VATICAN: Pope Francis Commends Ethiopian and Eritrean Bishops’ efforts of Alleviating Suffering of their people
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| The Holy Father Pope Francis Meets with Bishops from Ethiopia and Eritrea |
The Holy
Father Pope Francis on 9th May 2014 told Ethiopian and Eritrean Bishops
that their efforts to alleviate the suffering of their people bear witness to
God’s Love.
Father Pope Francis on 9th May 2014 told Ethiopian and Eritrean Bishops
that their efforts to alleviate the suffering of their people bear witness to
God’s Love.
The Holy
Father said this when he met eight prelates of the Bishops’ Conference of
Ethiopia and Eritrea on their “ad limina” visit at the Vatican City.
Father said this when he met eight prelates of the Bishops’ Conference of
Ethiopia and Eritrea on their “ad limina” visit at the Vatican City.
The eight
prelates the Holy Father met on 9th included: Bishop Angelo
Moreschi, S.D.B., Apostolic Vicar of Gambella; Bishop Woldetensae Ghebreghiorghis,
O.F.M. Cap., Apostolic Vicar of Harar; Bishop Woldeghiorghis Matheos, Apostolic
Vicar of Hosanna; Bishop Markos Gebremedhin, C.M., Apostolic Vicar of
Jimma-Bonga; Bishop Abraham Desta, Apostolic Vicar of Meki; Bishop Varghese
Thottamkara, C.M., Apostolic Vicar of Nekemte; Bishop Tsegaye Keneni Derera,
Apostolic Vicar of Soddo; and Fr. Angelo Antonini, O.F.M. Cap., Apostolic Prefect
of Robe.
prelates the Holy Father met on 9th included: Bishop Angelo
Moreschi, S.D.B., Apostolic Vicar of Gambella; Bishop Woldetensae Ghebreghiorghis,
O.F.M. Cap., Apostolic Vicar of Harar; Bishop Woldeghiorghis Matheos, Apostolic
Vicar of Hosanna; Bishop Markos Gebremedhin, C.M., Apostolic Vicar of
Jimma-Bonga; Bishop Abraham Desta, Apostolic Vicar of Meki; Bishop Varghese
Thottamkara, C.M., Apostolic Vicar of Nekemte; Bishop Tsegaye Keneni Derera,
Apostolic Vicar of Soddo; and Fr. Angelo Antonini, O.F.M. Cap., Apostolic Prefect
of Robe.
Previously
on the 8th May 2014, the Holy Father met nine prelates from
Ethiopian and Eritrean Conferences. These included Metropolitan Archbishop
Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel of Addis Abeba, with his Auxiliary, Bishop Lisane-Christos
Matheos Semahun; Bishop Tesfaselassie Medhin of Adigrat; Bishop Menghesteab
Tesfamariam, M.C.C.I., of Asmara, (Eritrea);Bishop Thomas Osman, O.F.M. Cap.,
of Barentu, (Eritrea);Bishop Musie Ghebreghiorghis, O.F.M. Cap., of Emdeber; Bishop
Kidane Yebio of Keren, (Eritrea);Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim of Segheneity,
(Eritrea) and Bishop Giovanni Migliorati, M.C.C.I., Apostolic Vicar of Awasa.
on the 8th May 2014, the Holy Father met nine prelates from
Ethiopian and Eritrean Conferences. These included Metropolitan Archbishop
Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel of Addis Abeba, with his Auxiliary, Bishop Lisane-Christos
Matheos Semahun; Bishop Tesfaselassie Medhin of Adigrat; Bishop Menghesteab
Tesfamariam, M.C.C.I., of Asmara, (Eritrea);Bishop Thomas Osman, O.F.M. Cap.,
of Barentu, (Eritrea);Bishop Musie Ghebreghiorghis, O.F.M. Cap., of Emdeber; Bishop
Kidane Yebio of Keren, (Eritrea);Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim of Segheneity,
(Eritrea) and Bishop Giovanni Migliorati, M.C.C.I., Apostolic Vicar of Awasa.
“Your visit
provides an opportunity for us to reflect together on the life of the Church in
Ethiopia and Eritrea and to discuss the joys and challenges which you face
daily”, writes the Pope in his text addressed to the prelates of the two
countries.
provides an opportunity for us to reflect together on the life of the Church in
Ethiopia and Eritrea and to discuss the joys and challenges which you face
daily”, writes the Pope in his text addressed to the prelates of the two
countries.
“Though you
are from different countries and belong to different rites, each with its own
particular richness, your mission in service of Christ and his Church is the
same: to proclaim the Gospel and to build up the faithful in holiness, unity
and charity. When that mission is exercised in collaboration and mutual
support, the Church, united in the Spirit, breathes with the two lungs of East
and West and burns with love for Christ”, read the statement.
are from different countries and belong to different rites, each with its own
particular richness, your mission in service of Christ and his Church is the
same: to proclaim the Gospel and to build up the faithful in holiness, unity
and charity. When that mission is exercised in collaboration and mutual
support, the Church, united in the Spirit, breathes with the two lungs of East
and West and burns with love for Christ”, read the statement.
Pope Francis
said that in our times, we require again this missionary spirit to announce the
saving message of new life in Christ to all of society, not only to those who
do not know him, but also to the faithful, so that they may hear once more the
freshness of the Gospel and be encouraged to find ever new and creative ways to
live and celebrate their faith.
said that in our times, we require again this missionary spirit to announce the
saving message of new life in Christ to all of society, not only to those who
do not know him, but also to the faithful, so that they may hear once more the
freshness of the Gospel and be encouraged to find ever new and creative ways to
live and celebrate their faith.
He
encouraged the prelates to be good and generous Fathers to their priests,
present to them and attentive to their human and spiritual needs, and their
ongoing formation in the priesthood. “If they are to be holy and effective
heralds of the Gospel, it is essential that they themselves be constantly evangelized
anew. This should first take place in the seminary through integral human,
spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation,” said in his message.
encouraged the prelates to be good and generous Fathers to their priests,
present to them and attentive to their human and spiritual needs, and their
ongoing formation in the priesthood. “If they are to be holy and effective
heralds of the Gospel, it is essential that they themselves be constantly evangelized
anew. This should first take place in the seminary through integral human,
spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation,” said in his message.
He also
spoke of the supports of many men and women religious who, for many
generations, have generously cooperated in building up the local communities,
reflecting the merciful face of Christ and assisting their Churches in living
out the Gospel. He asked the Bishops to encourage and support their continued
efforts to serve the spiritual and material needs of the people of Ethiopia and
Eritrea today.
spoke of the supports of many men and women religious who, for many
generations, have generously cooperated in building up the local communities,
reflecting the merciful face of Christ and assisting their Churches in living
out the Gospel. He asked the Bishops to encourage and support their continued
efforts to serve the spiritual and material needs of the people of Ethiopia and
Eritrea today.
The Holy
Father emphasized that the work of Evangelization is not reserved to the clergy
or religious only, but is the competence of all the Christian faithful, and it
is therefore important to continue to identify and prepare qualified lay
leaders to assist in forming the faithful and thus, make present the fragrance
of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze.
Father emphasized that the work of Evangelization is not reserved to the clergy
or religious only, but is the competence of all the Christian faithful, and it
is therefore important to continue to identify and prepare qualified lay
leaders to assist in forming the faithful and thus, make present the fragrance
of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze.
“Many years
of conflict and continuing tensions, in addition to widespread poverty and drought
conditions, have brought great suffering to the people” read the statement
adding that “Generous social programmes which, inspired by the Gospel, you
provide, in collaboration with various religious, charitable and governmental
agencies, aimed at alleviating this suffering.”
of conflict and continuing tensions, in addition to widespread poverty and drought
conditions, have brought great suffering to the people” read the statement
adding that “Generous social programmes which, inspired by the Gospel, you
provide, in collaboration with various religious, charitable and governmental
agencies, aimed at alleviating this suffering.”
“Many
children the you serve who experience hunger and who have been orphaned because
of violence and poverty and the young people who, like so many of their friends
and family, would otherwise flee their homeland in search of greater
opportunities, and risk losing their lives during dangerous journeys, as well
as the many elderly who could so easily be forgotten in the midst of such
hardships, ” said in his message.
children the you serve who experience hunger and who have been orphaned because
of violence and poverty and the young people who, like so many of their friends
and family, would otherwise flee their homeland in search of greater
opportunities, and risk losing their lives during dangerous journeys, as well
as the many elderly who could so easily be forgotten in the midst of such
hardships, ” said in his message.
“Your
efforts on their behalf, which give such a powerful witness to the love of God
in your midst, are an extraordinary grace for the people. In your loving
concern for the poor and downtrodden, may you continue to seek new
opportunities to cooperate with civil authorities in advancing the common
good”, he concluded.
efforts on their behalf, which give such a powerful witness to the love of God
in your midst, are an extraordinary grace for the people. In your loving
concern for the poor and downtrodden, may you continue to seek new
opportunities to cooperate with civil authorities in advancing the common
good”, he concluded.
Source: VIS
