Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tripoli (Agenzia Fides) - “We have been invited to a big event to be held in Tripoli. I am not exactly sure what it is about. If it is a peace rally we have no problems with participating,” says Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli. “Tonight we didn't hear any explosions. Probably areas far from here were being bombed. Church life continues. Yesterday, Friday, 25 March, we celebrated two Masses which were attended by many faithful, Filipinos and Africans, who are now the only ones left,”says Bishop Martinelli. “We are waiting to see how events evolve. We hope that the voice of reason prevails for everyone,” concludes Bishop Martinelli.
Meanwhile, in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), the headquarters of the African Union (AU), the AU special assembly was held on the Libyan crisis. It was attended by representatives of the Special Commission of the African Union on Libya (which includes Republic of Congo, South Africa, Mauritania, Mali and Uganda), representatives of the Libyan government, but not those of the Libyan Transition Council based in Benghazi, in addition to delegations from the Arab League, Islamic Conference and the European Union.
After the meeting, the AU issued a “road map” that calls for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian passages and protection measures for foreigners (particularly sub-Saharan immigrants) and “the adoption and enactment of political reforms necessary for the elimination of the causes of the current crisis.” The Libyan Government has accepted the roadmap, while the insurgents have not yet answered. The AU has declared that it intends to initiate contact with the Libyan Transition Council (the self-governing body of insurgents) to try to get them to accept the road map. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/3/2011)
