"We must never give up the search for new paths of peace! ... To attain
peace, we need to have courage and the reconciliation born of forgiveness,
the will once more to live as one, to share a vision of the future and to
persevere in overcoming difficulties. Men and women reconciled and at peace
with God and neighbour can work for greater justice in society".
"Africa, land of a New Pentecost, put your trust in God! Impelled by the
Spirit of the Risen Christ, become God's great family, generous with all
Subject: VISnews 111119
Organization: VIS
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
your sons and daughters, agents of reconciliation, peace and justice!
Africa, Good News for the Church, become Good News for the entire world!"
Having completed his address, the Pope signed the Post-Synodal Apostolic
Exhortation and imparted his blessing upon those present. He then boarded a
car which took him forty-five kilometres from Ouidah to the apostolic
nunciature in Cotonou.
PV-BENIN/ VIS
20111119 (540)
KEY IDEAS AND PRINCIPAL THEMES OF 'AFRICAE MUNUS'
VATICAN CITY, 19 NOV 2011 (VIS) - Given below is a summary, prepared by
Archbishop Nicola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, of
the main ideas contained in the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Africae
munus".
The document has two parts. Part one (nos. 14-96) discerns the fundamental
structures of the ecclesial mission on the continent, a mission which
aspires to reconciliation, justice and peace, and has its origin in the
person of Jesus Christ. Listening to Him, Christians are invited to let
themselves be reconciled with God, becoming just in order to build a just
social order in keeping with the logic of the Beatitudes, and committing
themselves to fraternal service for love of truth, which is a source of
peace. Attention then turns to the paths towards reconciliation, justice and
peace. These include authentic conversion, the celebration of the Sacrament
of Penance, the spirituality of communion, the inculturation of the Gospel,
the protection of life, migrants, displaced persons, refugees, the good
governance of States, and ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue especially
with traditional religions and Islam. In part two (nos. 97-177) all members
of the Church are invited to contribute to communion and peace in the Church
and in society. It also identifies areas for the apostolate: the Church as
the presence of Christ, the world of education, health care and the
communications media. The Exhortation opens a horizon of hope to Africa
which, by welcoming Jesus Christ, must free itself from the forces which
paralyze it.
'Africae munus' is the continuation of 'Ecclesia in Africa', which was
published after the First Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of
Bishops and gave great impetus to the growth of the Church in Africa
developing, among other things, the idea of the Church as Family of God
which has been beneficial to the universal Church. 'Africae munus' aims to
reinforce this ecclesial dynamism, to outline a programme for pastoral
activity for the coming decades of evangelisation in Africa, underlining the
need for reconciliation, justice and peace.
The Church, Sacrament of union with God and man, must be a place of
reconciliation, a gift of God, in order to be an effective tool of justice
and peace for the whole of society. Reconciliation comes from the mystery of
the risen Christ Who is present in His church through the Word of God and
the Sacraments, especially those of Penance and the Eucharist. Through the
grace of the Spirit, the Eucharist creates a new brotherhood which overcomes
languages, cultures, ethnicities, divisions, tribalism, racism and
ethnocentrism. In her work of evangelisation and education in the Christian
faith, the Church must concentrate on lived catechesis, which leads to
profound conversion and to real commitment to live the Gospel at a personal,
family and social level. The Social Doctrine of the Church is of great help
in sustaining human development.
'Africae munus' offers the Church in Africa practical guidance for
pastoral activity over coming decades.
- Evangelisation ad gentes, the announcement of the Gospel to those who
still do not know Jesus Christ, is still of vital importance in Africa. It
is a pastoral priority which involves all African Christians.
- Ordinary evangelisation must be increasingly promoted in the various
particular Churches, through commitment to fostering reconciliation, justice
and peace.
- There is also an urgent need to work for the new evangelisation in
Africa, especially among people who have distanced themselves from the
Church or who do not behave in a Christian fashion. African Christians, and
in particular the clergy and consecrated persons, are likewise called to
support new evangelisation in secularised nations. This is an exchange of
gifts, because African missionaries are already at work in countries which
once produced missionaries who went forth to announce the Good News in
Africa.
Among the practical suggestions contained in Africae munus, we may note
the following:
- Saints, people reconciled with God and neighbour, are exemplary heralds
of justice and apostles of peace. The Church - all of whose members are
called to sanctity - must discover fresh ardour, the ardour of the many
saints and martyrs, confessors and virgins of the African continent,
devotion to whom should be renewed and promoted (cf. AM 113).
- In order to find further examples of sanctity, also obtaining new
intercessors in heaven, pastors of the particular Churches are encouraged
'to recognize among servants of the Gospel in Africa those who could be
canonized according to the norms of the Church' (AM 114).
- The bonds of communion between the Holy Father and the bishops of Africa
must be strengthened, as must the bonds among Africa bishops themselves, at
the national, regional and continental level.
- It is considered important 'for the bishops to help support, effectively
and affectively, the Symposium of Bishops' Conferences of Africa and
Madagascar (SECAM) as a continental structure of solidarity and ecclesial
communion' (AM 107).
- For a deeper appreciation of the mystery of the Eucharist and to
increase Eucharistic devotion, emphasis is given to the Synod Fathers'
proposal to celebrate a continental Eucharistic Congress (cf. AM 153).
- African countries are encouraged to 'celebrate yearly 'a day or week of
reconciliation, particularly during Advent or Lent'' (AM 157).
- In agreement with the Holy See, SECAM may contribute to promoting 'a
continent-wide Year of Reconciliation to beg of God special forgiveness for
all the evils and injuries mutually inflicted in Africa, and for the
reconciliation of persons and groups who have been hurt in the Church and in
the whole of society' (AM 157).
Grateful for the gift of faith in the One Triune God, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, with renewed enthusiasm the Church in Africa reaffirms her
commitment to evangelisation and human development, so that the entire
continent may become a vast field of reconciliation, justice and peace. In
this way, the Church contributes to forging the new Africa, which is
increasingly called to become the 'spiritual lung' of humankind'.
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 19 NOV 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Appointed Msgr. Kenneth David Oswin Richards, vicar general of Kingston
in Jamaica, Jamaica, as bishop of Saint John's-Basseterre (area 1,058,
population 169,787, Catholics 14,878, priests 9, religious 7), Antigua and
Barbuda. The bishop-elect was born in Linstead, Jamaica in 1958 and ordained
a priest in 1985. He has worked in the archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica as
parish vicar, pastor, director for vocations and president of the
presbyteral council.
- Appointed Bishop Antonio Jose da Rocha Couto S.M.P., auxiliary of Braga,
Portugal, as bishop of Lamego (area 2,848, population 160,200, Catholics
157,200, priests 144, permanent deacons 2, religious 64), Portugal. He
succeeds Bishop Jacinto Tomas de Carvalho Botelho, whose resignation from
the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having
reached the age limit.
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