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Rome (Fides Service). “Poverty is the principle problem of our country and from it all the others are derived”. Archbishop Fulgence Rabeony of Toliara President of the Bishops’ Conference of Madagascar told Fides. The Archbishop is in Rome for the five yearly ad limina visit.
In 2002 Madagascar was in crisis because of a battle between outgoing president Didier Ratsiraka and the president today Marc Ravalomanana, at the time mayor of the capital Antananarivo. Ravalomanana claimed a 50% victory in the first round of elections saying there was no need for a second round and accused Ratsiraka of manipulating the results. “When the crisis of 2002 was settled the people hoped a minimum of prosperity and development would shortly follow” Archbishop Rabeony told Fides. “But this did not happen and the poverty of the great majority of people is still the principle problem for our country. A major cause of poverty is corruption practised also by some of the new leaders”.
“Broken promises have triggered social and political tension. The opposition is reorganising itself but because most opposition leaders were former ruling class people who did little or nothing for the development of Madagascar, it has difficulty in reaching a consensus among the people ever more disappointed” the President of the Madagascar Bishops’ Conference told Fides.
“However the government is seeking to dialogue with the Churches, including the Catholic Church, asking us to collaborate with in a programme to fight poverty” said Archbishop Toliara: “As the local Catholic Church we are happy to help improve the living conditions of the people but we want more information on the measures the government intends to take for the programme”.
With regard to Church life on the island the Archbishop said “The Church is dynamic and fervent in faith as we saw by the large numbers attending the national Eucharistic Congress this year and also our own annual national Youth Days”.
“Proof of the Church’s vitality are the growing numbers of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life, men and women. However there are some difficulties with regard to the formation of the future priests and religious. In fact this was the subject for discussion at a recent Church Synod on the life of priests” the Archbishop of Toliara told Fides.
“Our laity is ever more mature and involved in social work as well as helping the clergy in the mission of evangelisation” said Archbishop Rabeony. “When we have our meeting with the Pope we will remind him of the process for the canonisation of Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo, a married woman dedicated to evangelisation in Madagascar at a difficult time for the Church on the Island when missionaries and priests had been expelled. Her canonisation would serve as an encouragement to all married couples”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 20/6/2005 righe 43 parole 525)
