VATICAN CITY, OCT. 2, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The upcoming Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, which begins Sunday in Rome, is gathering close to 400 participants from various continents and religions.
The synod, which runs until Oct. 25, will focus on the theme: «The Church in Africa, at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace. ‘You Are the Salt of the Earth … You Are the Light of the World.»
It is the second synodal assembly dedicated to this continent. The first was held in 1994.
This year’s assembly will be attended by 244 synodal fathers, 228 of whom are bishops.
At a press conference this morning, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, revealed that the synod will include 33 cardinals, 75 archbishops, 120 bishops, and eight religious chosen by the International Union of Superiors General.
Separated according to office, the group of prelates includes 37 presidents of episcopal conferences, 189 ordinary bishops, four coadjutors, two auxiliaries and eight retired archbishops.
Also attending will be 25 heads of dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as 14 African cardinals, and presidents of national and regional episcopal conferences and international organizations.
Of the synodal fathers, 197 are from Africa. The remaining 47 come from other continents: 34 from Europe, 10 from America, two from Asia and one from Oceania.
Contributing to the synod and enriching reflection with their testimonies will be 29 experts — 19 men and 10 women — and 49 auditors — 29 men and 20 women.
Three special guests, invited by Benedict XVI, will also take part in the assembly: His Beatitude Abuna Paulos, patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia, Rudolf Adada, former head of the Joint United Nations/African Union Peacekeeping Mission for Darfur, who will speak about the efforts for peace in the Darfur region, and Jacques Diouf, of Muslim origin, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization, who will report on the efforts to guarantee food security in Africa.
