Cairo, Egypt – Rev. Karen Meeker, pastor of the US pastoral delegation led by US Africa, held a joint meeting on March 17, 2025, while in Cairo, Egypt, to bring stability through a new path of faith and cooperation in supporting the faith and fighter jets.
Colonel Karen Meeker, pastor of the US Pastor’s Delegation, led by the US Africa Command, held a joint meeting on March 17, 2025, to bring stability through a new path of cooperation, in support of faith and fighter jets.
Africa’s involvement with the Patriarchs plays a role in promoting unity, especially in areas facing extreme poverty, illness, violence, drought and anxiety. The patriarch has devoted his life to establishing schools, hospitals, churches and orphanages in conflict areas. Regional cooperation with this alliance promotes resilience and promotes unity with a shared vision.
“This visit shows religious leaders can find a common foundation and work together towards common goals such as peace and security,” Chaplain Meeker said. “We look forward to continuing this dialogue and exploring opportunities for cooperation in conflict resolution between people and countries.”
The team received at St. Nicholas Church met his sacred Theodor II, the patriarch of Alexandria, and all African and priests. Merethios, a general staff member of the Pastor General of the Hellenistic forces. His sacred King Theodor II traces his two thousand years of lineage to the Saint Mark. The patriarch oversees 21 archdiocese dioceses in the East, West, North and Central Africa. Their discussion focused on the shared values of resilience and outreach to vulnerable communities.
The conference laid the foundation for Africom to pursue strategic religious leader engagement. It will also promote collaboration with the University of Egypt, which specializes in conflict resolution and character development. The programme was trained to the Jordanian military imams with tools to support peacebuilding efforts throughout the Middle East.
“The pastor’s commitment to confidentiality and trust is a model of dialogue both within the military and across the community,” Meeker noted. “Through this foundation, we can have the difficult conversations necessary for reconciliation, healing and peace.”
Africom is exploring ways to adapt this model and provide African pastors and religious leaders with theological knowledge and practical tools for peacebuilding in their communities. This connection with Egypt is a regional hub for inter-fiction training to deal with conflicts with wisdom, empathy and leadership.
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“Religious accommodation is a key element of ensuring that every individual, whether in uniform or in a community, practices their faith freely and safely,” Meeker said. “Our shared work with religious leaders across Africa is not only a gesture of goodwill, but a concrete investment in the future of regional peace.”
His holiness Theodor II expanded the elegant invitations for Africom to continue to engage with the faith communities in the East, West, North and Central Africa. These efforts reflect the deep potential of religious diplomacy that complements traditional security strategies. As Africom continues to deepen its partnerships with religious institutions and communities, the commander reaffirms its commitment to a vision of security rooted in inclusive diplomacy, ethical leadership, and mutual understanding.
Military pastors provide mental, emotional and ethical guidance to service members, especially in high pressure or combat environments. In addition to providing mental support, they act as trustworthy confidants and advisors, helping soldier families and addressing the clear challenges of military life.
The US Africa Commander is one of 11 Department of Defense Combatant Commanders with 53 African states, over 800 ethnic groups, over 1,000 languages, vast natural resources, three times the size of the United States and one of 19,000 miles of land mass on the coast. Working with our partners, Africom will fight back against cross-border threats and malicious actors, strengthen security forces and respond to the crisis.
