Catholic Bishops in Africa and Madagascar have called for prayer and fasting to address conflicts across the continent.
The bishops, under the umbrella of the Standing Committee of Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), made the call in a statement in Ibadan on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the statement was signed by its president, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo.
SECAM enjoined all dioceses, parishes and religious communities in Africa to unite in a triduum prayer and fasting from March 3 to March 5 according to their local customs and facilities.
According to the statement, the bishops acknowledged the endurance of many faithful from suffering due to conflicts, violence, massacres and instability in various parts of the continent.
“We stand with all who are bereaved, pray for you, and continue to call for justice, peace, and reconciliation.
“To those who persist in the scramble for the resources of Africa, we echo the words of the Holy Father Pope Francis in his speech of January 2023 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“The speech states, ‘Hands off the Democratic Republic of Congo! Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa; it is not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered’.
“As we embrace this Jubilee Year as pilgrims of hope, we are reminded that even in the darkest times, hope must never fade.
“The Jubilee invites us to renew our trust in God, strengthen the bonds of communion, and seek new paths of healing and unity; the message of Christ, the Prince of Peace, must resound loudly in Africa,” said the bishops.
The religious leaders urged all people of goodwill within the Church and beyond to be instruments of peace, choosing dialogue over division, love over hatred, and hope over despair.
“The call to walk together as a Church, listening to one another and acting in unity, must become a lived reality,” the bishops said.
They remarked that the continent’s challenges had compelled it to form greater collaboration among bishops, priests, religious, and the people of God everywhere.
“No one can stand alone; we are one body in Christ.
“As shepherds of the Church in Africa, we commit to strengthening the structures of communion and ensuring that the Church remains a voice of truth, justice, and hope in our society.
“As followers of Christ, we are called to stand together in prayer for those in need and seek God’s intervention for peace and healing.
“We urge all believers to dedicate time for prayer, asking the Lord to bring an end to wars, to comfort the afflicted, and guide our leaders toward justice and reconciliation.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5:9). May the Lord grant peace to Eastern Congo and all regions suffering from conflicts,” they said.
The congregation of bishops regretted that Africa’s rich mineral deposits, truly meant to be a potential source of prosperity, had instead continued to be a source of conflict.
They added that the desire to control and appropriate these resources motivated powerful nations and multinational corporations to fund armed factions in some African countries. (NAN)
