Bishops of Burkina: We need a change of mindset for peaceful elections

The Bishops of Burkina Faso have published a pastoral letter in French entitled, "Political commitment: The supreme expression of love."  The pastoral letter, signed by all Bishops is addressed to the “sons and daughters of the Church-family of God in Burkina Faso and all of you, brothers and sisters in our (shared) humanity.”

The Bishops make reference to the popular uprising of 30 and 31 October 2014 which toppled and led to the exiling of former President Blaise Compaoré.  “The memory of those who lost their lives, health or property during the insurrection should challenge us and stimulate our commitment now to sacrifice for the good of all,” the Bishops’ message reads in part.

The Bishops call for conversion among citizens, a change in mindset for peaceful, free and transparent elections.

“Burkinabe citizens are being called to elect the President of Burkina Faso and their representatives in the National Assembly on 11 October 2015. All of us should aspire to a democracy which requires especially a change of mentality at all levels to achieve peaceful elections that are free and transparent. We must all commit ourselves to reducing the current social divide and walk towards true reconciliation,” say the Bishops.

The Bishops make a plea for peace to avoid wars, "Wars often cause more wars because they nourish deep hatred and they create situations of injustice and the trampling-on of the dignity and rights of other people. In general, wars do not solve the problems for which they are conducted," the Bishops say in the pastoral letter.

The shepherds of Burkina Faso then go on to give some guidelines for the proper conduct of elections. They insist that for elections to be credible, they must take place in a spirit of reconciliation.  In other words, all must have “the courage to tell the truth, to ask, to give and receive forgiveness; to have the courage to do what is right and to fight impunity," the Bishops say.

It is the hope of the Bishops that the new leaders that will emerge from the elections will direct themselves to addressing real problems that the people of Burkina Faso face such as food insecurity and the growing need to respect of the environment among others.

“Let those who will be elected remember to work to bring about a truly participatory democracy.” The Bishops warn that it is the lack of confidence in political actors that leads to post-election violence.” They pray that Burkina Faso will avoid this.

Finally, the Bishops commend the country to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Yagma and the guardian angels of Burkina Faso to watch over the nation.

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