Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – The young people of Central Africa want to be “messengers of peace and reconciliation” in their land, marked by violence and conflict, is what the participants say at a meeting on the theme: “Young people, witnesses and protagonists for Justice, Forgiveness and Reconciliation”, being held in Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo.
The meeting, which opened yesterday, 17 December, represents a phase of evaluation for the “regional youth days”, organized for the first time in 2009 in Bujumbura (Burundi) by the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (AECCA).
At the meeting, 15 young members of Catholic Action movements participated from Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC, under the guidance of Fr Melchior-Edouard Mobili Thumaini, General Secretary of ACEAC.
This meeting should translate into a proposed youth rally that this time could be extended to the whole of Africa or at least to other countries which are not members of ACEAC. Last January, the regular session of the Standing Committee had decided on the establishment of “regional youth days” for the normal activities of youth ministry, to be held every two years in this sub-region of the African continent, alternating with the “World Youth Days” organized with the Pope. The initiative aims for lasting relationships of communion and solidarity to improve but also to take root among the Churches in ACEAC. During the first regional youth day, the young people of the sub-region committed themselves to becoming Ambassadors for Peace, Justice, Forgiveness and Reconciliation in this part of Africa which is characterized by numerous conflicts. On this occasion, they had asked the Bishops to develop ongoing formation on authentic, human and Christian values, praying the Government will do everything possible for youth employment, to fight corruption, cronyism, and other evils that ruin their Countries. (D.F-P) (Agenzia Fides 18/12/2010)
