AFRICA - Three quarters of Africans surveyed in different countries place more trust in religious leaders. Experienced missionary in Sierra Leone says “this means we must be faithful to our mission”

Rome (Fides Service)- “This is good news. It means we religious and Africans understand one another” said Italian Xaverian missionary Fr Giuseppe Berton, with years of experience in Sierra Leone, commenting the findings of a BBC survey that most Africans trust religious leaders more than anyone. “The news should not be surprising because it is part of our mission to be close to people and share their suffering and joy. So the fact that Africans trust religous ledesr is a call to be true to our mission. We must make sure this trust is not betrayed”.
“Day after day we must follow Jesus Christ who shared everything with humanity except sin. In brief: while this news is encouraging at the same time it is a challenge to carry on my mission” said Fr Berton.
Three quarters of Africans surveyed in different countries said religious leaders were the most trustworthy. Asked which was the most important in defining themselves, a majority of Africans put religion above any other factor. Surprisingly few identified ethnicity as the most significant factor - just 6%. “I thnik this proves the profound sense of religion in Africa” said Fr Berton who has experience of one of Africa’s greatest tragedies: child soldiers, “a situation which can only be faced with faith” the missionary concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/9/2005 righe 25 parole 313)