplaincy’s dedication to confidentiality and belief is a mannequin for dialogue, each throughout the navy and throughout communities.” Meeker famous. “It is by way of this basis that we will have the troublesome conversations obligatory for reconciliation, therapeutic, and peace.”
AFRICOM is exploring the best way to adapt this mannequin and empower chaplains and spiritual leaders throughout Africa with theological data and sensible instruments for peacebuilding of their communities. This reference to Egypt is a regional hub for interfaith coaching addressing the battle with knowledge, empathy, and management.
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“Spiritual lodging is a crucial element of guaranteeing all individuals–whether in uniform or in community–can observe their religion freely and safely,” mentioned Meeker. “Our shared work with spiritual leaders throughout Africa isn’t solely a gesture of goodwill, however a tangible funding in the way forward for regional peace.”
His Holiness Theodoros II prolonged a gracious invitation for AFRICOM to proceed partaking with religion communities throughout East, West, North, and Central Africa. These efforts mirror the deep potential of non secular diplomacy to enrich conventional safety methods. As AFRICOM continues to deepen its partnerships with spiritual establishments and native communities, the command reaffirms its dedication to inclusive diplomacy, moral management, and a imaginative and prescient of safety rooted in mutual understanding.
Navy chaplains supply non secular, emotional, and moral steerage to service members, notably in high-pressure or fight settings. Along with offering non secular help, they function trusted confidants and advisors, aiding troopers’ households and addressing the distinct challenges of navy life.
U.S. Africa Command, one in all 11 U.S. Division of Protection combatant instructions with an space of accountability masking 53 African states, greater than 800 ethnic teams, over 1,000 languages, huge pure sources, a land mass that’s three-and-a-half occasions the scale of the U.S., and practically 19,000 miles of coastland. Working alongside its companions, AFRICOM counters transnational threats and malign actors, strengthens safety forces and responds to crises.
