VATICAN - “The Church in Africa at the service of Reconciliation and Justice and Peace”: Lineamenta for 2nd Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “At more than twelve years since the celebration of the first Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, the Church in Africa is taking this first major step towards the celebration of a Second Synod for Africa’ said Card. Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, yesterday at the Holy See press office when he presented the Lineamenta 2nd Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa
Cardinal said “There are great differences in the situation of the Church in each of the 53 countries on the African continent. Therefore generalisations should be avoided.”. Speaking of encouraging signs within the Church Cardinal Arinze said “Africa is the continent with the highest annual percentage growth for Christianity in the world. Many more Africans get baptised each year. In some African countries seminaries and sisters’ novitiates have more candidates than they can conveniently accommodate. New parishes and dioceses get created.” There are numerous initiatives for the growth of the faith “The lay faithful are active. Priests and religious are engaging in missionary work inside and outside Africa.”.
Among the problems and challenges in African society, Cardinal Arinze mentioned “The painful situation of violence and even war in Somalia, the tragedy of Dafur and the yet not totally resolved situation in the Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to some extent in the Great lakes Region… The challenge of building up a nation in harmony and peaceful development out of peoples from many ethnic groups put together as a country by colonial masters remains present, as in Nigeria. Moreover, poverty, disease and especially HIV/AIDS, are real threats and have wiped out large numbers or crippled them.” Nevertheless in the past 12 years Africa has made “significant steps towards greater democratisation in several countries.”.
With regard to the role of the Catholic Church Cardinal Arinze said she “is aware that she has to contribute first by preaching the Gospel to call to a conversion of hearts, respect for the rights of other people, repentance and reconciliation, forgiveness and harmony.”. Dioceses undertake acts of Christian solidarity for the poor and the needy and many Bishops Conferences have Justice and Peace Commissions, the bishops, The Bishops, especially when gathered in Conference, speak on national issues with courage and love. Refugees and displaced persons, find the Church as one of the few institutions that care for them and that can put a smile on their faces.
Bishop Nikola Eterović, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops illustrated the Lineamenta. As suggested by the Bishops of Africa, the Pope approved as the theme for the 2nd Synod for Africa: The Church in Africa at the service of Reconciliation and Justice and Peace”. "you are the salt of the earth... you are the light of the world " (Mt 5, 13.14).
The Lineamenta have a preface, an introduction and five chapters. Chapter I - “Africa and the dawn on the 21st Century” - gives a brief description of the social, economic, political, cultural and religious situation of the continent since the post-synodal exhortation Ecclesia in Africa, identifying positive and negative aspects in the past decade. It also examines the role of religions, the relation between Islam and Christianity, ecumenical dialogue. Chapter II “Jesus Christ, Word and Bread of Life, Our Reconciliation, Our Justice and Our Peace”, presents Christ as the Saviour of the people of Africa, the source of the Good News which illuminates the complex African reality and guides the Church on her path of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace Chapter three on “The Church, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace in Africa”. In her work of evangelisation the Church becomes channel of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. In many countries the only Catholic Church has the moral authority to undertake this work for the good of the whole society.
Chapter 4: “Testimony of a Church which reflects the light of Christ on the world”. The proclamation of salvation which frees mankind in every dimension is the duty of all the members and institutions of the Church, Family of God. In view of change in social and political situations in various countries the education of Catholic laity is ever more urgent. Chapter 5 “Spiritual Resources for the promotion of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace in Africa”. The members of the Church are called to be salt of the earth and light of the world, and to undertake the urgent task of new evangelisation. They should announce the Gospel with words and deeds and example of their life. The source of this spirituality is the liturgy, the Mass first of all, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and other forms of Church prayer.
The Lineamenta ends with a Questionnaire containing 32 questions to foster reflection and discussion in communities, parishes, dioceses and bishops’ conferences. Seeing it will take time to circulate the document and translate it into a few local languages, answers to the Questionnaire should reach the Synod offices in Rome by November 2008. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/6/2006 - righe 66, parole 935)