Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Fides Service) - The French speaking Bishops of West Africa members of CERAO have underlined that forgiveness is the path to peace. In a statement issued at the end of their 16 plenary assembly 31 January - 5 February, the bishops say “We appeal to our governments to make gestures of unity and responsibility because all power comes from God and it is to Him that we must give account of our deeds”. The assembly was held in Abidjan, economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire a country disrupted by years of political crisis.
“Sharing information about our respective countries” the Bishops write “we have formed a picture of the situation in the people in the countries of West Africa. Their condition impels us first of all to announce Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace. In fact in the present socio-political crises in our countries, with the threat civil war ever ready to return, we see the urgent need to proclaim Jesus Christ who is our Peace”.
The Bishops recall that “peace is the gift Jesus Christ gave to his Church”, a peace founded on the logic of forgiveness. And forgiveness the CERAO Bishops say is the main path to restoring peace: “All hearts must forgive if we are to find peace and unity. Remission of sins won by Christ prompts forgiveness; liberation from evil makes possible total commitment to love. We must receive and give this peace which the world has yet to encounter and which it so sorely needs”.
“We call on our national leaders and all men and women of good will to show forgiveness, and to work for reconciliation and peace. Our peoples have had enough of conflict and violence, all they want is peace. They are united by centuries old bonds. It would be betrayal to use these peoples for personal gain, instead of putting ourselves at their service” the CERAO statement reads.
“Africa is the continent of all sorts of suffering and its sons and daughters who are rejected everywhere deserve more than endless domestic litigation which hampers development and reopens many wounds” say the Bishops and they call on Africans to resist temptations to ethnic, regional or nationalist extremism.
Quoting Pope Benedict XVI who says “The concept of “neighbour” is now universalised, yet it remains concrete” (Deus Caritas est § 15), the Bishops wonder if “Africa’s strength might not be its sons and daughters. More than this human consideration, what pushes us to call for total opening to others is the victory of Christ who removes all obstacles and makes us free to love without frontiers”.
“It would be useless for your Bishops to create an international union of our Churches if the hearts of the faithful were to remain divided. It depends on you and on us whether the Church of Jesus Christ achieves her mission: the mission to be a sign and a means of uniting all the men and women of our region” the CERAO Bishops conclude. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/2/2006 righe 41 parole 541)
