Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, blessed the foundation stone of the Pan-African Institute for Social Doctrine of the Church in a ceremony that was held in Kinshasa, capital of Democratic Republic of Congo. Cardinal Martino was in Kinshasa for the Silver Jubilee of ACERAC (Association of Bishops' Conferences of Central Africa) and the Gold Jubilee of the Catholic Hierarchy in Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda.
The new Pan-African Institute (whose working languages are English and French) is an autonomous institution within the Catholic University of Congo. According to the Congolese Agency DIA, Cardinal Martino expressed the hope that the Institute may become a laboratory for the culture of peace, providing training to those who aspire to peace in Africa, and promoting the common good without any type of discrimination.
The President of the National Bishops' Conference of Congo, CENCO, Archbishop Nicolas Djomo of Tshumbe, reiterated the importance of working together and focusing on peace in Africa, as stated by Cardinal Martino, and stressed that the vocation of the institute is to develop Africa's best potentials, in a global search for what can contribute to building peace through justice, truth, and solidarity. This new institute intends to meet the aspirations of peace, justice, and love of the African population. Archbishop Laurent Mosengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa said that the Pan-African Institute for Social Doctrine of the Church will surely contribute to the integral development of African countries, as it participates in the evangelizing mission of the Church. Bishop Mosengwo, expressed the hope that the institute might form politicians with good governance and respect for the common good and ethics, in all areas of social life. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 14/12/2009)
