AFRICA/TOGO - "We are living a delicate moment", says the President of the Episcopal Conference after the elections

Friday, 15 May 2015

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "We are living a delicate moment", says to Fides His Exc. Mgr. Benoȋt Comlan Messan Alowonou, Bishop of Kpalimé and President of the Episcopal Conference of Togo in Rome for his ad limina visit.
Presidential elections were held on 25 April in Togo (see Fides 25/04/2015) that saw the reappointment of the outgoing Head of State, Faure Gnassingbe, who won a third term.
Mgr. Alowonou states that "the elections were conducted peacefully, in an atmosphere in which everyone wanted peace. But the problem is not the elections, but the result after the vote, as the opposition candidate did not accept the results proclaimed by the Supreme Court. In addition, the President of the Court announced the results when all members of the Court were not present. So where is the truth? God only knows".
The President of the Episcopal Conference emphasizes: "As in all the Churches of Africa, the Bishops are involved in the social and political life of the Country. A few years ago a Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created in Togo, and a Catholic bishop was elected as its President: Mgr. Nicodème Anani Barrigah-Benissan, Bishop of Atakpame.
In just under three years, this Commission has played an important role" says Mgr. Alowonou. "The Bishops' Conference of Togo has been very close to this Bishop, with prayer, encouragement and also with advice. Thanks to Mgr. Barrigah-Benissan, the Commission carried out its role until the end; now it is time to apply what the Commission elaborated".
With regard to the life of the Church, Mgr. Alowonou emphasizes "that the Church in Togo has priests who are now almost all diocesans. Our hope lies in the formation of our priests. We have a large number of vocations to priesthood, and we pray the Lord for the gift of discernment in order to make good choices". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/05/2015)


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