NEWS ANALYSIS/OMNIS TERRA - Easter in Africa, between Covid-19 and radio liturgies

Thursday, 9 April 2020 coronavirus   bishops   local churches   prayer   mass media  

Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - The Church is not the building, but is communion and community: the baptized in the various African countries do not lose their sense of faith in the difficulties of "broadcast Masses", due to the threat of the coronavirus, and find "creative solutions" "so as not to lose contact with the other faithful and with the priests. Compliance with government guidelines is common, despite the difficulties in "social distancing".
Covid-19, although slower than in other parts of the world, has long since arrived in Africa. At the moment 50 of the 54 states have been affected by the phenomenon (the only ones still coronavirus-free are Sao Tome and Principe, Comoro, Lesotho and South Sudan) for a total of over 8000 infections, 340 dead, 702 recovered. All governments are taking measures to contain it and the Churches, aligned with political guidelines, live the most important liturgical week of the year for the first time in history with severe limitations and, at the same time, ready to "reinvent" the celebration of the Passion, death and Resurrection of Christ, in new, creative ways. And mass media such as radio (above all), TV and social networks such as Facebook become valuable tools to maintain contact in communities: we offer a broad overview of African churches, to understand how they are living Holy Week and Easter. (- continues)


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