ETHIOPIA: SECAM Leads African Leaders In Prayer During The 33rd African Union Summit
Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo of Ouagadougou, president of the Burkina Faso bishops' conference, is pictured at the Vatican Feb. 22, 2014. Cardinal Ouedraogo and other church leaders in Burkina Faso have appealed for unity and solidarity after two attacks on Catholics within two days. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See BURKINA-FASO-CHURCH-LEADERS May 15, 2019
The President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) His Eminence Philippe Nakellentuba Cardinal Oudraogo who is also the Ordinary for the Archdiocese of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, opened the African Union Prayer Breakfast with prayers and apostolic benediction.
This he did on behalf of SECAM bishops and on behalf of SECAM’s official representative to the African Union (AU) His Eminence Berhaneyesus Cardinal Suraphiel, on Sunday Feb.9, 2020 as the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and government convened.
In his prayer, Cardinal Oudraogo plead for God’s forgiveness over violence which is prevailing all over Africa and is negatively affecting the poor nations.
“As the blood of Abel so cried out to you, so is the blood of our brothers and sisters killed incessantly crying out to you. Forgive us for the sins we have committed against each other. And grant that the guns be silent so that a sweet song of hope and trust may rise up to you in every corner of our African land,” he interceded.
Also present for the breakfast prayer of the Heads of States, were the Patriarch of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church, priests from the Ethiopian Catholic Church, other Religious leaders and distinguished guests.
The African Union Prayer Breakfast is an event that precedes the AU Heads of State and Governments Summit which is held in Addis Ababa every January. At the Prayer Breakfast, heads of state, foreign ministers and diplomats join with Pan-African Christian leaders for a time of prayer for the needs of the continent and the success of the Assembly.
By Habtamu Abrdew Beture
