Pontiff thanks African bishops for welcoming refugees

(April 30, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI has lauded the bishops of West Africa for assistance given to refugees and immigrants, and for speaking out against corruption. The Pope’s appreciation came on Thursday when the addressed the bishops of Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone, who were on their five-yearly visit to Rome to report on the state of their dioceses. The Holy Father urged them "to seek, when possible, pastoral cooperation from their countries of origin," with regard to refugees and immigrants. "In your countries the Church is held in high regard for her contribution to the good of society especially in education, development and health care, offered to all without distinction," the Pontiff told the prelates from the three countries who form a single bishops’ conference. The Holy Father affirmed, "The struggle against poverty must be carried out with respect for the dignity of all concerned by encouraging them to be the protagonists of their own integral development." He also told the prelates: "You rightly encourage people in positions of authority to lead in the struggle against corruption by calling attention to the gravity and injustice of such sins. In this regard he recommended the spiritual and moral formation of lay men and women in Catholic Social Doctrine. While encouraging the bishops of Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone in building peace and reconciliation in justice and truth he also exhorted them in to promote diaoogue wth other religios, especial Islam.