VATICAN - Cardinal Arinze, one of the three President-Delegates of the Second Synod on Africa: “showing Christ's face through concrete works of solidarity is already in itself a great contribution to evangelization”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – From October 4-25, the Vatican will be hosting the Second Special Synod on Africa of the Synod of Bishops. Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, is one of the three President-Delegates appointed by the Holy Father Benedict XVI. Cardinal Arinze also exercised this ministry in the First Special Assembly on Africa of the Synod of Bishops, in 1994, appointed by John Paul II. He was then the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
On the vigil of the Synodal Assembly, Agenzia Fides asked Cardinal Arinze, originally from the Archdiocese of Onitsha (Nigeria), where he was Archbishop prior to his appointment in the Vatican, about his reflections on the central themes of the Assembly and on the role of evangelization, also in reference to the Synod in 1994.
“The theme has been chosen: 'The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace' – and this shows the general direction that the Synod has been given,” Cardinal Arinze told Agenzia Fides. “The first Assembly, which took place in 2004, faced a variety of aspects (proclamation and enculturalization of the faith, justice and peace, interreligious dialogue, the mass media) while this second Assembly will concentrate on a more specific area: reconciliation, justice, and peace. In proposing this reflection, the Church does not intend to monopolize public debate, but – on the contrary – favor it, involving as many people from as many different areas as possible: politics, economics, culture – who all have a role to play. But Christians, as Pope Benedict XVI reminds us, are called to bear witness to their faith in charity, showing Christ's face through concrete works of solidarity is already in itself a great contribution to evangelization. Jesus came above all to the poor to announce the Kingdom of God as the coming of a world of justice, as we would say today, of respecting human rights. I just returned from Nigeria and I was able to perceive the great expectancy of the Christian community there, awaiting encouragement in that sense. In civil society, as well, there is also interest in the Synod. As for the ministry that the Holy Father has entrusted to me, it will be a task of favoring open discussion and the initiatives of each person. I hope the Assembly will produce greater fruit as a result.” (AM/SL) (Agenzia Fides 30/9/2009)