ETHIOPIA: Catholic Bishops call for peaceful dialogue to resolve conflicts
H.E. Berhaneyesus D. Cardinal Souraphiel
In their statement regarding some of the conflicts that have caused loss of lives and properties in some parts of Ethiopia, the Catholic Bishops have called for peaceful dialogue among all parties. In a statement read to the press HE Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel, C.M., Metropolitan Archbishop of Ethiopia and Chairman of AMECEA said that Ethiopia is a country with a long history of peaceful and respectful co-existence among the many nations and nationalities as well as different religions.
The Cardinal who is also the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) said, “It is important to maintain this positive asset in our culture and encourage dialogue to search for peaceful answers.”
He stressed that causing chaos cannot be answer but rather a hindrance to growth and development. “Ethiopia is on a well-established track toward development, we must continue to work hard hand-in-hand to stay on this road of changing our history of poverty and maintain a steady economic growth,” he said.
Cardinal Berhaneyesus also expressed the sorrow the Catholic Church has felt over the lost lives and the injuries that occurred due to the chaos. “We pray for the souls of our children who have lost their lives so that they may rest in peace, we also pray for the consolation of the bereaved families,” he added.
He said Ethiopia is a country known for her role in peacekeeping in other parts of the continent and should not lose her peace because of some disagreements and asked all people for to work for a society free of hatred.
“We ask all people to cooperate in building a society free of all hatred that we can pass on to the next generation,” said his Eminence adding that the Church askes all Catholics, Government officials, all Ethiopians and people of good will be an instrument of peace.
Meanwhile the Catholic faithful, priests and the religious were asked to pray during this period of fasting in preparation for the feast of Assumption of Our Lady to pray for peace and love. At the same time, the Bishops asked the Government officials to engage in discussion with the public to listen to and answer to the requests of the people. The Church also asked elders of the country to work on bringing peace and reconciliations among the people.
Finally the Bishops appealed to the youth are to stay calm and maintain peace. “Our dear young children, we wish that you take over from us a developed and peaceful Ethiopia, not a country that is full of unrest. We urge you to remember that you have the duty and the right to take over a country that is full of peace and hope for development therefore you must work for this,” said the Cardinal reading the statement.
“We ask in the name of God all Ethiopians living in the country and abroad, Ethiopians involved in different fields of expertise and government officials to make the pillars of a society which are Truth, Freedom, Justice and Love your working principles and maintain our peace, cooperation, conflict resolution through dialogue,” stressed Cardinal Berhaneyesus.
He said that prayer is the most important tool for peace and once again asked the faithful to pray so that Our Lord the King of Peace may bring all our conscious towards peaceful thinking.
By Makeda Yohannes, CBCE Communications and Public Relation Officer
