ብፁዕ አቡነ መንግሥተአብ ተስፋማርያም ጳጳስ ካቶሊካዊ ኤጳርቅና አሥመራ አብ ፍሉይ ካልአይ ጉባኤ ሲኖዶስ ጳጳሳት አፍሪቃ ዘቅረቡሎም ዲስኩር ብቋንቋ እንግሊዝ፤

H. Exc. Mons. Menghisteab TESFAMARIAM, M.C.C.J., Eparch of Asmara (ERITREA)



The woes and tribulations afflicting most of the African Continent, namely, the ongoing conflicts, injustices, human rights violations, lack of religious freedom, persecutions, exploitation of human and natural resources, different kind of diseases, poverty, unemployment, displacement, brain drain and human trafficking, are sufficiently know and publicized. These, and I speak from experience, are caused by internal and external forces of hunger for power and an unrestrained greed for possessions.

The family as the first and smallest nucleus of any society and Christian community is the first and indispensable school of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. For it is in the family that one learns the sense of belonging and identity, and the values of solidarity, sharing, respect for others, hospitality, togetherness, etc

It is true that the largest number of refugees and displaced people is found in Africa. It is also true that many Africans are stili trying to cross deserts and seas in order to reach lands where they think they will get better education, more money, and especially greater freedom. There is great need of pastoral care for these vulnerable groups of people. Our Synod must urge that the Churches of origin and the Churches who host them need to have much closer collaboration.

However, emigration of Africans has not started recently. There are now many Africans who have successfully established themselves in the developed world. If motivated by us, they are ready to make their contribution towards the improvement of life in their countries of origin. We must not exclude them from being involved in developing Africa's potentials. In close collaboration with our sister Churches in Europe, America and Australia we have to bring them aboard in the efforts to move Africa forward, both humanly and spiritually.

If the African Family and the Africans in Diaspora are going to help the Church become "salt of the earth and Light of the world", then we have to make sure that a very effective basic and on-going formation is given to ali our Pastoral agents. Especially in this Year of the Priesthood it is vital that ali the members of the presbyteriate be fully aware of their call to become holy ministers of reconciliation, credible advocates of justice and faithful bearers of Christ's peace.