AFRICA/TANZANIA - “A Church that remains particularly attentive to the situation of African women, youth and the most disadvantaged in society, true to its vocation of a preferential option for the poor”: African Bishops at the close of their meeting with Cardinal Martino

Dar es Salaam (Agenzia Fides) – An Africa that is united, pacific, solid, and respectful of human rights, of the dignity of the human person created in the image of God and lives in the Spirit of Christ, who has come to “reconcile all things to Himself.” This is the vision of the Africa proposed in the final communique issued by the Conference organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). The conference, which took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s capital, from August 27-30, focused on a presentation made by Cardinal Raffele Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, of the Compendium of the Catholic Church’s Social Doctrine, in preparation for the second Synod on Africa, scheduled for 2009.
The participants reflected on the themes relating to justice and peace, and the role of the Church and Catholics in promoting a peaceful society and prosperity on the African continent.
In the final document, sent to Agenzia Fides, there is a hopeful vision for the future, of “An Africa aware of its rich culture and its diversity, which has its deepest aspirations, to overcome the negative influence of foreign ideologies that are imposed and which is fully committed to be reconciled with itself, with entire humanity and with almighty God, the creator. An Africa with leaders guided by a sense of justice, peace and creativity. A truly democratic Africa, with open border for its peoples in the spirit of sharing the Common Good, promoting solidarity, subsidiarity and the dignity of each individual person.”
The statement continues: “The Church as Family of God corresponds to the culture and traditions of our people and is at the heart of the Apostolic Exhortation ‘Ecclesia in Africa’ (John Paul II). Such a Church gives backing to the traditional philosophy of ‘I am because we are; and since we are therefore I am’; It is in this Church that the promotion of the values of the family become reality, especially the core values of reconciliation, love and unity. A Church, that works for an on-going conversion of Catholic Christians and is in the service of reconciliation for all people.”
The leaders of the Catholic Church in Africa reaffirmed their commitment to working so that the message of the Gospel may be translated into works of justice: “While she is at the service of conversion and evangelization, the Church continues her Prophetic mission of challenging God's people, particularly the African leaders, as an instrument for the transformation of the continent. A Church, that takes this task seriously and recognizes the role and responsibility of the laity in the mission of evangelization of the world, in accordance with the Second Vatican Council. A Church that remains particularly attentive to the situation of African women, youth and the most disadvantaged in society, true to its vocation of a preferential option for the poor.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 9/9/2008)