AFRICA/ERITREA - War in Ethiopia: the appeal for peace of Catholic Bishops in Eritrea

Tuesday, 24 November 2020 wars peace bishops

ERITREA

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2020-11-24
War in Ethiopia: the appeal for peace of Catholic Bishops in Eritrea

Asmara (Agenzia Fides) - "As spiritual leaders and shepherds of the people of God and fellow citizens, we express our deep and sadness by the recently ignited fraternal war in our neighboring country of Ethiopia.", say the Bishops of Eritrea in a statement on the conflict between the government in Addis Ababa and the regional authorities of Ethiopia's Tigray region, bordering Eritrea.
"War is anti-life and anti-development. On the contrary it kills, maims, destroys, displaces and sows lasting grievances and hatred among people. The consequence of war is actually a self-evident truth to the whole world, and especially to the peoples in the Horn of Africa", underlines the message sent to Agenzia Fides.
"Once a war starts, no one knows when and where it ends. And in war all the parties are losers and there is now winner. That is why the late Pope, St. John Paul II stated that war does not have any meaningful value, and is always unjust". In other words, war destroys the four pillars of peace – Truth, Justice, Love and Freedom/Liberty", the Bishops said.
The Bishops recall that "peace and truth are intimately connected in unbroken linkage through the transmission of true and correct information; equal justice for all before the law; a transparent democratic process, which guarantees the participation of citizens; readiness to resolve conflicts through peaceful, truthful and constructive means".
The Bishops launch an appeal for peace and dialogue: "Therefore, in the name of God and for the sake of the involved peoples, we call for immediate cessation of this destructive hostilities and refrain from all the inflammatory words and propaganda that are fanning the fire between the warring sides. We urge all parties to come to the table and resolve the conflict through dialogue".
"We ask the clergy, religious and faithful to commit themselves in prayer. May the Almighty King of Peace and Holy Redeemer bring true reconciliation and peace in our region", conclude the Catholic Bishops of Eritrea. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 24/11/2020)