Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abidjan (Agenzia Fides) – Promote peace and respect for human life, encourage responsible citizenship and healthy governing of public life...These were the main points of the appeal made to political leaders in western Africa, on behalf of the “Conférence Épiscopale Régionale de l'Afrique de l'Ouest” (CERAO) in their concluding message (also sent to Fides) following the 17th Plenary Assembly of CERAO, which took place in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), February 2-9 (see Fides 9/2/2009).
The Assembly's theme was: “The Church, family of God in organic pastoral solidarity in western Africa – from CERAO to ACEAO.” The CERAO, founded in 1963, began a process of integration with the AECAWA (Association of the Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa), in order to create a new association of Western African Bishops' Conferences (Association des Conférences Episcopales de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, ACEAO, see Fides 11/12/2007).
“At the close of our sessions” - the message says - “we direct our concern to you, Catholic faithful, and to you, authorities and leaders of our countries, and all of you who are our brothers and sisters of other religions, to all men and women of good will. We invite the Catholic faithful to contemplate and accept Christ the Savior, Supreme Manifestation of the Love of the Father.”
“To the leaders of out nations, the faithful in Christ, pastors and laity, to the men and women of good will, we launch a strong appeal: we work for the promotion go unity and peace in our region through a collective effort supported by social justice, respect for the common good, equal distribution of goods; we firmly defend respect for human life, which is sacred from the moment of conception. The human person is created in God's image and his dignity is inviolable; we encourage responsible citizenship using civil rights in promotion of free and transparent elections, their peaceful occurrence and respect for the outcomes of the vote. We are demanding of ourselves and from our rights, we demand a true spirit of service and a healthy government, in favor of authentic development of our nations.”
Among the initiatives promoted by the Catholic Church in the western African nations, is the Catholic University open to the entire region. A positive observation made by the Bishops was that “the institution UCAO (Catholic University of Western Africa) responds to the educational mission of the Bishops of CERAO and meets the expectations of the faithful and the people. With its original formula, as one University with various campuses, UCAO is present in the CERAO nations through its various campuses. We are delighted with the opening of 7 campuses in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast (Abidjan), Guinea Conakry, Mali, Senegal, and Togo. We are also pleased at the announcement of the upcoming opening of another campus in Yamoussokro (Ivory Coast).”
CERAO is formed by Bishops from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/2/2009)
