VATICAN CITY, FEB. 8, 2011 (Zenit.org).- The current situation of political and social conflict in Egypt and Tunisia can be an opportunity for positive growth, says a Vatican spokesman.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, affirmed this in the latest edition of Octava Dies.
«In these weeks the world looks at North Africa and the Middle East,» he said. «First at Tunisia, then Egypt and the other countries where processes of political change are underway that are still difficult to define and evaluate, but which are certainly so significant that one can speak of a ‘revolution.'»
In Tunisia, demonstrations and riots began in December in protest of the regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was accused of corruption and repression during his 23 years of power. The president fled the country and Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi took control of Tunisia’s governing forces.
The protests spread to Egypt as the people began demonstrating on Jan. 25 in an attempt to oust President Hosni Mubarak, 82, who has reigned in Egypt for almost 30 years. Although the president remains in power, the government has promised reforms and has established a committee to review changes to the constitution.
Father Lombardi stated, «We all hope that the people involved will be spared violence and blood and that the times of instability will not be prolonged at which point the risk of opposition and clashes is greater.»
«Naturally,» he said, «the economic difficulties, the condition of poverty that tests large strata of the populations, made more acute by the global economic crisis, had great weight in the origin of the protests.»
Responsible citizens
«However,» the priest continued, «as the bishops of North Africa observed,» it is important to acknowledge «an expectation of greater ‘liberty and dignity’ that regards ‘in particular the younger generations of the region, which is translated in the desire that all be recognized as citizens, and responsible citizens.»
He noted that «the populations of the area have a very high percentage of young people, who do not see before them prospects open to the future.»
Hence, Father Lombardi affirmed, there are signs of that hope expressed a few months ago during the Synod of Bishops on the Middle East, which called for the protection of the rights of citizenship of Christians who live in countries of Muslim majority.
This hope, he added, is extended to the whole population.
«Now there are whole peoples that, to realize their dignity better, appeal for a more responsible exercise of their rights of citizenship,» the priest affirmed, «which every human person, every religion is entitled to.»
«Christians are a very small minority, but they are in solidarity with all in these expectations and hopes,» he said.
Father Lombardi concluded: «If these nations of Muslim majority succeed in the critical enterprise of growing in dialogue, in respect of the rights of all, in participation, in liberty, the peace of the world will be more secure.
«It is what we wish first of all for their good, but also for the entire family of peoples.»
