Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican (Fides Service) – The name of Archbishop Michael Aidan Courtney, Nuncio in Burundi, is the last on the list for 2003 men and women martyrs for the Cause of the Gospel in many different parts of the world faithful to Christ even to the shedding of their blood. With the archbishop, priests, Religious men and women, lay people, all filled with the same passion to spread theliberating Good News of Jesus Christ and to promote his Kingdom of justice and peace. However this tireless and arduous peace making among parties in conflict, warring groups and tribes is not appreciated by some who want only to prolong situations of war. Those working for peace realise they are targets, persons to be removed. Nevertheless the Church, poor in structures but rich in the spiritual heritage entrusted to her by Christ himself, has always been engaged in building peace with method and at all levels: from individual missionaries striving to reconcile small groups, to Representatives of the Holy See engaged in the same task through channels of diplomacy and in many other ways.
However this peacemaking activity is not welcomed by people who prosper on situations of division, hatred and rancour, who speculate on the material and intellectual poverty of certain peoples. For them the best way to stop a peace process which threatens to succeed is to eliminate the builder, and it is all too easy to blame the crime one of the warring factions, in any case nearly always backed by outside interests.
Today, these Apostles of peace working in the name of Christ and all persons of good will striving in the name of Truth to promote reconciliation and progress are indispensable not only for Africa but for the whole world. (Fides Service 30/12/2003 – lines 21; words 305)
