AFRICA/RWANDA - “National reconciliation is a challenge for all Rwandans and the Church has its own contribution to offer” President of the Rwandan Bishops’ Conference tells Fides

Monday, 13 September 2004

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Rome (Fides Service)- “National reconciliation is still a challenge which concerns everyone, including the Church, society and politics” Bishop Alexis Habiyambere, S.I., of Nyundo, President of the Bishops’ Conference told Fides. The Bishop is one of the 118 prelates recently appointed taking part in a study Seminar organised by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. Ten years have passed since the genocide in Rwanda in which at least 1 million perished. “Ten years are not sufficient to build full reconciliation and real rebuilding of the social tissue. But we are not discouraged indeed we are moved to work even harder for peace” Bishop Habiyambere told Fides. “We must be patient and giving time to time and think of the future of the new generations”.
“Rwandans and Rwandan institutions must feel they are involved in this challenge. For the Church, it is fundamental to overcome the divisions which led to the crime of genocide” the Bishop said. With regard to the Church’s work to promote peace and reconciliation added: “We have various initiatives aimed at promoting national reconciliation. For example diocesan Synods to bring laity together to discuss matters and help them realise that we are all brothers and sisters and we must walk together if we want to build a new future. At the level of education, Catholic schools have an important task of educating youth to reciprocal respect and love. Catholic youth movements play an important role in bringing children of different ethnic groups together. We have numerous Basic Church Communities formed of about 30 to 40 families who live in the light of the Gospel. There is no better educaiton to peaceful coexistence than solving common problems together. Basic Communities are important because they start from grass roots level building reconciliation which then spreads through the whole of society. Our national Justice and Peace Commission also makes an important contribution to promoting a culture of peace”.
“Peace was the theme at the centre of our celebrations organised for the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 which was also the occasion to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the evangelisation of our country” Bishop Habiyambere told Fides
“Our efforts for peace have also a regional dimension” the Bishop said. “The Bishops of Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Congo meet regularly as members of ACEAC (Association of Bishops’ Conferences of Central Africa) and give the Church’s contribution towards setting conflicts in the Great Lakes region”.
At the end of the July the Catholic Bishops of Rwanda issued a statement commenting a report from the Parliamentary Enquiry Commission. The Bishops recalled “the role which the Catholic Church has played and continues to play in the development of Rwanda and to improve the people’s standard of living”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/9/2004 righe 42 parole 511)