YAOUNDE, CAMEROON - The Pontifical Council for the Laity is organizing the Pan-African Congress for the Catholic Laity in Yaoundé in Cameroon from September 4 - 9, 2012. The theme of the congress is: “Being Witness of Jesus Christ in Africa Today: Salt of the earth ...light of the world (Mt. 5:13-14)” and it will hold at the Catholic University of Central Africa (UCAC) in Yaoundé. The focus on Africa by the Pontifical Council for the Laity is in continuation of discussions on the Pope’s Journey to Cameroon and Angola (March 17-23, 2009) and to Benin (November 18-20, 2011), where he presented the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation - Africae Munus. The congress is being organized with the support of the Catholic Church in Cameroon and delegates are expected from the different countries of the continent and delegates chosen by African Bishops\` Conferences, International meetings of Bishops\` Conferences and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM/SCEAM). Also expected are representatives of Small Christian Communities (SCC), members of lay associations, ecclesial movements and new communities. Some cardinals, bishops, priests and religious will also accompany the laity during this congress as an eloquent sign of ecclesial communion. More than 250 delegates are expected to take part in the congress. The Congress is intended to renew and deepen the commitment of the laity to live in their contexts - families, small Christian communities, lay associations, ecclesial movements, parishes, Catholic schools and universities as well as in society, in politics and in the work place - proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a universal gift of salvation and to engage themselves in the work of New Evangelization. It is also intended to strengthen the relationship of the Church in Africa with the Successor of St. Peter and to encourage the preparation and training of the laity so that they will be strengthened in their Christian identity and have a keener awareness of their mission in the Church and in the world.