H. Exc. Mons. Berhaneyesus Demerew SOURAPHIEL, C.M., Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis
Abeba, President of the Episcopal Conference, President of the Council of the Ethiopian
Church (ETHIOPIA) I hope this Synod on Africa shall study the root causes of human
trafficking, internally displaced persons, abused domestic workers (especially women
in the Middle East), refugees and migrants, especially the African boat migrants and
asylum seekers, and come up with concrete positions and proposals to show to the world
that African lives are sacred and not cheap, as they seem to be presented and seen
in many media channels. As it is well known, the African Union (AU) has its headquarters
in Addis Abeba, where it was founded. The AU is the forum of political leadership
in Africa. It is useful to know that almost 50% of the members of this AU are members
of the Catholic Church. So far the Apostolic Nuncio in Ethiopia has been invited to
attend the general assemblies of the AU whenever they take place in Addis Abeba as
an observer. It is my hope that the Holy See appoints a permanent representative to
the AU who should attend all the meetings whenever they take place and who could keep
in personal contact with the Catholic members of that important institution. This
special representative preferably would have diplomatic credentials comparable
to the ones of an Apostolic Nuncio. He would be appointed to be fully committed
and available for his mission in such a way that he may attend the meetings and meet
the persons who have key influence in the decision making process. The same representative
at the AU is needed by a representative of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences
of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), at least on an observer level, so that the Catholic
Church in Africa has a voice in the AU and becomes an encouragement to its lay Catholic
faithful working in the AU. On our side we, as the local Church of Ethiopia, commit
ourselves to do our best to welcome such special representatives from the Holy See
or from SECAM and, in case, they want to reside in Addis Abeba to facilitate their
work and to collaborate with their mission. I am sure that the African Union would
be willing to accept such. persons .and the Catholic Lay members of that body would
feel particularly supported by the Catholic Church in their mission.