Pope urges African Church to be a healing community

(March 20, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI has reminded the African Church of its role of being a healing community in a continent torn by "savage conflicts" and other tragedies. The Pope’s appeal came on Thursday as he met the special council preparing the Second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, scheduled for October in Rome. He reminded the members of the council how Africa, “the continent of hope” has been particularly blessed by the Lord Jesus. It was to Egypt, in Africa that Jesus and his family fled in his infancy. It was in Africa is where the Son of God was weaned, where he was offered effective sanctuary. From that time on, the seed of his presence was buried deep within the hearts of this dear continent, and it has blossomed gradually through the centuries.
The pope paid tribute to the missionaries throughout the centuries and particularly singled out catechists for their dedication to evangelization. The tens of thousands of catechists in Africa have helped bring about inculturation, served as a link between local communities and their priests and bishops, and inspired many to join the church, he said.
Pope Benedict then offered some theological reflections on reconciliation, justice and peace, the specific theme of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. He said, the Church must be a community of persons reconciled with God and among themselves. In this way, she can proclaim the Good News of reconciliation to contemporary society, which unfortunately experiences in many places conflicts, acts of violence, war and hatred. “Your continent, sadly, has not been spared, and it has been and continues to be a theatre of grave tragedies which cry out for true reconciliation between peoples, ethnic groups and individuals,” the Pope observed. In the present context of the continent, he said, the often savage conflicts between ethnic groups or peoples bound by brotherhood are indeed dramatic. The church is challenged in a special way by local or regional wars, massacres and genocides perpetrated in Africa, he said. The aim is to show Africans that through Jesus they all belong to the same family, and so reject hatred and injustice, he said.
Pope Benedict recalled that when the First Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa made a preferential option for the poor, the Church of Africa showed that the situation of dehumanization and oppression afflicting the continent’s peoples is not irreversible; on the contrary, she set before everyone a challenge: that of conversion, holiness and integrity.
The pope reminded African bishops of the continent's long history of contributions to the church, especially in the theological development of the early centuries. With Christianity thriving in Africa again, he suggested it might be time for a theological rebirth, too. He particularly suggested the study of the Trinitarian mystery and its meaning for everyday African life.
The Pope also recommended that the Word of God be the foundation of life of every member of the Church in order to enhance African traditions, and correct and perfect their concept of life, humanity and the family. Along with it the Eucharist is the source of a unity reconciled in peace. With both the Word of Life and the Bread of life the Church in Africa can carry out the service of reconciliation, justice and peace, the Pope said.
In conclusion Pope Benedict appealed to all Africans to be reconciled to God! “No ethnic or cultural difference, no difference of race, sex or religion must become a cause for dispute among you,” the Pope said. “You are all children of the one God, our Father, who is in heaven. With this conviction it will then be possible to build a more just and peaceful Africa, an Africa worthy of the legitimate expectations of all its children, the Pope added.