Two responsibilities

Benedict XVI’s recent Apostolic visit to Africa – which follows the visit of Paul VI in Uganda, marked by the famous speech in Kampala of July 31st 1969, and the many Apostolic visits of John Paul II – confirms that the Catholic Church views Africa as a priority. The Church will never forget Africa. Given this preferential option for the poor, John Paul II had described Africa as “the continent that embodies the unbalance between the North and the South of the world”. The growing divide between Europe and Africa shows that the global system doesn’t function while the responsibility of both Europeans and Africans takes on a primary role. This is the message of the Pope, a message of love for Africa and of responsibility for Europe. Unfortunately this message was concealed by the frantic hatred campaign against the Pope and against the Church carried out across Europe, using the pretext of the Pontiff’s statements on AIDS. Nonetheless his message, like all the statements pronounced during the one-week visit – from March 17 to 23 (which head of state stays 7 days in Africa?), underlined the extraordinary action of the Church, implemented through her priests, her congregations, her movements of lay people, her diocesan and parish structures engaged in activities for peace and in the fight against diseases. Indeed, Catholics believe that the future of the world is bound to Africa’s future, and that peace, health, and balanced world economy cannot be separated from peace, health, and from the economic development of Africa. For this reason a large number of Catholics devoted their life to Africa even suffering martyrdom, in order to share their joys and their difficulties with African people and to fully live the value of solidarity. Over the past years most world conflicts have broken out in Africa. This continent cannot be left alone to face wars, poverty, disease, corruption, and misgovernment. Europe’s responsibility is especially important since Africa cannot be separated from its history, and since in the past the destinies of the two continents were interconnected, and this bond will remain in the future. A central passage of the message to African people highlights the latter’s responsibility in the erection of their own future, in the fight against the ills of the continents, in the establishment of hope, as the Pope reaffirmed on March 20 to the presence of Angola’s political authorities. When Benedict XVI calls upon the youth to play a major role in society, he is demanding the respect of women’s rights and dignity, he is condemning the effects of witchcraft and the tragedy of the so-called “child-wizards” held responsible for the spreading of evil. When the Pope demands that “the just realization of the fundamental aspirations of the most needy peoples should be the principal concern of those in public office”, he is simply saying that the Church is at home in Africa, that she is part and parcel of African culture. He is stating that the Church will never abandon “this large continent marked by hope but also by the yearning for justice, peace, and for a sound and integral development that may ensure to its people a future of progress and peace”- More than ever the Church is “the expert in humanity” described by Paul VI. The Church is the voice of those with no voice, demanding peace, reconciliation, respect of human rights and solidarity with the poor.