Pope Appeals for An End to Africa's Forgotten Wars

(27 Apr 08 - RV) The forgotten wars and suffering of peoples in countries far from news headlines were the subject of Pope Benedict XVI’s appeal in his Regina Coeli address.

Speaking from the window of his apartments, later than usual this Sunday, Pope Benedict asked the crowds of St Peter’s square not to forget the tragic conflicts of Africa.

In a heartfelt appeal he told on lookers "The news from several African countries continues to give reason for deep suffering and acute concern", specifically naming Somalia, Darfur and Burundi.

The Pope said “violence in Somalia is making the situation more and more dramatic" for a population which has "been oppressed for too many years under the weight of brutality and misery".

Darfur, he said, despite some brief hopes of peace, "remains a tragedy without end for hundreds of thousands of defenceless and abandoned people".

While he warned that Burundi now faces the risk of "a new civil war," informing those who listened that the Vatican embassy had been hit by bombing in the last few days in the capital city of Bujumbura.

Referring to all three nations he called on local political authorities and those of the international community to "honour the commitments made to lay solid foundations for peace and
development."

The Holy Father’s appeal was launched at the end of his reflections for this Sunday, the sixth Sunday of Easter. He greeted all Orthodox faithful celebrating their Easter, which falls this Sunday, and he also spoke of his personal joy at having ordained 29 new priests for his diocese, the diocese of Rome, in a moving celebration of Holy Orders in St Peter’s Basilica, earlier in the day.

During the ceremony 28 deacons, students of Rome’s seminaries and one deacon from the Chaldean patriarchate of Babylonia, modern day Baghdad, prostrated themselves before the tomb of St Peter, promising their obedience to their bishop and his successors, their bishop Pope Benedict XVI.

The Holy Father, laid his hands upon each one of the candidates, invoking upon them God’s grace through the Holy Spirit so that they may become part of Christ, the Supreme Pastor.

In his homily delivered shortly before the imposition of the hands and the consecrating prayer, Pope Benedict spoke directly to the 29 men, of all ages and backgrounds, united in their vocation to serve.

He said; “Dear friends, your mission is to bring the joy of the Gospel to all, so that everyone can experience of Christ’s joy… In order to be collaborators in the joy of others, in a world that is often sad and negative, the fire of the Gospel must burn brightly within each of you, the joy of the Lord must live in you. Only then will you be messengers of this joy, only then will you bring it to all, especially those who are sad and disillusioned”.

Concluding Pope Benedict told these young men of his diocese; “Dearest brothers, here is my wish…..May hope rooted in faith always and increasingly be yours! May you bear witness and be wise and generous givers, kind and strong, respectful and confident”.

Then in a moving moment he embraced each of the 29 men, anointing their hands as they set out on their journey as pastors to the Church in Rome.