VATICAN CITY, OCT. 20, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is the letter from participants in the Second Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops that was sent today to the presidents of the bishops’ conferences of Sudan, Uganda, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.
The letter was read by the secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, today at the 17th General Congregation of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.
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To the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences of Sudan, Uganda, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central-African Republic.
As synod fathers, gathered at the Second Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, we have learned with deep sorrow of the persistent war in the dioceses in the Great Lakes’ Region, with its consequential destruction, violence and death of innocent people. To avoid being killed, hundreds of thousands of persons have been forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in adjoining countries in extremely perilous conditions. This was gives rise to the worrisome situation of child-soldiers, orphans, those who are maimed and persons with grave physical and psychological problems.
As synod fathers, in solidarity with the synod’s President, Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, we wish to express our deepest sentiments of fraternal communion with the bishops of the dioceses involved in this inhuman suffering of innocent peoples. At the same time, we turn to the parties concerned, imploring them to replace at once the language of arms with that of dialogue and negotiation. In dialogue, undertaken in mutual respect and peace, all problems can be solved. War, instead, makes everything more difficult, enticing the transformation of brothers into enemies.
Strengthened by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Risen Lord Jesus, we, as synod fathers, declare the sacred value of every human life. The commandment “not to kill” (Es 20:13) is not only apart of the Decalogue, revealed by God and recorded in the Bible, but a law written in the heart of every person who comes into this world. It is not lawful to kill innocent people for whatever reason, whether it be social, political, ethnic, racial or religious. The blood of the innocent cries to heaven for vengeance, to a God who sooner or later will judge those who have stained their hands with the blood of the poor, who are his chosen ones.
While we are reflecting on reconciliation, justice and peace, we implore, through the intercession of the saints, born in Africa, the gift of peace so that justice may come about in those areas where it has been gravely missing and that hearts might be open to the grace of reconciliation with God and neighbor, not only in the Great Lakes’ Region but in all of Africa.
We entrust our distressed, urgent appeal to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Africa and Comforter of the Afflicted.
The Presidents Delegate
The General Secretary
