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.