The Catholic Church could seek formal representation in the African Union to improve the church’s work in justice and peace on the continent.Archbishop Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel of Addis Ababa, the AU headquarters, made the suggestion at the second African Synod underway in Rome.
"It is my hope that the Holy See appoints a permanent representative to the AU who should attend all the meetings whenever they take place and who could keep in personal contact with the Catholic members of that important institution,"” Archbishop Souraphiel said.
"This special representative preferably would have diplomatic credentials comparable to the one of an Apostolic Nuncio," he explained. .
The idea received the support of the bishops of Southern Africa. The Southern Africa Bishops' Conference would like to endorse Archbishop Berhaneyesus Souraphiel's (Addis Ababa) suggestion that a full time Catholic permanent representative be appointed to the African Union, with more than simply observer status,” Auxiliary Bishop Barry Wood of Durban told the Synod.
Archbishop Souraphiel said that a Catholic representative could be appointed to the AU to be fully committed and available for his mission in such a way that he may attend the meetings and meet the persons who have key influence in the decision making process.
"The same representative at the AU is needed by a representative of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), at least on an observer level, so that the Catholic Church in Africa has a voice in the AU and becomes an encouragement to its lay Catholic faithful working in the AU," the prelate said.
He reiterated the local Church of Ethiopia renewed commitment to do their “best to welcome such special representatives from the Holy See or from SECAM and, in case, they want to reside in Addis Ababa to facilitate their work and to collaborate with their mission.”
"I am sure that the AU would be willing to accept such persons and the Catholic Lay members of that body would feel particularly supported by the Catholic Church in their mission,"” the archbishop said.
According to the prelate almost 50 percent of the members of AU are of the Catholic Church and the Apostolic Nuncio in Ethiopia is invited to attend the general assemblies of the AU whenever they take place in Addis Ababa as an observer.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: Spero News