Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cape Coast (Agenzia Fides)- “In this era of global inter-dependence and new technologies, 'traditional' forms of slavery as well as some new forms still exist and in fact many people in Europe and in Africa continue to be slaves of poverty and injustice especially due to unequal distribution of the world's resources” Cardinal Josip Bozanić, Archbishop of Zagreb and vice president of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences CCEE in his address to open a CCEE Seminar “I know the suffering of my people” (Ex. 3:7). Slavery and new forms of slavery.” The seminar follows a 1st CCEE/SECAM Seminar held in Rome 2004 (see Fides 11, 13 and 15 November 2004). The meeting, sponsored by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples The Meeting marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Africa.
However the problem of slavery has assumed new forms, said Cardinal Bozanić, due to secularisation, which tends to restrict God to the private sphere of human life, and to spreading aggressive religious extremism. The CCEE vice president said that “Europe and Africa have a common destiny. We are gathered here not only as representatives of the Bishops of our countries but as representatives of one people, the Catholic Church, the universal Church: a singular, visible and spiritual reality, founded on one faith and on the universality of love. It is by virtue of its universal nature that the Church is aware of her mission to serve the Gospel in Europe and in Africa in order to meet the great challenges facing the Christian faith in our globalised society”.
Cardinal Bozanić recalled that in Fatima, on the occasion of a CCEE Plenary meeting (3-7 October 2007), he illustrated to the presidents of the Bishops' Conferences, the CCEE-SECAM collaboration programme for 2007-2010, which was welcomed by the Bishops. He said this is “a path of cooperation between our two continents to preserve, defend and intensity the integrity of the faith of the universal family of peoples”.
“I look now to the 2nd Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa which Pope Benedict XVI has convoked for 2009. I am certain this seminar and our collaboration can contribute to this important appointment” the CCEE vice president concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/11/2007 righe 31 parole 418)
