AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - Catholic refugees from Sudan pray for Pope John Paul II with happy memories of his visit in 1993

Gambella (Fides Service)- “Catholics among the refugees from Sudan living in camps in Ethiopia around Gambella are praying intensely for the Pope” Archbishop Angelo Moreschi, Apostolic Prefect of Gambella, in west Ethiopia bordering on Sudan, told Fides. “There are at least 20,000 refugees from Sudan in international camps in the area” said Archbishop Moreschi. “These people have happy memories of the Pope’s pastoral visit to Sudan in 1993. They pray for his health during Mass and from the liturgical point of view I found them well informed and they fully understand the Holy Father’s mission in the Church”.
“Indeed all the local people in Gambella show affection and concern for the Pope, also non Christians. Gambella is an area of first evangelisation, but the Pope is a very popular figure” the Archbishop told Fides.
In December 2003, Gambella was the centre of ethnic clashes in which dozens died and many were injured, (see Fides 16 Dec. 2003, 17 Dec. 2003 and 20 Jan. 2004). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 7/3/2005 righe 17 parole 198)