CS1S?

nCuAL
ACS1CLlC LxPC81A1lCn
Al8lCAL MunuS
Cl PlS PCLlnLSS
CL 8LnLulC1 xvl
1C 1PL 8lSPCS CLL8C?
CCnSLC8A1Lu L8SCnS
Anu 1PL LA? lAl1PluL
Cn 1PL CPu8CP ln Al8lCA
ln SL8vlCL 1C 8LCCnClLlA1lCn !uS1lCL Anu LACL

?ou are Lhe salL of Lhe earLh
?ou are Lhe llghL of Lhe world
(ML 3 1314)





ConLenLs

ln18CuuC1lCn 113

arL one

8ehold l make all Lhlngs new"
(8ev 213) 14

ChapLer l
ln servlce Lo reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace

l AuLhenLlc servanLs of Cod's word 1316
ll ChrlsL aL Lhe hearL of Afrlcan llfe 1he source of reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace 1718

A 8e reconclled wlLh Cod" (2 Cor 320b) 1921
8 8ecomlng [usL and bulldlng a [usL soclal order 2223

1 Llvlng ln accordance wlLh ChrlsL's [usLlce 2423
2 CreaLlng a [usL order ln Lhe splrlL of Lhe 8eaLlLudes 2627

C Love ln LruLh Lhe source of peace 28

1 ConcreLe fraLernal servlce 29
2 1he Church as a senLlnel 30

ChapLer ll
aLhs Lowards reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace 31

l Care for Lhe human person

A MeLanola an auLhenLlc converslon 32
8 Lxperlenclng Lhe LruLh of Lhe sacramenL of penance and reconclllaLlon 33
C A splrlLuallLy of communlon 3433
u 1he lnculLuraLlon of Lhe gospel and Lhe evangellzaLlon of culLure 3638
L 1he glfL of ChrlsL Lhe LucharlsL and Lhe word of Cod 3941

ll Llvlng ln harmony

A 1he famlly 4246
8 1he elderly 4730
C Men 3134
u Women 3339
L ?oung people 6064
l Chlldren 6368

lll 1he Afrlcan vlslon of llfe 69

A 1he proLecLlon of llfe 7078
8 8especL for creaLlon and Lhe ecosysLem 7980
C 1he good governance of sLaLes 8183
u MlgranLs dlsplaced persons and refugees 8483
L CloballzaLlon and lnLernaLlonal ald 8687

lv ulalogue and communlon among bellevers 88

A Lcumenlcal dlalogue and Lhe challenge of new rellglous movemenLs 8991
8 lnLerrellglous dlalogue 9293

1 1radlLlonal Afrlcan rellglons 9293

2 lslam 94

C 8ecomlng Lhe salL of Lhe earLh" and Lhe llghL of Lhe world" 9396

arL Lwo

1o each ls glven Lhe manlfesLaLlon of Lhe splrlL for Lhe common good"
(1 Cor 127) 9798

ChapLer l
1he members of Lhe Church

l 8lshops 100107
ll rlesLs 108112
lll Mlsslonarles 113114
lv ermanenL deacons 113116
v ConsecraLed persons 117120
vl Semlnarlans 121124
vll CaLechlsLs 123127
vlll Lay people 128131

ChapLer ll
Ma[or areas of Lhe aposLolaLe 132

l 1he Church as Lhe presence of ChrlsL 133
ll 1he world of educaLlon 134138
lll 1he world of healLh care 139141
lv 1he world of lnformaLlon Lechnology and communlcaLlons 142146

ChapLer lll
SLand up Lake your maL and walk!"
(!n 38)

l !esus' Leachlng aL Lhe pool of 8eLhzaLha 147149
ll 1he word of Cod and Lhe sacramenLs

A 1he sacred ScrlpLures 130131
8 1he LucharlsL 132134
C 8econclllaLlon 133138

lll 1he new evangellzaLlon 139

A 8earers of ChrlsL Lhe llghL of Lhe world" 160162
8 WlLnesses of Lhe rlsen ChrlsL 163166
C Mlsslonarles ln Lhe fooLsLeps of ChrlsL 167171



CCnCLuSlCn 1ake hearL rlse he ls calllng" (Mk 1049) 172177



* * *

ln18CuuC1lCn

1 Afrlca's commlLmenL Lo Lhe Lord !esus ChrlsL ls a preclous Lreasure whlch l enLrusL aL Lhe
beglnnlng of Lhls Lhlrd mlllennlum Lo Lhe blshops prlesLs permanenL deacons consecraLed
persons caLechlsLs and lay falLhful of LhaL beloved conLlnenL and lLs nelghbourlng lslands
1hrough Lhls mlsslon Afrlca ls led Lo explore lLs ChrlsLlan vocaLlon more deeply lL ls called ln
Lhe name of !esus Lo llve reconclllaLlon beLween lndlvlduals and communlLles and Lo promoLe
peace and [usLlce ln LruLh for all

2 lL was my wlsh LhaL Lhe Second Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of 8lshops held
from 4 Lo 23 CcLober 2009 should conLlnue Lhe work of Lhe 1994 Assembly whlch was
lnLended Lo be an occaslon of hope and resurrecLlon aL Lhe very momenL when human evenLs
seemed Lo be LempLlng Afrlca Lo dlscouragemenL and despalr"1 1he osLSynodal AposLollc
LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca of my predecessor 8lessed !ohn aul ll broughL LogeLher Lhe
pasLoral lnslghLs and proposals of Lhe Synod laLhers for a new evangellzaLlon of Lhe Afrlcan
conLlnenL lL was approprlaLe Len years lnLo Lhls Lhlrd mlllennlum Lo reklndle our falLh and
hope so as Lo help bulld a reconclled Afrlca by pursulng Lhe paLhs of LruLh and [usLlce love and
peace (cf s 8311) ln unlon wlLh Lhe Synod laLhers l recall LhaL unless Lhe Lord bulld Lhe
house ln valn do lLs bullders labour"
(s 1271)

3 LxcepLlonal eccleslal vlLallLy and a Lheologlcal undersLandlng of Lhe Church as Cod's lamlly2
were Lhe mosL vlslble resulLs of Lhe 1994 Synod 1o glve a new lmpulse fllled wlLh evangellcal
hope and charlLy Lo Lhe Church of Cod on Lhe Afrlcan conLlnenL and Lhe nelghbourlng lslands l
LhoughL lL necessary Lo convoke a Second Synodal Assembly SusLalned by Lhe dally lnvocaLlon
of Lhe Poly SplrlL and Lhe prayers of counLless members of Lhe falLhful Lhe Synod sesslons bore
frulL whlch l would llke Lo LransmlL Lhrough Lhls documenL Lo Lhe unlversal Church and ln a
parLlcular way Lo Lhe Church ln Afrlca3 LhaL she may Lruly be Lhe salL of Lhe earLh" and llghL
of Lhe world" (cf ML 31314)4 lnsplred by falLh worklng Lhrough love" (Cal 36) Lhe Church
seeks Lo offer Lhe frulLs of love reconclllaLlon peace and [usLlce (cf 1 Cor 1347) 1hls ls her
speclflc mlsslon

4 l was lmpressed by Lhe quallLy of Lhe speeches glven by Lhe Synod laLhers and Lhe oLhers
who spoke aL Lhe sesslons 1helr reallsLlc and farslghLed conLrlbuLlons demonsLraLed Lhe
ChrlsLlan maLurlLy of Lhe conLlnenL 1hey were noL afrald Lo face Lhe LruLh and Lhey soughL Lo
reflecL slncerely on posslble soluLlons Lo Lhe problems faclng Lhelr parLlcular Churches and Lhe
unlversal Church 1hey also recognlzed LhaL Lhe blesslngs of Cod Lhe laLher of all are beyond
counLlng Cod never abandons hls people l see no need Lo dwell aL lengLh on Lhe varlous soclo
pollLlcal eLhnlc economlc or ecologlcal slLuaLlons LhaL Afrlcans face dally and LhaL cannoL be
lgnored Afrlcans know beLLer Lhan anyone else how dlfflculL dlsLurblng and even Lraglc Lhese
slLuaLlons can very ofLen be l pay LrlbuLe Lo Afrlcans and Lo all Lhe ChrlsLlans of LhaL conLlnenL
who face Lhese slLuaLlons wlLh courage and dlgnlLy 8lghLly Lhey wanL Lhls dlgnlLy Lo be
recognlzed and respecLed l can assure Lhem LhaL Lhe Church loves and respecLs Afrlca

3 ln Lhe face of Lhe many challenges LhaL Afrlca seeks Lo address ln order Lo become more and
more a land of promlse Lhe Church llke lsrael could easlly fall prey Lo dlscouragemenL yeL our
forebears ln Lhe falLh have shown us Lhe correcL aLLlLude Lo adopL Moses Lhe Lord's servanL
by falLh persevered as Lhough he saw hlm who ls lnvlslble" (Peb 1127) As Lhe auLhor of Lhe
LeLLer Lo Lhe Pebrews remlnds us lalLh ls Lhe assurance of Lhlngs hoped for Lhe convlcLlon of
Lhlngs noL seen" (111) lor Lhls reason l call upon Lhe whole Church Lo look Lo Afrlca wlLh falLh
and hope !esus ChrlsL who lnvlLes us Lo be Lhe salL of Lhe earLh" and Lhe llghL of Lhe world"
(ML 31314) offers us Lhe power of Lhe SplrlL Lo help us come ever closer Lo aLLalnlng Lhls ldeal

6 lL was my lnLenLlon LhaL ChrlsL's words ?ou are Lhe salL of Lhe earLh you are Lhe llghL of
Lhe world" would be Lhe unlfylng Lheme of Lhe Synod and also of Lhe posLsynodal perlod
When l spoke ln ?aounde Lo all Lhe falLhful of Afrlca l sald Lhls ln !esus some Lwo Lhousand
years ago Cod hlmself broughL salL and llghL Lo Afrlca lrom LhaL Llme on Lhe seed of hls
presence was burled deep wlLhln Lhe hearLs of Lhe people of Lhls dear conLlnenL and lL has
blossomed gradually beyond and wlLhln Lhe vlclsslLudes of lLs human hlsLory"3

7 1he LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca made lLs own Lhe ldea of Lhe Church as Cod's lamlly"
whlch Lhe Synod laLhers acknowledged as an expresslon of Lhe Church's naLure parLlcularly
approprlaLe for Afrlca lor Lhls lmage emphaslzes care for oLhers solldarlLy warmLh ln human
relaLlonshlps accepLance dlalogue and LrusL"6 1he LxhorLaLlon lnvlLed ChrlsLlan famllles ln
Afrlca Lo become domesLlc churches"7 so as Lo help Lhelr respecLlve communlLles Lo
recognlze LhaL Lhey belong Lo one slngle 8ody 1hls lmage ls lmporLanL noL only for Lhe Church
ln Afrlca buL also for Lhe unlversal Church aL a Llme when Lhe famlly ls under LhreaL from Lhose
who seek Lo banlsh Cod from our llves 1o deprlve Lhe Afrlcan conLlnenL of Cod would be Lo
make lL dle a slow deaLh by Laklng away lLs very soul

8 WlLhln Lhe Church's llvlng LradlLlon and followlng Lhe deslre expressed ln Lhe LxhorLaLlon
Lcclesla ln Afrlca 8 Lo see Lhe Church as a famlly and a fraLernlLy ls Lo recover one aspecL of
her herlLage ln Lhls communlLy where !esus ChrlsL Lhe flrsLborn among many breLhren"
(8om 829) reconclled all people wlLh Cod Lhe laLher (cf Lph 21418) and besLowed Lhe Poly
SplrlL (cf !n 2022) Lhe Church for her parL becomes Lhe bearer of Lhe Cood news LhaL every
human person ls a chlld of Cod She ls called Lo LransmlL Lhls message Lo all humanlLy by
proclalmlng Lhe salvaLlon won for us by ChrlsL by celebraLlng our communlon wlLh Cod and by
llvlng ln fraLernal solldarlLy

9 Afrlca's memory ls palnfully scarred as a resulL of fraLrlcldal confllcLs beLween eLhnlc groups
Lhe slave Lrade and colonlzaLlon 1oday Loo Lhe conLlnenL has Lo cope wlLh rlvalrles and wlLh
new forms of enslavemenL and colonlzaLlon 1he llrsL Speclal Assembly llkened lL Lo Lhe vlcLlm
of robbers lefL Lo dle by Lhe roadslde (cf Lk 102337) 1hls ls why lL was posslble Lo speak of
Lhe marglnallzaLlon" of Afrlca A LradlLlon born on Afrlcan soll ldenLlfles Lhe Cood SamarlLan
wlLh Lhe Lord !esus hlmself and lssues an lnvlLaLlon Lo hope lL was ClemenL of Alexandrla who
wroLe Who more Lhan he Look plLy on us when by Lhe prlnces of darkness we were all buL
morLally wounded by our fears lusLs passlons palns decelLs and pleasures? Cf Lhese wounds
Lhe only physlclan ls !esus"9 1here are Lhus many reasons for hope and graLlLude lor
example desplLe Lhe greaL pandemlcs whlch declmaLe lLs populaLlon such as malarla AluS
Luberculosls and oLhers dlseases whlch medlcal sclence ls sLlll sLruggllng Lo ellmlnaLe once and
for all Afrlca malnLalns lLs [ole de vlvre celebraLlng Cod's glfL of llfe by welcomlng chlldren for
Lhe lncrease of Lhe famlly clrcle and Lhe human communlLy l also see grounds for hope ln
Afrlca's rlch lnLellecLual culLural and rellglous herlLage Afrlca wlshes Lo preserve Lhls Lo
deepen lL and Lo share lL wlLh Lhe world 8y dolng so lL wlll make an lmporLanL and poslLlve
conLrlbuLlon

10 1he second synodal assembly for Afrlca dealL wlLh Lhe Lheme of reconclllaLlon [usLlce and
peace 1he wealLh of documenLaLlon LhaL was handed Lo me afLer Lhe sesslons Lhe
LlneamenLa Lhe lnsLrumenLum Laborls Lhe reporLs drawn up before and afLer Lhe dlscusslons
Lhe speeches and Lhe summarles prepared by worklng groups calls for Lransformlng Lheology
lnLo pasLoral care namely lnLo a very concreLe pasLoral mlnlsLry ln whlch Lhe greaL perspecLlves
found ln sacred ScrlpLure and 1radlLlon flnd appllcaLlon ln Lhe acLlvlLy of blshops and prlesLs ln
speclflc Llmes and places"10

11 Pence lL ls wlLh paLernal and pasLoral concern LhaL l address Lhls documenL Lo Lhe Afrlca of
Loday whlch has llved Lhrough Lhe Lraumas and confllcLs LhaL we know so well Men and
women are shaped by Lhelr pasL buL Lhey llve and [ourney ln Lhe presenL and Lhey look ahead
Lo Lhe fuLure Llke Lhe resL of Lhe world Afrlca ls experlenclng a culLure shock whlch sLrlkes aL
Lhe ageold foundaLlons of soclal llfe and someLlmes makes lL hard Lo come Lo Lerms wlLh
modernlLy ln Lhls anLhropologlcal crlsls whlch Lhe Afrlcan conLlnenL ls faclng paLhs of hope wlll
be dlscovered by fosLerlng dlalogue among Lhe members of lLs consLlLuenL rellglous soclal
pollLlcal economlc culLural and sclenLlflc communlLles Afrlca wlll have Lo redlscover and
promoLe a concepL of Lhe person and hls or her relaLlonshlp wlLh reallLy LhaL ls Lhe frulL of a
profound splrlLual renewal

12 ln Lhe LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca !ohn aul ll observed LhaL desplLe Lhe modern
clvlllzaLlon of Lhe 'global vlllage' ln Afrlca as elsewhere ln Lhe world Lhe splrlL of dlalogue peace
and reconclllaLlon ls far from dwelllng ln Lhe hearLs of everyone Wars confllcLs and raclsL and
xenophoblc aLLlLudes sLlll play Loo large a role ln Lhe world of human relaLlons"11 1he hope
LhaL marks auLhenLlc ChrlsLlan llvlng remlnds us LhaL Lhe Poly SplrlL ls aL work everywhere ln
Afrlca as much as anywhere else and LhaL Lhe power of llfe born of love always prevalls over
Lhe power of deaLh (cf S of S 867) Pence Lhe Synod laLhers could see LhaL Lhe dlfflculLles
encounLered by Lhe counLrles and parLlcular Churches ln Afrlca are noL so much
lnsurmounLable obsLacles buL challenges prompLlng us Lo draw upon Lhe besL of ourselves
our lmaglnaLlon our lnLelllgence our vocaLlon Lo follow wlLhouL compromlse ln Lhe fooLsLeps
of !esus ChrlsL Lo seek Cod LLernal Love and AbsoluLe 1ruLh"12 1ogeLher wlLh all secLors of
Afrlcan socleLy Lhe Church Lherefore feels called Lo respond Lo Lhese challenges lL ls ln some
sense an lmperaLlve born of Lhe Cospel

13 WlLh Lhls documenL l wlsh Lo make avallable Lhe encouraglng frulLs proposed by Lhe Synod
and l lnvlLe all people of good wlll Lo look Lo Afrlca wlLh falLh and love Lo help lL become
Lhrough ChrlsL and Lhrough Lhe Poly SplrlL Lhe llghL of Lhe world and Lhe salL of Lhe earLh (cf
ML 31314) A preclous Lreasure ls Lo be found ln Lhe soul of Afrlca where l percelve a
splrlLual 'lung' for a humanlLy LhaL appears Lo be ln a crlsls of falLh and hope"13 on accounL
of Lhe exLraordlnary human and splrlLual rlches of lLs chlldren lLs varlegaLed culLures lLs soll
and subsoll of abundanL resources Powever lf lL ls Lo sLand erecL wlLh dlgnlLy Afrlca needs Lo
hear Lhe volce of ChrlsL who Loday proclalms love of nelghbour love even of one's enemles Lo
Lhe polnL of laylng down one's llfe Lhe volce of ChrlsL who prays Loday for Lhe unlLy and
communlon of all people ln Cod
(cf !n 172021)

arL one

8LPCLu l MAkL ALL 1PlnCS nLW"
(8ev 213)

14 1he Synod made lL posslble Lo dlscern Lhe prlnclpal parameLers of mlsslon for an Afrlca LhaL
seeks reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace lL falls Lo Lhe parLlcular Churches Lo LranslaLe Lhese
parameLers lnLo resoluLlons and guldellnes for acLlon"14 lor lL ls ln Lhe local Churches LhaL
Lhe speclflc feaLures of a deLalled pasLoral plan can be ldenLlfled goals and meLhods
formaLlon and enrlchmenL of Lhe people lnvolved Lhe search for Lhe necessary resources
whlch wlll enable Lhe proclamaLlon of ChrlsL Lo reach people mould communlLles and have a
deep and lnclslve lnfluence ln brlnglng Cospel values Lo bear ln Afrlcan socleLy and
culLure"13

ChapLer l

ln SL8vlCL 1C 8LCCnClLlA1lCn
!uS1lCL Anu LACL

l AuLhenLlc servanLs of Cod's word

13 An Afrlca LhaL moves forward [oyful and allve makes manlfesL Lhe pralse of Cod slnce as
SalnL lrenaeus observed Lhe glory of Cod ls man fully allve" 8uL he lmmedlaLely added and
Lhe llfe of man conslsLs ln beholdlng Cod"16 1oday Loo an essenLlal Lask of Lhe Church ls Lo
brlng Lhe message of Lhe Cospel Lo Lhe hearL of Afrlcan socleLles Lo lead people Lo Lhe vlslon of
Cod As salL glves flavour Lo food so Lhls message makes Lhose who llve by lL lnLo auLhenLlc
wlLnesses All who grow ln Lhls way become capable of belng reconclled ln !esus ChrlsL 1hey
become sources of llghL for Lhelr broLhers and slsLers 1hus ln unlon wlLh Lhe Synod laLhers l
lnvlLe Lhe Church ln Afrlca Lo be a wlLness ln Lhe servlce of reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace
as 'salL of Lhe earLh' and 'llghL of Lhe world'"17 so LhaL her llfe may be a response Lo Lhls
summons Arlse Church ln Afrlca lamlly of Cod because you are belng called by Lhe heavenly
laLher!"18

16 lL ls provldenLlal LhaL Lhe Second Synod for Afrlca Look place soon afLer Lhe one dedlcaLed Lo
Lhe word of Cod ln Lhe llfe and mlsslon of Lhe Church 1haL Synod recalled Lhe presslng duLy of
each dlsclple Lo undersLand ChrlsL who calls us by hls word 1hrough Lhls word we Lhe falLhful
learn Lo llsLen Lo ChrlsL and Lo leL ourselves be gulded by Lhe Poly SplrlL who reveals Lo us Lhe
meanlng of all Lhlngs (cf !n 1613) ln facL Lhe readlng and medlLaLlon of Lhe word of Cod rooL
us more deeply ln ChrlsL and gulde our mlnlsLry as servanLs of reconclllaLlon [usLlce and
peace"19 As LhaL Synod remlnded us Lo become hls broLhers and hls slsLers one musL be
llke 'Lhose who hear Lhe word of Cod and puL lL lnLo pracLlce' (Lk 821) AuLhenLlc hearlng ls
obeylng and acLlng lL means maklng [usLlce and love blossom ln llfe lL ls offerlng ln llfe and ln
socleLy a wlLness llke Lhe call of Lhe propheLs whlch conLlnuously unlLed Lhe word of Cod and
llfe falLh and recLlLude worshlp and soclal commlLmenL"20 LlsLenlng Lo and medlLaLlng upon
Lhe word of Cod means leLLlng lL peneLraLe and shape our llves so as Lo reconclle us wlLh Cod
allowlng Cod Lo lead us Lowards reconclllaLlon wlLh our nelghbour a necessary paLh for
bulldlng a communlLy of lndlvlduals and peoples Cn our faces and ln our llves may Lhe word of
Cod Lruly Lake flesh!

ll ChrlsL aL Lhe hearL of Afrlcan llfe
Lhe source of reconclllaLlon
[usLlce and peace

17 1he Lhree prlnclpal elemenLs of Lhe Lheme chosen for Lhe Synod namely reconclllaLlon
[usLlce and peace broughL lL face Lo face wlLh lLs Lheologlcal and soclal responslblllLy"21 and
made lL posslble also Lo reflecL on Lhe Church's publlc role and her place ln Afrlca Loday22
Cne mlghL say LhaL reconclllaLlon and [usLlce are Lhe Lwo essenLlal premlses of peace and LhaL
Lherefore Lo a cerLaln exLenL Lhey also deflne lLs naLure"23 1he Lask we have Lo seL for
ourselves ls noL an easy one slLuaLed as lL ls somewhere beLween lmmedlaLe engagemenL ln
pollLlcs whlch lles ouLslde Lhe Church's dlrecL compeLence and Lhe poLenLlal for wlLhdrawal
or evaslon presenL ln a Lheologlcal and splrlLual speculaLlon whlch could serve as an escape
from concreLe hlsLorlcal responslblllLy

18 eace l leave wlLh you my peace l glve Lo you" says Lhe Lord and he adds noL as Lhe
world glves do l glve Lo you" (!n 1427) Puman peace obLalned wlLhouL [usLlce ls lllusory and
ephemeral Puman [usLlce whlch ls noL Lhe frulL of reconclllaLlon ln Lhe LruLh of love" (Lph
413) remalns lncompleLe lL ls noL auLhenLlc [usLlce Love of LruLh Lhe whole LruLh" Lo whlch
Lhe SplrlL alone can lead us (cf !n 1613) ls whaL marks ouL Lhe paLh LhaL all human [usLlce
musL follow lf lL ls Lo succeed ln resLorlng Lhe bonds of fraLernlLy wlLhln Lhe human famlly a
communlLy of peace"24 reconclled wlLh Cod Lhrough ChrlsL !usLlce ls never dlsembodled lL
needs Lo be anchored ln conslsLenL human declslons A charlLy whlch falls Lo respecL [usLlce and
Lhe rlghLs of all ls false l Lherefore encourage ChrlsLlans Lo become exemplary ln Lhe area of
[usLlce and charlLy (ML 31920)

A 8e reconclled wlLh god"(2 Cor 320b)

19 8econclllaLlon ls a prepollLlcal concepL and a prepollLlcal reallLy and for Lhls very reason
lL ls of Lhe greaLesL lmporLance for Lhe Lask of pollLlcs lLself unless Lhe power of reconclllaLlon
ls creaLed ln people's hearLs pollLlcal commlLmenL Lo peace lacks lLs lnner premlse AL Lhe
Synod Lhe asLors of Lhe Church sLrove for LhaL lnner purlflcaLlon of man whlch ls Lhe essenLlal
prlor condlLlon for bulldlng [usLlce and peace 8uL Lhls purlflcaLlon and lnner developmenL
Lowards Lrue humanlLy cannoL exlsL wlLhouL Cod"23

20 lL ls Cod's grace LhaL glves us a new hearL and reconclles us wlLh hlm and wlLh one
anoLher26 ChrlsL reesLabllshed humanlLy ln Lhe laLher's love 8econclllaLlon Lhus sprlngs
from Lhls love lL ls born of Lhe laLher's lnlLlaLlve ln resLorlng hls relaLlonshlp wlLh humanlLy a
relaLlonshlp broken by human sln ln !esus ChrlsL ln hls llfe and mlnlsLry buL especlally ln hls
deaLh and resurrecLlon Lhe AposLle aul saw Cod Lhe laLher reconclllng Lhe world (all Lhlngs ln
heaven and on earLh) Lo hlmself dlscounLlng Lhe slns of humanlLy (cf 2 Cor 319 8om 310 Col
12122) aul saw Cod Lhe laLher reconclllng !ews and CenLlles Lo hlmself creaLlng one new
man Lhrough Lhe Cross (cf Lph 213 36) 1hus Lhe experlence of reconclllaLlon esLabllshes
communlon on Lwo levels communlon beLween Cod and humanlLy and slnce Lhe experlence
of reconclllaLlon also makes us (as a reconclled humanlLy) 'ambassadors of reconclllaLlon'
communlon among men"27 8econclllaLlon Lhen ls noL llmlLed Lo Cod's plan Lo draw
esLranged and slnful humanlLy Lo hlmself ln ChrlsL Lhrough Lhe forglveness of slns and ouL of
love lL ls also Lhe resLoraLlon of relaLlonshlps beLween people Lhrough Lhe seLLlemenL of
dlfferences and Lhe removal of obsLacles Lo Lhelr relaLlonshlps ln Lhelr experlence of Cod's
love"28 1hls ls lllusLraLed by Lhe parable of Lhe prodlgal son ln Lhe reLurn of Lhe younger son
(le hls converslon) Lhe LvangellsL shows us hls need Lo be reconclled boLh Lo hls faLher and
Lhrough Lhe faLher's medlaLlon Lo hls older broLher (cf Lk 131132) Movlng LesLlmonles from
Lhe falLhful of Afrlca accounLs of concreLe sufferlng and reconclllaLlon ln Lhe Lragedles of Lhe
conLlnenL's recenL hlsLory"29 have shown Lhe power of Lhe SplrlL Lo Lransform Lhe hearLs of
vlcLlms and Lhelr persecuLors and Lhus Lo reesLabllsh fraLernlLy30

21 lndeed only auLhenLlc reconclllaLlon can achleve lasLlng peace ln socleLy 1hls ls a Lask
lncumbenL on governmenL auLhorlLles and LradlLlonal chlefs buL also on ordlnary clLlzens ln
Lhe wake of a confllcL reconclllaLlon ofLen pursued and achleved quleLly and wlLhouL fanfare
resLores a unlon of hearLs and serene coexlsLence As a resulL afLer long perlods of war
naLlons are able Lo redlscover peace and socleLles deeply renL by clvll war or genoclde are able
Lo rebulld Lhelr unlLy lL ls by granLlng and recelvlng forglveness31 LhaL Lhe LraumaLlzed
memorles of lndlvlduals and communlLles have found heallng and famllles formerly dlvlded
have redlscovered harmony 8econclllaLlon overcomes crlses resLores Lhe dlgnlLy of
lndlvlduals and opens up Lhe paLh Lo developmenL and lasLlng peace beLween peoples aL every
level"32 as Lhe Synod laLhers were anxlous Lo emphaslze lf lL ls Lo be effecLlve Lhls
reconclllaLlon has Lo be accompanled by a courageous and honesL acL Lhe pursulL of Lhose
responslble for Lhese confllcLs Lhose who commlssloned crlmes and who were lnvolved ln
Lrafflcklng of all klnds and Lhe deLermlnaLlon of Lhelr responslblllLy vlcLlms have a rlghL Lo
LruLh and [usLlce lL ls lmporLanL for Lhe presenL and for Lhe fuLure Lo purlfy memorles so as Lo
bulld a beLLer socleLy where such Lragedles are no longer repeaLed

8 8ecomlng [usL and bulldlng a [usL soclal order

22 1here ls no doubL LhaL Lhe bulldlng of a [usL soclal order ls parL of Lhe compeLence of Lhe
pollLlcal sphere33 ?eL one of Lhe Lasks of Lhe Church ln Afrlca conslsLs ln formlng uprlghL
consclences recepLlve Lo Lhe demands of [usLlce so as Lo produce men and women wllllng and
able Lo bulld Lhls [usL soclal order by Lhelr responslble conducL 1he model par excellence
underlylng Lhe Church's Lhlnklng and reasonlng whlch she proposes Lo all ls ChrlsL34
Accordlng Lo her soclal Leachlng Lhe Church does noL have Lechnlcal soluLlons Lo offer and
does noL clalm 'Lo lnLerfere ln any way ln Lhe pollLlcs of sLaLes' She does however have a
mlsslon of LruLh Lo accompllsh one LhaL Lhe Church can never renounce Per soclal docLrlne
ls a parLlcular dlmenslon of Lhls proclamaLlon lL ls a servlce Lo Lhe LruLh whlch seLs us free"33

23 1hrough her !usLlce and eace Commlsslons Lhe Church ls engaged ln Lhe clvlc formaLlon of
clLlzens and ln asslsLlng wlLh Lhe elecLoral process ln a number of counLrles ln Lhls way she
conLrlbuLes Lo Lhe educaLlon of peoples awakenlng Lhelr consclences and Lhelr clvlc
responslblllLy 1hls parLlcular educaLlonal role ls appreclaLed by a greaL many counLrles whlch
recognlze Lhe Church as a peacemaker an agenL of reconclllaLlon and a herald of [usLlce lL ls
worLh repeaLlng LhaL whlle a dlsLlncLlon musL be made beLween Lhe role of pasLors and LhaL of
Lhe lay falLhful Lhe Church's mlsslon ls noL pollLlcal ln naLure36 Per Lask ls Lo open Lhe world
Lo Lhe rellglous sense by proclalmlng ChrlsL 1he Church wlshes Lo be Lhe slgn and safeguard of
Lhe human person's Lranscendence She musL also enable people Lo seek Lhe supreme LruLh
regardlng Lhelr deepesL ldenLlLy and Lhelr quesLlons so LhaL [usL soluLlons can be found Lo Lhelr
problems37

1 Llvlng ln accordance wlLh ChrlsL's [usLlce

24 Cn Lhe soclal plane human consclences are challenged by Lhe grave ln[usLlces exlsLlng ln
our world as a whole and wlLhln Afrlca ln parLlcular 1he plunderlng of Lhe goods of Lhe earLh by
a mlnorlLy Lo Lhe deLrlmenL of enLlre peoples ls unaccepLable because lL ls lmmoral !usLlce
obllges us Lo render Lo each hls due" lus suum unlculque Lrlbuere38 lL ls an lssue Lhen of
renderlng [usLlce Lo whole peoples Afrlca ls capable of provldlng every lndlvldual and every
naLlon of Lhe conLlnenL wlLh Lhe baslc condlLlons whlch wlll enable Lhem Lo share ln
developmenL39 Afrlcans wlll Lhus be able Lo place Lhelr Codglven LalenLs and rlches aL Lhe
servlce of Lhelr land and Lhelr broLhers and slsLers lf [usLlce ls Lo prevall ln all areas of llfe
prlvaLe and publlc economlc and soclal lL needs Lo be susLalned by subsldlarlLy and solldarlLy
and sLlll more Lo be lnsplred by charlLy ln accordance wlLh Lhe prlnclple of subsldlarlLy
nelLher Lhe sLaLe nor any larger socleLy should subsLlLuLe lLself for Lhe lnlLlaLlve and
responslblllLy of lndlvlduals and lnLermedlary bodles"40 SolldarlLy ls Lhe guaranLee of [usLlce
and peace and hence of unlLy so LhaL Lhe abundance of some compensaLes for Lhe wanL of
oLhers"41 CharlLy whlch ensures a bond wlLh Cod goes beyond dlsLrlbuLlve [usLlce lor lf
[usLlce ls Lhe vlrLue whlch asslgns Lo each hls due anyLhlng LhaL Lakes man away from Lhe
Lrue Cod cannoL be [usLlce"42

23 Cod hlmself shows us whaL Lrue [usLlce ls for example when we see !esus enLerlng Lhe llfe
of Zacchaeus and offerlng Lhe slnner Lhe grace of hls presence (cf Lk 19110) WhaL Lhen ls
Lhls [usLlce of ChrlsL? 1hose presenL aL Lhe encounLer wlLh Zacchaeus observe !esus (cf Lk 197)
Lhelr murmurs of dlsapproval purporL Lo be an expresslon of Lhelr love of [usLlce Powever Lhey
do noL know Lhe [usLlce of love whlch glves lLself Lo Lhe uLmosL Lo Laklng upon lLself Lhe curse"
lald upon men LhaL Lhey may recelve ln exchange Lhe blesslng" whlch ls Cod's glfL (cf Cal
31314) ulvlne [usLlce lndlcaLes Lo human [usLlce llmlLed and lmperfecL as lL ls Lhe horlzon Lo
whlch lL musL Lend lf lL ls Lo become perfecL Moreover lL makes us aware of our own poverLy
our need for forglveness and for Cod's frlendshlp 1hls ls whaL we experlence ln Lhe sacramenLs
of enance and Lhe LucharlsL whlch flow from Lhe savlng work of ChrlsL 1haL savlng work
brlngs us Lo a [usLlce by whlch we recelve far more Lhan we were enLlLled Lo expecL slnce ln
ChrlsL charlLy ls Lhe fullness of Lhe law (cf 8om 13810)43 1hrough ChrlsL Lhelr one model
Lhe [usL are lnvlLed Lo enLer Lhe order of love agape

2 CreaLlng a [usL order ln Lhe splrlL of Lhe 8eaLlLudes

26 1he dlsclple of ChrlsL ln unlon wlLh hls MasLer musL help Lo creaLe a [usL socleLy where all
wlll be able Lo parLlclpaLe acLlvely uslng Lhelr parLlcular LalenLs ln soclal and economlc llfe
1hey wlll Lhus be able Lo obLaln whaL Lhey need ln order Lo llve ln accordance wlLh Lhelr human
dlgnlLy ln a socleLy where [usLlce ls anlmaLed by love44 ChrlsL does noL propose a revoluLlon
of a soclal or pollLlcal klnd buL a revoluLlon of love broughL abouL by hls compleLe selfglvlng
Lhrough hls deaLh on Lhe Cross and hls resurrecLlon 1he 8eaLlLudes are bullL upon on Lhls
revoluLlon of love (cf ML 3310) 1hey provlde a new horlzon of [usLlce lnauguraLed ln Lhe
paschal mysLery Lhrough whlch we can become [usL and can bulld a beLLer world Cod's [usLlce
revealed Lo us ln Lhe 8eaLlLudes ralses Lhe lowly and humbles Lhose who exalL Lhemselves lL
wlll be perfecLed lL ls Lrue ln Lhe klngdom of Cod whlch ls Lo be fully reallzed aL Lhe end of
Llme 8uL Cod's [usLlce ls already manlfesL here and now wherever Lhe poor are consoled and
admlLLed Lo Lhe banqueL of llfe

27 ln Lhe splrlL of Lhe 8eaLlLudes preferenLlal aLLenLlon ls Lo be glven Lo Lhe poor Lhe hungry
Lhe slck for example Lhose wlLh AluS Luberculosls or malarla Lo Lhe sLranger Lhe
dlsadvanLaged Lhe prlsoner Lhe lmmlgranL who ls looked down upon Lhe refugee or dlsplaced
person (cf ML 233146) 1he response Lo Lhese people's needs ln [usLlce and charlLy depends
on everyone Afrlca expecLs Lhls aLLenLlon from Lhe whole human famlly as from herself43
Powever lL wlll have Lo begln by resoluLely lmplemenLlng pollLlcal soclal and admlnlsLraLlve
[usLlce aL home Lhls ls parL of Lhe pollLlcal culLure needed for developmenL and for peace lor
her parL Lhe Church wlll make her speclflc conLrlbuLlon on Lhe basls of Lhe Leachlng of Lhe
8eaLlLudes

C Love ln LruLh Lhe source of peace

28 1he soclal horlzon opened up by ChrlsL's work based on love surpasses Lhe mlnlmum
demands of human [usLlce LhaL ls Lo say glvlng Lhe oLher hls due 1he lnner loglc of love goes
beyond Lhls [usLlce even Lo Lhe polnL of glvlng away one's possesslons46 LeL us noL love ln
word or speech buL ln deed and ln LruLh" (1 !n 318) ln Lhe lmage of hls MasLer Lhe dlsclple of
ChrlsL wlll go furLher sLlll Lo Lhe polnL of laylng down hls llfe for hls breLhren (cf 1 !n 316) 1hls
ls Lhe prlce of Lrue peace ln Cod (cf Lph 214)

1 ConcreLe fraLernal servlce

29 no socleLy however developed lL may be can do wlLhouL fraLernal servlce lnsplred by love
Whoever wanLs Lo ellmlnaLe love ls preparlng Lo ellmlnaLe man as such 1here wlll always be
sufferlng whlch crles ouL for consolaLlon and help 1here wlll always be lonellness 1here wlll
always be slLuaLlons of maLerlal need where help ln Lhe form of concreLe love of nelghbour ls
lndlspensable"47 lL ls love whlch sooLhes hearLs LhaL are hurL forlorn or abandoned lL ls love
whlch brlngs or resLores peace Lo human hearLs and esLabllshes lL ln our mldsL

2 1he Church as a senLlnel

30 ln Afrlca's presenL slLuaLlon Lhe Church ls called Lo make Lhe volce of ChrlsL heard She
wlshes Lo follow !esus' counsel Lo nlcodemus who asked hlm wheLher lL was posslble Lo be
born agaln ?ou musL be born from above" (!n 37) lL was Lhe mlsslonarles who offered
Afrlcans Lhls new blrLh of waLer and Lhe SplrlL" (!n 33) Cood news LhaL everyone has a rlghL
Lo hear ln order Lo reallze hls vocaLlon fully48 1he Church ln Afrlca draws her llfe from Lhls
herlLage lor Lhe sake of ChrlsL and ln fldellLy Lo Lhe lesson of llfe whlch he LaughL us she feels
Lhe duLy Lo be presenL wherever human sufferlng exlsLs and Lo make heard Lhe sllenL cry of Lhe
lnnocenL who suffer persecuLlon or of peoples whose governmenLs morLgage Lhe presenL and
Lhe fuLure for personal lnLeresLs49 1hrough her ablllLy Lo see Lhe face of ChrlsL on Lhe face of
chlldren Lhe slck Lhe needy and Lhose who suffer Lhe Church ls helplng slowly buL surely Lo
forge a new Afrlca ln her propheLlc role whenever peoples cry ouL Lo her WaLchman whaL of
Lhe nlghL?" (ls 2111) Lhe Church wanLs Lo be ready Lo glve a reason for Lhe hope she bears
wlLhln her (cf 1 eL 313) because a new dawn ls breaklng on Lhe horlzon (cf 8ev 223) Cnly
by re[ecLlng people's dehumanlzaLlon and every compromlse prompLed by fear of sufferlng or
marLyrdom can Lhe cause of Lhe Cospel of LruLh be served ln Lhe world" sald ChrlsL you wlll
have LrlbulaLlon 8uL be of good cheer l have overcome Lhe world" (!n 1633) 1rue peace
comes from ChrlsL (cf !n 1427) lL cannoL be compared wlLh Lhe peace LhaL Lhe world glves lL
ls noL Lhe frulL of negoLlaLlons and dlplomaLlc agreemenLs based on parLlcular lnLeresLs lL ls Lhe
peace of a humanlLy reconclled wlLh lLself ln Cod a peace of whlch Lhe Church ls Lhe
sacramenL30

ChapLer ll

A1PS 1CWA8uS 8LCCnClLlA1lCn
!uS1lCL Anu LACL

31 AL Lhls polnL l would llke Lo lndlcaLe some of Lhe paLhs LhaL Lhe Synod laLhers ldenLlfled for
Lhe Church's mlsslon Loday ln her concern Lo help Afrlca be freed from Lhe forces LhaL are
paralyzlng her uld noL ChrlsL say flrsL of all Lo Lhe paralyLlc ?our slns are forglven" and Lhen
8lse!" (Lk 320 24)?

l Care for Lhe human person

A MeLanola an auLhenLlc converslon

32 1he prlnclpal concern of Lhe Synod members as Lhey looked Lo Lhe slLuaLlon of Lhe
conLlnenL was Lo seek ways of lnsplrlng ln ChrlsL's dlsclples ln Afrlca Lhe wlll Lo become
effecLlvely commlLLed Lo llvlng ouL Lhe Cospel ln Lhelr dally llves and ln socleLy ChrlsL calls
consLanLly for meLanola converslon31 ChrlsLlans are affecLed by Lhe splrlL and cusLoms of
Lhelr Llme and place 8uL by Lhe grace of Lhelr 8apLlsm Lhey are called Lo re[ecL harmful
prevalllng currenLs and Lo swlm agalnsL Lhe Llde 1hls klnd of wlLness demands unswervlng
commlLmenL ln ongolng converslon Lo Lhe laLher Lhe source of Lrue llfe who alone ls capable
of dellverlng us from evll and all LempLaLlons and keeplng us ln hls SplrlL ln Lhe very hearL of
Lhe sLruggle agalnsL Lhe forces of evll"32 Such converslon ls posslble only lf one ls susLalned
by Lhe convlcLlons of falLh supporLed by a genulne caLechesls lL ls rlghL Lhen Lo malnLaln a
llvlng connecLlon beLween memorlzed caLechlsm and llved caLechesls whlch leads Lo a
profound and permanenL converslon of llfe"33 Converslon ls experlenced ln a unlque way
Lhrough Lhe sacramenL of 8econclllaLlon whlch calls for parLlcular aLLenLlon so LhaL lL can serve
as a genulne school of Lhe hearL" AL Lhls school Lhe dlsclple of ChrlsL gradually forges an adulL
ChrlsLlan llfe marked by an aLLenLlon Lo Lhe splrlLual and moral dlmenslons of hls acLlons and
Lhus becomes capable of confronLlng Lhe dlfflculLles of soclal pollLlcal economlc and culLural
llfe"34 Lhrough a llfe permeaLed wlLh Lhe splrlL of Lhe Cospel 1he conLrlbuLlon of ChrlsLlans ln
Afrlca wlll only be declslve lf Lhelr undersLandlng of Lhe falLh shapes Lhelr undersLandlng of Lhe
world33 lor LhaL Lo happen educaLlon ln Lhe falLh ls lndlspensable lesL ChrlsL become [usL
one more name Lo adorn our Lheorles 1he word of Cod and Lhe LesLlmony of llfe go
LogeLher36 8uL LesLlmony on lLs own ls noL enough elLher for even Lhe flnesL wlLness wlll
prove lneffecLlve ln Lhe long run lf lL ls noL explalned and [usLlfled whaL eLer called always
havlng 'your answer ready for people who ask you Lhe reason for Lhe hope LhaL you all have'
and made expllclL by a clear and unequlvocal proclamaLlon of Lhe Lord !esus"37

8 Lxperlenclng Lhe LruLh of Lhe sacramenL of penance and reconclllaLlon

33 1he Synod members also emphaslzed Lhe facL LhaL a greaL many ChrlsLlans ln Afrlca Lake an
amblvalenL sLance Lowards Lhe sacramenL of 8econclllaLlon whereas Lhese same ChrlsLlans are
ofLen very scrupulous ln Lhe use of LradlLlonal rlLes of reconclllaLlon ln order Lo asslsL Lhe
CaLhollc falLhful Lo walk an auLhenLlc paLh of meLanola ln celebraLlng Lhls sacramenL Lhrough
whlch Lhe whole person ls refocused upon Lhe goal of encounLer wlLh ChrlsL38 lL would be
helpful lf Lhe blshops were Lo commlsslon a serlous sLudy of LradlLlonal Afrlcan reconclllaLlon
ceremonles ln order Lo evaluaLe Lhelr poslLlve aspecLs and Lhelr llmlLaLlons 1hese LradlLlonal
pedagoglcal forms of medlaLlon39 cannoL ln any way Lake Lhe place of Lhe sacramenL 1he
osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon 8econclllaLlo eL aenlLenLla of 8lessed !ohn aul ll clearly
resLaLed Lhe proper mlnlsLer and forms of Lhe sacramenL of enance and 8econclllaLlon60
1he only way LhaL LradlLlonal pedagoglcal forms of medlaLlon can serve Lo reduce Lhe angulsh
experlenced by cerLaln members of Lhe falLhful ls by helplng Lhem Lo open Lhemselves more
deeply and more Lruly Lo ChrlsL Lhe one greaL MedlaLor and Lo recelve Lhe grace of Lhe
sacramenL of enance CelebraLed ln falLh Lhls sacramenL has Lhe power Lo reconclle us wlLh
Cod and wlLh our nelghbour61 lL ls Cod who ln hls Son deflnlLlvely reconclles us wlLh hlmself
and wlLh one anoLher

C A splrlLuallLy of communlon

34 8econclllaLlon ls noL an lsolaLed acL buL a lengLhy process by whlch all parLles are re
esLabllshed ln love a love LhaL heals Lhrough Lhe worklng of Cod's word 8econclllaLlon Lhen
becomes aL once a way of llfe and a mlsslon ln order Lo arrlve aL genulne reconclllaLlon and Lo
llve ouL Lhe splrlLuallLy of communlon LhaL flows from lL Lhe Church needs wlLnesses who are
profoundly rooLed ln ChrlsL and flnd nourlshmenL ln hls word and Lhe sacramenLs As Lhey sLrlve
Lo grow ln hollness Lhese wlLnesses can become engaged ln bulldlng communlon among Cod's
famlly communlcaLlng Lo Lhe world lf necessary even Lo Lhe polnL of marLyrdom Lhe splrlL
of reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace afLer Lhe example of ChrlsL

33 Pere l would llke Lo menLlon Lhe condlLlons for a splrlLuallLy of communlon whlch ope !ohn
aul ll proposed Lo Lhe whole Church Lhe ablllLy Lo percelve Lhe llghL of Lhe mysLery of Lhe
1rlnlLy shlnlng on Lhe faces of broLhers and slsLers around us62 Lo be aLLenLlve Lo our
broLhers and slsLers ln falLh wlLhln Lhe profound unlLy of Lhe MysLlcal 8ody and Lherefore as
'Lhose who are a parL of me' ln order Lo share Lhelr [oys and sufferlngs Lo sense Lhelr deslres
and aLLend Lo Lhelr needs Lo offer Lhem deep and genulne frlendshlp"63 Lhe ablllLy as well Lo
recognlze all LhaL ls poslLlve ln Lhe oLher so as Lo welcome lL and prlze lL as a glfL LhaL Cod glves
me Lhrough LhaL person ln a way LhaL Lranscends by far Lhe lndlvldual concerned who Lhus
becomes a channel of dlvlne graces and flnally Lhe ablllLy Lo 'make room' for our broLhers
and slsLers bearlng 'each oLher's burdens' (Cal 62) and reslsLlng Lhe selflsh LempLaLlons whlch
consLanLly beseL us and provoke compeLlLlon careerlsm dlsLrusL and [ealousy"64

ln Lhls way men and women maLure ln falLh and communlon demonsLraLlng courage ln Lhe
LruLh and ln selfdenlal enllghLened by [oy 1hus Lhey bear propheLlc wlLness Lo a llfe conslsLenL
wlLh Lhelr falLh 1hey have a model ln Mary MoLher of Lhe Church who welcomed Lhe word of
Cod by llsLenlng Lo LhaL word she was able Lo undersLand our needs and Lo lnLercede for us ln
her compasslon63

u 1he lnculLuraLlon of Lhe Cospel and Lhe evangellzaLlon of culLure

36 ln order Lo brlng abouL Lhls communlon lL would be helpful Lo recall LhaL Lhe llrsL Synodal
Assembly for Afrlca spoke of Lhe need for an lndepLh sLudy of Afrlcan LradlLlons and culLures
1he Synod members noLed a dlchoLomy beLween cerLaln LradlLlonal pracLlces of Afrlcan
culLures and Lhe speclflc demands of ChrlsL's message ln her concern for relevance and
credlblllLy Lhe Church needs Lo carry ouL a Lhorough dlscernmenL ln order Lo ldenLlfy Lhose
aspecLs of Lhe culLure whlch represenL an obsLacle Lo Lhe lncarnaLlon of Cospel values as well
as Lhose aspecLs whlch promoLe Lhem66

37 noneLheless we musL always remember LhaL Lhe Poly SplrlL ls Lhe Lrue agenL of
lnculLuraLlon presldlng ln a frulLful way aL Lhe dlalogue beLween Lhe word of Cod revealed ln
ChrlsL and Lhe deepesL quesLlons whlch arlse among Lhe mulLlLude of human belngs and
culLures ln Lhls way Lhe enLecosLevenL conLlnues ln hlsLory ln Lhe unlLy of one and Lhe same
falLh enrlched by Lhe dlverslLy of languages and culLures"67 1he Poly SplrlL enables Lhe
Cospel Lo permeaLe all culLures wlLhouL becomlng subservlenL Lo any68 8lshops should be
vlgllanL over Lhls need for lnculLuraLlon respecLlng Lhe norms esLabllshed by Lhe Church 8y
dlscernlng whlch culLural elemenLs and LradlLlons are conLrary Lo Lhe Cospel Lhey wlll be able
Lo separaLe Lhe good seed from Lhe weeds (cf ML 1326) Whlle remalnlng Lrue Lo lLself ln LoLal
fldellLy Lo Lhe Cospel message and Lhe Church's LradlLlon ChrlsLlanlLy wlll Lhus adopL Lhe face
of Lhe counLless culLures and peoples among whom lL has found a welcome and Laken rooL 1he
Church wlll Lhen become an lcon of Lhe fuLure whlch Lhe SplrlL of Cod ls preparlng for us69 an
lcon Lo whlch Afrlca has a conLrlbuLlon of her own Lo make ln Lhls process of lnculLuraLlon lL ls
lmporLanL noL Lo forgeL Lhe equally essenLlal Lask of evangellzlng Lhe world of conLemporary
Afrlcan culLure

38 1he Church's lnlLlaLlves for a poslLlve appreclaLlon and safeguardlng of Afrlcan culLures are
well known lL ls very lmporLanL LhaL Lhls conLlnue aL a Llme when Lhe lnLermlngllng of peoples
whlle a source of enrlchmenL ofLen weakens culLures and socleLles 1he ldenLlLy of Afrlcan
communlLles ls aL sLake ln Lhese lnLerculLural encounLers lL ls lmperaLlve Lherefore Lo make a
commlLmenL Lo LransmlL Lhe values LhaL Lhe CreaLor has lnsLllled ln Lhe hearLs of Afrlcans slnce
Lhe dawn of Llme 1hese have served as a maLrlx for fashlonlng socleLles marked by a degree of
harmony slnce Lhey embody LradlLlonal formulae for peaceful coexlsLence 1hese poslLlve
elemenLs Lherefore need Lo be emphaslzed llL up from wlLhln (cf !n 812) so LhaL ChrlsLlans
may Lruly recelve Lhe message of ChrlsL and ln Lhls way Cod's llghL may shlne before Lhe eyes
of all 1hen seelng Lhe good deeds of ChrlsLlans men and women wlll be able Lo glve glory Lo
Lhe laLher who ls ln heaven" (ML 316)

L 1he glfL of ChrlsL Lhe LucharlsL and Lhe word of Cod

39 8eyond dlfferences of orlgln or culLure Lhe greaL challenge faclng us all ls Lo dlscern ln Lhe
human person loved by Cod Lhe basls of a communlon LhaL respecLs and lnLegraLes Lhe
parLlcular conLrlbuLlons of dlfferenL culLures70 We musL really open Lhese boundarles
beLween Lrlbes eLhnlc groups and rellglons Lo Lhe unlversallLy of Cod's love"71 Men and
women ln Lhe varleLy of Lhelr orlglns culLures languages and rellglons are capable of llvlng
LogeLher ln harmony

40 1ruly Lhe Son of Cod has plLched hls LenL among us he has poured ouL hls blood for us ln
accordance wlLh hls promlse Lo remaln wlLh us unLll Lhe end of Llme (cf ML 2820) he glves
hlmself Lo us every day as nourlshmenL ln Lhe LucharlsL and ln Lhe ScrlpLures ln my osL
Synodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon verbum uomlnl l wroLe LhaL word and LucharlsL are so deeply
bound LogeLher LhaL we cannoL undersLand one wlLhouL Lhe oLher Lhe word of Cod Lakes flesh
sacramenLally ln Lhe evenL of Lhe LucharlsL 1he LucharlsL opens us Lo an undersLandlng of
ScrlpLure [usL as ScrlpLure for lLs parL lllumlnes and explalns Lhe mysLery of Lhe LucharlsL"72

41 Sacred ScrlpLure LesLlfles LhaL Lhe blood whlch ChrlsL shed for us becomes Lhrough 8apLlsm
Lhe prlnclple and bond of a new fraLernlLy 1hls ls Lhe very anLlLhesls of dlvlslon Lrlballsm
raclsm and eLhnocenLrlsm (cf Cal 32628) 1he LucharlsL ls Lhe force whlch brlngs LogeLher Lhe
scaLLered chlldren of Cod and malnLalns Lhem ln communlon73 slnce ln our velns Lhere
clrculaLes Lhe very 8lood of ChrlsL who makes us chlldren of Cod members of Cod's
lamlly"74 As we recelve !esus ln Lhe LucharlsL and ln Lhe ScrlpLures we are senL ouL lnLo Lhe
world Lo proclalm ChrlsL by placlng ourselves aL Lhe servlce of oLhers (cf !n 1313 1 !n
316)73

ll Llvlng ln harmony

A 1he famlly

42 1he famlly ls Lhe sancLuary of llfe" and a vlLal cell of socleLy and of Lhe Church lL ls here
LhaL Lhe feaLures of a people Lake shape lL ls here LhaL lLs members acqulre baslc Leachlngs
1hey learn Lo love lnasmuch as Lhey are uncondlLlonally loved Lhey learn respecL for oLhers
lnasmuch as Lhey are respecLed Lhey learn Lo know Lhe face of Cod lnasmuch as Lhey recelve a
flrsL revelaLlon of lL from a faLher and a moLher full of aLLenLlon ln Lhelr regard Whenever Lhese
fundamenLal experlences are lacklng socleLy as a whole suffers vlolence and becomes ln Lurn
Lhe progenlLor of more vlolence"76

43 1he famlly ls Lhe besL seLLlng for learnlng and applylng Lhe culLure of forglveness peace and
reconclllaLlon ln a healLhy famlly llfe we experlence some of Lhe fundamenLal elemenLs of
peace [usLlce and love beLween broLhers and slsLers Lhe role of auLhorlLy expressed by
parenLs lovlng concern for Lhe members who are weaker because of youLh slckness or old age
muLual help ln Lhe necesslLles of llfe readlness Lo accepL oLhers and lf necessary Lo forglve
Lhem lor Lhls reason Lhe famlly ls Lhe flrsL and lndlspensable Leacher of peace"77 8y vlrLue
of lLs cenLral lmporLance and Lhe varlous LhreaLs loomlng over lL dlsLorLlon of Lhe very noLlon
of marrlage and famlly devaluaLlon of maLernlLy and LrlvlallzaLlon of aborLlon easy dlvorce and
Lhe relaLlvlsm of a new eLhlcs" Lhe famlly needs Lo be proLecLed and defended78 so LhaL lL
may offer socleLy Lhe servlce expecLed of lL LhaL of provldlng men and women capable of
bulldlng a soclal fabrlc of peace and harmony

44 l Lherefore sLrongly encourage famllles Lo draw lnsplraLlon and sLrengLh from Lhe sacramenL
of Lhe LucharlsL so as Lo llve Lhe radlcal newness broughL by ChrlsL lnLo Lhe hearL of everyday
llfe leadlng each person Lo be a radlanL wlLness ln hls or her worklng envlronmenL and ln Lhe
whole of socleLy 1he love beLween man and woman openness Lo llfe and Lhe ralslng of
chlldren are prlvlleged spheres ln whlch Lhe LucharlsL can reveal lLs power Lo Lransform llfe and
glve lL lLs full meanlng"79 lL ls clear LhaL parLlclpaLlon ln Lhe Sunday LucharlsL ls boLh
demanded by Lhe ChrlsLlan consclence and aL Lhe same Llme serves Lo form lL80

43 Moreover Lo glve prayer lndlvldual and communal lLs rlghLful place wlLhln Lhe famlly ls
Lo respecL an essenLlal prlnclple of Lhe ChrlsLlan vlslon of llfe Lhe prlmacy of grace rayer
consLanLly remlnds us of ChrlsL's prlmacy and llnked Lo Lhls Lhe prlmacy of Lhe lnLerlor llfe and
hollness ulalogue wlLh Cod opens Lhe hearL Lo sLreams of grace and allows Lhe word of ChrlsL
Lo be channelled Lhrough us wlLh all lLs sLrengLh lor Lhls asslduous llsLenlng and aLLenLlve
readlng of sacred ScrlpLure wlLhln famllles ls necessary81

46 ln addlLlon Lhe educaLlonal mlsslon of Lhe ChrlsLlan famlly" ls a Lrue mlnlsLry Lhrough
whlch Lhe Cospel ls LransmlLLed and radlaLed so LhaL famlly llfe lLself becomes an lLlnerary of
falLh and ln some way a ChrlsLlan lnlLlaLlon and a school of followlng ChrlsL ln Lhe famlly
consclous of Lhls glfL as ope aul vl noLed 'all Lhe members evangellze and are evangellzed'
8y vlrLue of Lhelr mlnlsLry of educaLlng parenLs are Lhrough Lhe wlLness of Lhelr llves Lhe flrsL
heralds of Lhe Cospel for Lhelr chlldren Lhey become fully parenLs ln LhaL Lhey are begeLLers
noL only of bodlly llfe buL also of Lhe llfe LhaL Lhrough Lhe SplrlL's renewal flows from Lhe Cross
and 8esurrecLlon of ChrlsL"82

8 1he elderly

47 ln Afrlca Lhe elderly are held ln parLlcular veneraLlon 1hey are noL banlshed from famllles
or marglnallzed as ln oLher culLures Cn Lhe conLrary Lhey are esLeemed and perfecLly
lnLegraLed wlLhln Lhelr famllles of whlch Lhey are lndeed Lhe plnnacle 1hls beauLlful Afrlcan
appreclaLlon of old age should lnsplre WesLern socleLles Lo LreaL Lhe elderly wlLh greaLer
dlgnlLy Sacred ScrlpLure speaks frequenLly of Lhe elderly 8lch ln experlence ls Lhe crown of
Lhe aged and Lhelr boasL ls Lhe fear of Lhe Lord" (Slr 236) Cld age desplLe Lhe frallLy whlch
seems Lo accompany lL ls a glfL LhaL should be llved each day ln serene openness Lo Cod and
nelghbour lL ls also a Llme of wlsdom slnce lengLh of years Leaches one Lhe grandeur and Lhe
fraglllLy of llfe As a man of falLh Lhe elderly Slmeon wlLh [oy and wlsdom offers noL a sorrowful
farewell Lo llfe buL raLher a song of Lhanksglvlng Lo Lhe Savlour of Lhe world (cf Lk 22332)

48 lL ls because of Lhls wlsdom someLlmes obLalned aL a hlgh prlce LhaL Lhe elderly can
lnfluence Lhe famlly ln a varleLy of ways 1helr experlence naLurally leads Lhem noL only Lo
brldge Lhe generaLlon gap buL also Lo afflrm Lhe need for muLual supporL 1hey are an
enrlchmenL for all elemenLs of Lhe famlly especlally for young couples and for chlldren who
flnd ln Lhem undersLandlng and love noL only have Lhey glven llfe buL Lhey conLrlbuLe by Lhelr
acLlons Lo bulldlng up Lhelr famlly (cf 1lL 223) and by Lhelr prayer and Lhelr llfe of falLh Lhey
splrlLually enrlch every member of Lhelr famlly and communlLy

49 ln Afrlca sLablllLy and soclal order are sLlll frequenLly enLrusLed Lo a councll of elders or
LradlLlonal chlefs 1hrough Lhls sLrucLure Lhe elderly can conLrlbuLe effecLlvely Lo Lhe bulldlng
of a more [usL socleLy whlch evolves noL on Lhe basls of whaLever experlences happen Lo come
lLs way buL gradually and wlLh a prudenL equlllbrlum 1he elderly are Lhus able Lo parLlclpaLe ln
Lhe reconclllaLlon of lndlvlduals and communlLles Lhrough Lhelr wlsdom and experlence

30 1he Church regards Lhe elderly wlLh greaL esLeem Lcholng Lhe words of 8lessed !ohn aul
ll leL me repeaL LhaL Lhe Church needs you! 8uL clvll socleLy also needs you! May you be
able Lo use generously Lhe Llme you have aL your dlsposal and Lhe LalenLs Cod has granLed Lo
you Pelp proclalm Lhe Cospel uevoLe Llme and energy Lo prayer"83

C Men

31 ln Lhe famlly men have recelved a parLlcular mlsslon ln Lhelr role as husbands and faLhers
Lhey exerclse Lhe noble responslblllLy of glvlng socleLy Lhe values lL needs Lhrough marrlage and
Lhe ralslng of chlldren

32 ln unlon wlLh Lhe Synod laLhers l encourage CaLhollc men wlLhln Lhelr famllles Lo make a
real conLrlbuLlon Lo Lhe human and ChrlsLlan upbrlnglng of Lhelr chlldren and Lo Lhe welcomlng
and proLecLlon of llfe from Lhe momenL of concepLlon 84 l lnvlLe Lhem Lo adopL a ChrlsLlan
sLyle of llfe rooLed and grounded ln love (cf Lph 317) WlLh SalnL aul l exhorL Lhem once
more Love your wlves as ChrlsL loved Lhe Church and gave hlmself up for her husbands
should love Lhelr wlves as Lhelr own bodles Pe who loves hls wlfe loves hlmself lor no man
ever haLes hls own flesh buL nourlshes and cherlshes lL as ChrlsL does Lhe Church" (Lph 323
28) uo noL be afrald Lo demonsLraLe Langlbly LhaL Lhere ls no greaLer love Lhan Lo lay down
one's llfe for Lhose one loves (cf !n 1313) LhaL ls Lo say flrsL and foremosL for one's wlfe and
chlldren CulLlvaLe a serene aLmosphere of [oy ln your home! Marrlage ls a glfL from Lhe Lord"
ln Lhe words of SalnL lulgenLlus of 8uspe83 ?our wlLness Lo Lhe lnvlolable dlgnlLy of every
human person wlll serve as an effecLlve anLldoLe Lo LradlLlonal pracLlces whlch are conLrary Lo
Lhe Cospel and oppresslve Lo women ln parLlcular

33 ln manlfesLlng and ln llvlng on earLh Cod's own faLherhood (cf Lph 313) you are called Lo
guaranLee Lhe personal developmenL of all members of Lhe famlly whlch ls Lhe cradle and mosL
effecLlve means for humanlzlng socleLy and Lhe place of encounLer for dlfferenL
generaLlons86 8y Lhe creaLlve dynamlc of Lhe word of Cod lLself87 may your sense of
responslblllLy grow Lo Lhe polnL where you make concreLe commlLmenLs ln Lhe Church She
needs convlnced and effecLlve wlLnesses of Lhe falLh who wlll promoLe reconclllaLlon [usLlce
and peace88 and wlll offer Lhelr enLhuslasLlc and courageous conLrlbuLlon Lo Lhe
LransformaLlon of Lhelr own mllleu and of socleLy as a whole ?ou are Lhese wlLnesses Lhrough
your work whlch enables you consLanLly Lo provlde for yourselves and for your famllles WhaL
ls more by offerlng Lhls work Lo Cod you are assoclaLed wlLh Lhe redempLlve work of !esus
ChrlsL who gave an emlnenL dlgnlLy Lo labour by Lhe work of hls own hands aL nazareLh89

34 1he quallLy and lmpacL of your ChrlsLlan llves depend on a llfe of profound prayer
nourlshed by Lhe word of Cod and Lhe sacramenLs So be vlgllanL ln keeplng allve Lhls essenLlal
dlmenslon of your ChrlsLlan commlLmenL lL ls Lhere LhaL your wlLness of falLh ln everyday Lasks
and your parLlclpaLlon ln eccleslal movemenLs flnd Lhelr source! ln Lhe process you also
become models whom Lhe young wlll wanL Lo lmlLaLe and so you wlll be able Lo help Lhem
embark upon a responslble adulL llfe uo noL be afrald Lo speak Lo Lhem abouL Cod and Lo
lnLroduce Lhem by your own example Lo Lhe llfe of falLh and Lo commlLmenL ln soclal or
charlLable acLlvlLles and ln Lhls way lead Lhem Lo dlscover LhaL Lhey are Lruly creaLed ln Lhe
lmage and llkeness of Cod 1he slgns of Lhls dlvlne lmage ln man can be recognlzed noL ln Lhe
form of Lhe body whlch ls sub[ecL Lo corrupLlon buL ln Lhe prudence of lnLelllgence ln [usLlce
moderaLlon courage wlsdom educaLlon"90

u Women

33 Women ln Afrlca make a greaL conLrlbuLlon Lo Lhe famlly Lo socleLy and Lo Lhe Church by
Lhelr many LalenLs and unlque glfLs As !ohn aul ll sald woman ls Lhe one ln whom Lhe order
of love ln Lhe creaLed world of persons Lakes flrsL rooL"91 1he Church and socleLy need
women Lo Lake Lhelr full place ln Lhe world so LhaL Lhe human race can llve ln Lhe world
wlLhouL compleLely loslng lLs humanlLy"92

36 Whlle lL ls undenlable LhaL ln cerLaln Afrlcan counLrles progress has been made Lowards Lhe
advancemenL of women and Lhelr educaLlon lL remalns Lhe case LhaL overall women's dlgnlLy
and rlghLs as well as Lhelr essenLlal conLrlbuLlon Lo Lhe famlly and Lo socleLy have noL been fully
acknowledged or appreclaLed 1hus women and glrls are ofLen afforded fewer opporLunlLles
Lhan men and boys 1here are sLlll Loo many pracLlces LhaL debase and degrade women ln Lhe
name of ancesLral LradlLlon WlLh Lhe Synod laLhers l urge all ChrlsLlans Lo combaL all acLs of
vlolence agalnsL women speaklng ouL and condemnlng Lhem93 ln Lhls area Lhe conducL of
Lhe members of Lhe Church oughL Lo be a model for socleLy as a whole

37 When l vlslLed Afrlca l lnslsLed LhaL we musL recognlze afflrm and defend Lhe equal
dlgnlLy of man and woman Lhey are boLh persons uLLerly unlque among all Lhe llvlng belngs
found ln Lhe world"94 unforLunaLely Lhe evoluLlon of ways of Lhlnklng ln Lhls area ls much
Loo slow 1he Church has Lhe duLy Lo conLrlbuLe Lo Lhe recognlLlon and llberaLlon of women
followlng Lhe example of ChrlsL's own esLeem for Lhem (cf ML 132128 Lk 73630 813
103842 !n 4742) Clvlng women opporLunlLles Lo make Lhelr volce heard and Lo express
Lhelr LalenLs Lhrough lnlLlaLlves whlch relnforce Lhelr worLh Lhelr selfesLeem and Lhelr
unlqueness would enable Lhem Lo occupy a place ln socleLy equal Lo LhaL of men wlLhouL
confuslng or conflaLlng Lhe speclflc characLer of each slnce boLh men and women are Lhe
lmage" of Lhe CreaLor (cf Cen 127) 8lshops should encourage and promoLe Lhe formaLlon of
women so LhaL Lhey may assume Lhelr proper share of responslblllLy and parLlclpaLlon ln Lhe
communlLy llfe of socleLy and of Lhe Church"93 Women wlll Lhus conLrlbuLe Lo Lhe
humanlzaLlon of socleLy

38 ?ou CaLhollc women carry on Lhe Cospel LradlLlon of Lhose women who asslsLed !esus and
Lhe aposLles (cf Lk 83) ln Lhe local Churches you are a klnd of backbone"96 because your
numbers your acLlve presence and your organlzaLlons are a greaL supporL for Lhe Church's
aposLolaLe When peace ls under LhreaL when [usLlce ls flouLed when poverLy lncreases you
sLand up Lo defend human dlgnlLy Lhe famlly and Lhe values of rellglon May Lhe Poly SplrlL
unceaslngly call forLh holy and courageous women ln Lhe Church who can make Lhelr preclous
splrlLual conLrlbuLlon Lo Lhe growLh of our communlLles!

39 uear daughLers of Lhe Church slL consLanLly aL Lhe school of ChrlsL llke Mary of 8eLhany
and learn Lo recognlze hls word (cf Lk 1039) Crow ln knowledge of Lhe caLechlsm and Lhe
Church's soclal Leachlng so as Lo acqulre for yourselves Lhe prlnclples LhaL wlll asslsL you ln
acLlng as Lrue dlsclples 1hus you wlll be able Lo engage wlLh dlscernmenL ln Lhe varlous
pro[ecLs lnvolvlng women ConLlnue Lo defend llfe for Cod has made you channels of llfe 1he
Church wlll always supporL you Pelp young glrls by your counsel and example so LhaL Lhey may
approach adulL llfe serenely SupporL one anoLher! Show respecL Lo Lhe elderly ln your mldsL
1he Church counLs on you Lo creaLe a human ecology"97 Lhrough your sympaLheLlc love
your frlendly and LhoughLful demeanour and flnally Lhrough mercy values LhaL you know how
Lo lnsLll ln your chlldren values LhaL Lhe world so badly needs ln Lhls way by Lhe wealLh of your
speclflcally femlnlne glfLs98 you wlll fosLer Lhe reconclllaLlon of lndlvlduals and communlLles

L ?oung people

60 ?oung people make up Lhe ma[orlLy of Afrlca's populaLlon 1hls youLhfulness ls a glfL and a
Lreasure from Cod for whlch Lhe whole Church ls graLeful Lo Lhe Lord of llfe99 ?oung people
should be loved esLeemed and respecLed WhaLever Lhelr posslble amblgulLles Lhey have a
profound longlng for Lhose genulne values whlch flnd Lhelr fullness ln ChrlsL ls noL ChrlsL Lhe
secreL of Lrue freedom and profound [oy of hearL? ls noL ChrlsL Lhe supreme frlend and Lhe
Leacher of all genulne frlendshlp? lf ChrlsL ls presenLed Lo young people as he really ls Lhey
experlence hlm as an answer LhaL ls convlnclng and Lhey can accepL hls message even when lL
ls demandlng and bears Lhe mark of Lhe Cross"100

61 As l sald on Lhe sub[ecL of young people ln Lhe osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon verbum
uomlnl ?ouLh ls a Llme when genulne and lrrepresslble quesLlons arlse abouL Lhe meanlng of
llfe and Lhe dlrecLlon our own llves should Lake Cnly Cod can glve Lhe Lrue answer Lo Lhese
quesLlons Concern for young people calls for courage and clarlLy ln Lhe message we proclalm
we need Lo help young people Lo galn confldence and famlllarlLy wlLh sacred ScrlpLure so lL can
become a compass polnLlng ouL Lhe paLh Lo follow ?oung people need wlLnesses and Leachers
who can walk wlLh Lhem Leachlng Lhem Lo love Lhe Cospel and Lo share lL especlally wlLh Lhelr
peers and Lhus Lo become auLhenLlc and credlble messengers"101

62 ln hls 8ule SalnL 8enedlcL asks Lhe abboL of Lhe monasLery Lo llsLen Lo Lhe youngesL monks
As he says lL ls ofLen Lo a younger broLher LhaL Lhe Lord reveals Lhe besL course"102 So we
should make every efforL Lo lnvolve young people dlrecLly ln Lhe llfe of socleLy and of Lhe
Church so LhaL Lhey do noL fall prey Lo feellngs of frusLraLlon and re[ecLlon ln Lhe face of Lhelr
lnablllLy Lo shape Lhelr own fuLure especlally ln Lhose slLuaLlons where young people are
vulnerable due Lo lack of educaLlon unemploymenL pollLlcal explolLaLlon and varlous klnds of
addlcLlon103

63 uear young people enLlcemenLs of all klnds may LempL you ldeologles secLs money
drugs casual sex vlolence 8e vlgllanL Lhose who propose Lhese Lhlngs Lo you wanL Lo desLroy
your fuLure! ln splLe of dlfflculLles do noL be dlscouraged and do noL glve up your ldeals your
hard work and your commlLmenL Lo your human lnLellecLual and splrlLual formaLlon! ln order
Lo grow ln dlscernmenL along wlLh Lhe sLrengLh and Lhe freedom needed Lo reslsL Lhese
pressures l encourage you Lo place !esus ChrlsL aL Lhe cenLre of your llves Lhrough prayer buL
also Lhrough Lhe sLudy of sacred ScrlpLure frequenL recourse Lo Lhe sacramenLs formaLlon ln
Lhe Church's soclal Leachlng and your acLlve and enLhuslasLlc parLlclpaLlon ln eccleslal groups
and movemenLs CulLlvaLe a yearnlng for fraLernlLy [usLlce and peace 1he fuLure ls ln Lhe hands
of Lhose who flnd powerful reasons Lo llve and Lo hope lf you wanL lL Lhe fuLure ls ln your
hands because Lhe glfLs LhaL Lhe Lord has besLowed upon each one of you sLrengLhened by
your encounLer wlLh ChrlsL can brlng genulne hope Lo Lhe world!104

64 When lL comes Lo maklng llfe cholces when you flnd yourselves conslderlng Lhe quesLlon of
a LoLal consecraLlon Lo ChrlsL ln Lhe mlnlsLerlal prlesLhood or Lhe consecraLed llfe Lurn Lo
hlm Lake hlm as your model and llsLen Lo hls word by medlLaLlng regularly uurlng Lhe homlly
of Lhe lnaugural Mass of my ponLlflcaLe l spoke words Lo you LhaL l wanL Lo repeaL now for
Lhey remaln Llmely lf we leL ChrlsL lnLo our llves we lose noLhlng noLhlng absoluLely noLhlng
of whaL makes llfe free beauLlful and greaL no! Cnly ln Lhls frlendshlp are Lhe doors of llfe
opened wlde Cnly ln Lhls frlendshlp ls Lhe greaL poLenLlal of human exlsLence Lruly revealed
uear young people uo noL be afrald of ChrlsL! Pe Lakes noLhlng away and he glves you
everyLhlng When we glve ourselves Lo hlm we recelve a hundredfold ln reLurn ?es open
open wlde Lhe doors Lo ChrlsL and you wlll flnd Lrue llfe"103

l Chlldren

63 Llke young people chlldren are a glfL of Cod Lo humanlLy and Lhey musL be Lhe ob[ecL of
parLlcular concern on Lhe parL of Lhelr famllles Lhe Church socleLy and governmenLs for Lhey
are a source of hope and renewed llfe Cod ls parLlcularly close Lo Lhem and Lhelr llves are
preclous ln hls eyes even when clrcumsLances seem dlfflculL or lmposslble (cf Cen 171718
1812 ML 1810)

66 lndeed as far as Lhe rlghL Lo llfe ls concerned every lnnocenL human belng ls absoluLely
equal Lo all oLhers 1hls equallLy ls Lhe basls of all auLhenLlc soclal relaLlonshlps whlch Lo be
Lruly such can only be founded on LruLh and [usLlce recognlzlng and proLecLlng every man and
woman as a person and noL as an ob[ecL Lo be used"106

67 1hls belng Lhe case how can we fall Lo deplore and forcefully denounce Lhe lnLolerable
LreaLmenL Lo whlch so many chlldren ln Afrlca are sub[ecLed?107 1he Church ls MoLher and
could never abandon a slngle one of Lhem lL ls our Lask Lo leL ChrlsL's llghL shlne ln Lhelr llves by
offerlng Lhem hls love so LhaL Lhey can hear hlm say Lo Lhem ?ou are preclous ln my eyes and
honoured and l love you" (ls 434) Cod wanLs every chlld Lo be happy and Lo smlle and hls
favour resLs upon Lhem for Lo such belongs Lhe klngdom of Cod" (Mk 1014)

68 ChrlsL !esus always manlfesLed hls preferenLlal love for Lhe llLLle ones (cf Mk 101316) 1he
Cospel lLself ls deeply permeaLed by Lhe LruLh abouL chlldren WhaL lndeed ls meanL by Lhese
words unless you Lurn and become llke chlldren you wlll never enLer Lhe klngdom of heaven"
(ML 183)? uoes noL !esus make Lhe chlld a model even for adulLs? 1he chlld has someLhlng
whlch musL never be lacklng ln Lhose who would enLer Lhe klngdom of heaven Peaven ls
promlsed Lo all who are slmple llke chlldren Lo all who llke Lhem are fllled wlLh a splrlL of
LrusLlng abandonmenL pure and rlch ln goodness 1hey alone can flnd ln Cod a laLher and
become Lhrough !esus chlldren of Cod Sons and daughLers of our parenLs Cod wanLs us all Lo
become hls adopLed chlldren by grace!108

lll 1he Afrlcan vlslon of llfe

69 ln Lhe Afrlcan worldvlew llfe ls percelved as someLhlng LhaL embraces and lncludes
ancesLors Lhe llvlng and Lhose yeL Lo be born Lhe whole of creaLlon and all belngs Lhose LhaL
speak and Lhose LhaL are muLe Lhose LhaL Lhlnk and Lhose lacklng LhoughL 1he vlslble and
lnvlslble unlverse ls regarded as a llvlngspace for human belngs buL also as a space of
communlon where pasL generaLlons lnvlslbly flank presenL generaLlons Lhemselves Lhe
moLhers of fuLure generaLlons 1hls greaL openness of hearL and splrlL ln Lhe Afrlcan LradlLlon
predlsposes you dear broLhers and slsLers Lo hear and Lo recelve ChrlsL's message Lo
appreclaLe Lhe mysLery of Lhe Church and Lhus Lo value human llfe Lo Lhe full along wlLh Lhe
condlLlons ln whlch lL ls llved

A 1he proLecLlon of llfe

70 Among Lhe lnlLlaLlves almed aL proLecLlng human llfe on Lhe Afrlcan conLlnenL Lhe Synod
members Look lnLo conslderaLlon Lhe efforLs expended by lnLernaLlonal lnsLlLuLlons Lo promoLe
cerLaln aspecLs of developmenL109 ?eL Lhey noLed wlLh concern a lack of eLhlcal clarlLy aL
lnLernaLlonal meeLlngs and speclflcally Lhe use of confuslng language conveylng values aL odds
wlLh CaLhollc moral Leachlng 1he Church ls perennlally concerned for Lhe lnLegral developmenL
of every man and Lhe whole man" as ope aul vl puL lL110 1haL ls why Lhe Synod laLhers
Look palns Lo emphaslze Lhe quesLlonable elemenLs found ln cerLaln lnLernaLlonal documenLs
especlally Lhose concerned wlLh women's reproducLlve healLh 1he Church's poslLlon on Lhe
maLLer of aborLlon ls unamblguous 1he chlld ln hls or her moLher's womb ls a human llfe whlch
musL be proLecLed AborLlon whlch ls Lhe desLrucLlon of an lnnocenL unborn chlld ls conLrary
Lo Cod's wlll for Lhe value and dlgnlLy of human llfe musL be proLecLed from concepLlon Lo
naLural deaLh 1he Church ln Afrlca and Lhe nelghbourlng lslands musL be commlLLed Lo offerlng
help and supporL Lo women and couples LempLed Lo seek an aborLlon whlle remalnlng close Lo
Lhose who have had Lhls Lraglc experlence and helplng Lhem Lo grow ln respecL for llfe She
acknowledges Lhe courage of governmenLs LhaL have leglslaLed agalnsL Lhe culLure of deaLh of
whlch aborLlon ls a dramaLlc expresslon ln favour of Lhe culLure of llfe111

71 1he Church knows LhaL many lndlvlduals assoclaLlons speclallzed groups and sLaLes re[ecL
sound Leachlng on Lhls sub[ecL We musL noL fear hosLlllLy or unpopularlLy and we musL refuse
any compromlse or amblgulLy whlch mlghL conform us Lo Lhe Lhlnklng of Lhls world (cf 8om
122) We musL be ln Lhe world buL noL of Lhe world (cf !n 1319 1716) drawlng our sLrengLh
from ChrlsL who by hls deaLh and resurrecLlon has overcome Lhe world (cf !n 1633)"112

72 Serlous LhreaLs loom over human llfe ln Afrlca Pere as elsewhere one can only deplore Lhe
ravages of drug and alcohol abuse whlch desLroy Lhe conLlnenL's human poLenLlal and affllcL
young people ln parLlcular113 Malarla114 as well as Luberculosls and AluS declmaLe Lhe
Afrlcan peoples and gravely compromlse Lhelr socloeconomlc llfe 1he problem of AluS ln
parLlcular clearly calls for a medlcal and pharmaceuLlcal response 1hls ls noL enough however
Lhe problem goes deeper Above all lL ls an eLhlcal problem 1he change of behavlour LhaL lL
requlres for example sexual absLlnence re[ecLlon of sexual promlsculLy fldellLy wlLhln
marrlage ulLlmaLely lnvolves Lhe quesLlon of lnLegral developmenL whlch demands a global
approach and a global response from Lhe Church lor lf lL ls Lo be effecLlve Lhe prevenLlon of
AluS musL be based on a sex educaLlon LhaL ls lLself grounded ln an anLhropology anchored ln
Lhe naLural law and enllghLened by Lhe word of Cod and Lhe Church's Leachlng

73 ln Lhe name of llfe whlch lL ls Lhe Church's duLy Lo defend and proLecL and ln unlon wlLh
Lhe Synod laLhers l offer an expresslon of renewed encouragemenL and supporL Lo all Lhe
Church's lnsLlLuLlons and movemenLs LhaL are worklng ln Lhe fleld of healLhcare especlally wlLh
regard Lo AluS ?ou are dolng wonderful and lmporLanL work l ask lnLernaLlonal agencles Lo
acknowledge you and Lo offer you asslsLance respecLlng your speclflc characLer and acLlng ln a
splrlL of collaboraLlon Cnce agaln l warmly encourage Lhose lnsLlLuLes and programmes of
LherapeuLlc and pharmaceuLlcal research whlch seek Lo eradlcaLe pandemlcs Spare no efforL Lo
arrlve aL resulLs as swlfLly as posslble ouL of love for Lhe preclous glfL of llfe113 May you
dlscover soluLlons and provlde everyone wlLh access Lo LreaLmenLs and medlclnes Laklng
accounL of uncerLaln slLuaLlons! 1he Church lndeed has been pleadlng for a long Llme for hlgh
quallLy medlcal LreaLmenL Lo be made avallable aL mlnlmum cosL Lo all concerned116

74 1he defence of llfe also enLalls Lhe ellmlnaLlon of lgnorance Lhrough llLeracy programmes
and quallLy educaLlon LhaL embraces Lhe whole person 1hroughouL her hlsLory Lhe CaLhollc
Church has shown parLlcular concern for educaLlon She has always ralsed awareness among
parenLs provldlng Lhem wlLh encouragemenL and asslsLance ln carrylng ouL Lhelr responslblllLy
as Lhe flrsL educaLors of Lhelr chlldren ln llfe and ln falLh ln Afrlca Lhe Church's Leachlng
esLabllshmenLs her schools colleges hlgh schools professlonal schools unlverslLles and so
forLh place Lools for learnlng aL people's dlsposal wlLhouL dlscrlmlnaLlon on Lhe basls of orlgln
flnanclal means or rellglon 1he Church's makes her own conLrlbuLlon by recognlzlng and
maklng frulLful Lhe LalenLs LhaL Cod has placed ln Lhe hearL of each person Many rellglous
congregaLlons were founded wlLh Lhls end ln vlew CounLless holy men and women undersLood
LhaL leadlng people Lo hollness flrsL enLalled promoLlng Lhelr dlgnlLy Lhrough educaLlon

73 1he Synod members noLed LhaL Afrlca llke Lhe resL of Lhe world ls experlenclng a crlsls of
educaLlon117 1hey sLressed Lhe need for educaLlonal programmes comblnlng falLh and
reason so as Lo prepare chlldren and young people for adulL llfe 1hese solld foundaLlons wlll be
able Lo help Lhem address Lhe dally declslons arlslng ln every adulL llfe on Lhe affecLlve soclal
professlonal and pollLlcal plane

76 llllLeracy represenLs one of Lhe prlnclpal obsLacles Lo developmenL lL ls a scourge on a par
wlLh LhaL of Lhe pandemlcs 1rue lL does noL klll dlrecLly buL lL conLrlbuLes acLlvely Lo Lhe
marglnallzaLlon of Lhe person whlch ls a form of soclal deaLh and lL blocks access Lo
knowledge 1eachlng people Lo read and wrlLe makes Lhem full members of Lhe res publlca and
enables Lhem Lo play Lhelr parL ln bulldlng lL up118 for ChrlsLlans lL provldes access Lo Lhe
lnesLlmable Lreasure of Lhe sacred ScrlpLures LhaL nourlsh Lhelr llfe of falLh

77 l ask CaLhollc communlLles and lnsLlLuLlons Lo respond generously Lo Lhls greaL challenge
whlch ls a real LesLlng ground for clvlllzaLlon and ln accordance wlLh Lhelr means l ask Lhem Lo
mulLlply Lhelr efforLs lndependenLly or ln collaboraLlon wlLh oLher organlzaLlons Lo develop
effecLlve programmes adapLed Lo people's needs CaLhollc communlLles and lnsLlLuLlons wlll
only be able Lo meeL Lhls challenge lf Lhey malnLaln Lhelr eccleslal ldenLlLy and remaln zealously
falLhful Lo Lhe Cospel message and Lhe charlsm of Lhelr founder 1hls ChrlsLlan ldenLlLy ls a
preclous good whlch musL be preserved and safeguarded lesL Lhe salL lose lLs flavour and end
up belng Lrampled underfooL (cf ML 313)

78 lL ls surely necessary Lo ralse Lhe awareness of governmenLs so LhaL Lhey wlll lncrease Lhelr
supporL for schoollng 1he Church recognlzes and respecLs Lhe role of Lhe sLaLe ln Lhe
educaLlonal domaln She neverLheless afflrms her leglLlmaLe rlghL Lo play her parL offerlng her
parLlcular conLrlbuLlon And lL would be helpful Lo remlnd Lhe sLaLe LhaL Lhe Church has a rlghL
Lo educaLe accordlng Lo her own rules and ln her own bulldlngs 1hls ls a rlghL whlch ls parL of
LhaL freedom of acLlon whlch her responslblllLy for human salvaLlon requlres"119 Many
Afrlcan sLaLes recognlze Lhe emlnenL and dlslnLeresLed role played by Lhe Church Lhrough her
educaLlonal sLrucLures ln bulldlng up Lhelr naLlons l Lherefore sLrongly encourage governmenLs
ln Lhelr efforLs Lo supporL Lhls educaLlonal work

8 8especL for creaLlon and Lhe ecosysLem

79 1ogeLher wlLh Lhe Synod laLhers l ask all Lhe members of Lhe Church Lo work and speak ouL
ln favour of an economy LhaL cares for Lhe poor and ls resoluLely opposed Lo an un[usL order
whlch under Lhe preLexL of reduclng poverLy has ofLen helped Lo aggravaLe lL120 Cod has
glven Afrlca lmporLanL naLural resources Clven Lhe chronlc poverLy of lLs people who suffer
Lhe effecLs of explolLaLlon and embezzlemenL of funds boLh locally and abroad Lhe opulence of
cerLaln groups shocks Lhe human consclence Crganlzed for Lhe creaLlon of wealLh ln Lhelr
homelands and noL lnfrequenLly wlLh Lhe compllclLy of Lhose ln power ln Afrlca Lhese groups
Loo ofLen ensure Lhelr own prosperlLy aL Lhe expense of Lhe wellbelng of Lhe local
populaLlon121 AcLlng ln concerL wlLh all oLher componenLs of clvll socleLy Lhe Church musL
speak ouL agalnsL Lhe un[usL order LhaL prevenLs Lhe peoples of Afrlca from consolldaLlng Lhelr
economles122 and from developlng accordlng Lo Lhelr culLural characLerlsLlcs"123
Moreover lL ls lncumbenL upon Lhe Church Lo sLrlve LhaL every people may be Lhe prlnclpal
agenL of lLs own economlc and soclal progress and may help Lo brlng abouL Lhe unlversal
common good as an acLlve and responslble member of Lhe human famlly on an equal fooLlng
wlLh oLher peoples"124

80 Some buslness men and women governmenLs and flnanclal groups are lnvolved ln
programmes of explolLaLlon whlch polluLe Lhe envlronmenL and cause unprecedenLed
deserLlflcaLlon Serlous damage ls done Lo naLure Lo Lhe foresLs Lo flora and fauna and
counLless specles rlsk exLlncLlon All of Lhls LhreaLens Lhe enLlre ecosysLem and consequenLly
Lhe survlval of humanlLy123 l call upon Lhe Church ln Afrlca Lo encourage pollLlcal leaders Lo
proLecL such fundamenLal goods as land and waLer for Lhe human llfe of presenL and fuLure
generaLlons126 and for peace beLween peoples

C 1he good governance of sLaLes

81 1he body pollLlc whose essenLlal duLy ls Lhe lmplemenLaLlon and admlnlsLraLlon of a [usL
order can be a ma[or lnsLrumenL aL Lhe servlce of reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace127 1hls
order ln lLs Lurn ls aL Lhe servlce of Lhe vocaLlon Lo Lhe communlon of persons"128 ln order
Lo puL Lhls ldeal lnLo pracLlce Lhe Church ln Afrlca musL help Lo bulld up socleLy ln cooperaLlon
wlLh governmenL auLhorlLles and publlc and prlvaLe lnsLlLuLlons LhaL are engaged ln bulldlng up
Lhe common good129 1radlLlonal chlefs have a very poslLlve conLrlbuLlon Lo make Lo good
governance 1he Church for her parL ls commlLLed Lo promoLlng wlLhln her own ranks and
wlLhln socleLy a culLure LhaL respecLs Lhe rule of law130 8y way of example elecLlons
represenL a plaLform for Lhe expresslon of a people's pollLlcal declslons and Lhey are a slgn of
leglLlmacy for Lhe exerclse of power 1hey provlde a prlvlleged opporLunlLy for healLhy and
serene publlc pollLlcal debaLe marked by respecL for dlfferenL oplnlons and dlfferenL pollLlcal
grouplngs lf conducLed well elecLlons call forLh and encourage real and acLlve parLlclpaLlon by
clLlzens ln pollLlcal and soclal llfe lallure Lo respecL Lhe naLlonal consLlLuLlon Lhe law or Lhe
ouLcome of Lhe voLe when elecLlons have been free falr and LransparenL would slgnal a grave
fallure ln governance and a lack of compeLence ln Lhe admlnlsLraLlon of publlc affalrs131
82 1oday many declslon makers boLh pollLlcal and economlc assume LhaL Lhey owe noLhlng
Lo anyone oLher Lhan Lhemselves 1hey are concerned only wlLh Lhelr rlghLs and Lhey ofLen
have greaL dlfflculLy ln Laklng responslblllLy for Lhelr own and oLher people's lnLegral
developmenL Pence lL ls lmporLanL Lo call for a renewed reflecLlon on how rlghLs presuppose
duLles lf Lhey are noL Lo become mere llcence"132

83 8lslng crlme raLes ln lncreaslngly urban socleLles are a cause of greaL concern for all leaders
and governmenLs lndependenL [udlclary and prlson sysLems are urgenLly needed Lherefore for
Lhe resLoraLlon of [usLlce and Lhe rehablllLaLlon of offenders lL ls Llme Lo puL a sLop Lo
mlscarrlages of [usLlce and lllLreaLmenL of prlsoners" and Lhe wldespread nonenforcemenL
of Lhe law whlch represenLs a vlolaLlon of human rlghLs"133 as well as lmprlsonmenL elLher
wlLhouL Lrlal or else wlLh muchdelayed Lrlal 1he Church ln Afrlca recognlzes her propheLlc
mlsslon Lowards all Lhose affecLed by crlme and Lhelr need for reconclllaLlon [usLlce and
peace"134 rlsoners are human persons who desplLe Lhelr crlme deserve Lo be LreaLed wlLh
respecL and dlgnlLy 1hey need our care WlLh Lhls ln mlnd Lhe Church musL provlde for
pasLoral care ln prlsons for Lhe maLerlal and splrlLual welfare of Lhe prlsoners 1hls pasLoral
acLlvlLy ls a real servlce LhaL Lhe Church offers Lo socleLy and lL ls one LhaL Lhe sLaLe should
supporL for Lhe sake of Lhe common good 1ogeLher wlLh Lhe Synod members l draw Lhe
aLLenLlon of socleLy's leaders Lo Lhe need Lo make every efforL Lo ellmlnaLe Lhe deaLh
penalLy133 and Lo reform Lhe penal sysLem ln a way LhaL ensures respecL for Lhe prlsoners'
human dlgnlLy asLoral workers have Lhe Lask of sLudylng and recommendlng resLoraLlve
[usLlce as a means and a process for promoLlng reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace and Lhe reLurn
of vlcLlms and offenders Lo Lhe communlLy136

u MlgranLs dlsplaced persons and refugees

84 Mllllons of mlgranLs dlsplaced persons and refugees are searchlng for a homeland and a
peaceful counLry ln Afrlca or elsewhere 1he scale of Lhls movemenL whlch affecLs every
counLry reveals Lhe hldden magnlLude of Lhe dlfferenL Lypes of poverLy produced by
deflclencles ln publlc admlnlsLraLlon 1housands of people have Lrled and conLlnue Lrylng Lo
cross deserLs and seas searchlng for an oasls of peace and prosperlLy beLLer educaLlon and
greaLer freedom unforLunaLely many refugees and dlsplaced persons encounLer all klnds of
vlolence and explolLaLlon even prlson and all Loo ofLen deaLh Some sLaLes have responded Lo
Lhls dramaLlc slLuaLlon wlLh represslve leglslaLlon137 1he precarlous slLuaLlon of Lhese poor
people should awaken everyone's compasslon and generous solldarlLy yeL lL ofLen glves rlse Lo
fear and anxleLy Many regard mlgranLs as a burden and vlew Lhem wlLh susplclon seelng Lhem
only as a source of danger lnsecurlLy and LhreaL 1hls percepLlon provokes reacLlons of
lnLolerance xenophobla and raclsm As a resulL Lhese mlgranLs are forced Lhrough Lhe
precarlousness of Lhelr slLuaLlon Lo do lowpald work LhaL ls ofLen lllegal humlllaLlng or
degradlng 1he human consclence can only respond wlLh lndlgnaLlon Lo Lhese slLuaLlons
MlgraLlon lnslde and ouLslde Lhe conLlnenL Lhus becomes a complex drama whlch serlously
affecLs Afrlca's human caplLal leadlng Lo Lhe desLablllzaLlon or desLrucLlon of famllles

83 1he Church remembers LhaL Afrlca offered a place of refuge for Lhe Poly lamlly when Lhey
were fleelng Lhe murderous pollLlcal power of Perod138 ln search of a land LhaL could offer
Lhem securlLy and peace 1he Church wlll conLlnue Lo make her volce heard and Lo campalgn
for Lhe defence of all people139

L CloballzaLlon and lnLernaLlonal ald

86 1he Synod laLhers expressed Lhelr mlsglvlngs and concern wlLh regard Lo globallzaLlon l
have already drawn aLLenLlon Lo Lhls phenomenon as a challenge LhaL needs Lo be addressed
1he LruLh of globallzaLlon as a process and lLs fundamenLal eLhlcal crlLerlon are glven by Lhe
unlLy of Lhe human famlly and lLs developmenL Lowards whaL ls good Pence a susLalned
commlLmenL ls needed so as Lo promoLe a personbased and communlLyorlenLed culLural
process of worldwlde lnLegraLlon LhaL ls open Lo Lranscendence"140 1he Church ls eager Lo
see Lhe globallzaLlon of solldarlLy progress Lo Lhe polnL where lL lnscrlbes ln commerclal
relaLlonshlps Lhe prlnclple of graLulLousness and Lhe loglc of glfL as an expresslon of
fraLernlLy"141 whlle avoldlng Lhe LempLaLlon Lo regard globallzaLlon as Lhe only lens Lhrough
whlch Lo vlew llfe culLure pollLlcs and Lhe economy and fosLerlng an ongolng eLhlcal respecL
for Lhe varleLy of human slLuaLlons ln Lhe lnLeresLs of effecLlve solldarlLy

87 1hls globallzaLlon of solldarlLy ls already demonsLraLed Lo some exLenL ln Lhe area of
lnLernaLlonal ald 1oday news of a dlsasLer spreads rapldly around Lhe world and ofLen leads Lo
an upsurge of compasslon and concreLe acLs of generoslLy 1he Church provldes a servlce of
greaL charlLy by proLecLlng Lhe real needs of Lhe beneflclary uefendlng Lhe rlghLs of Lhe needy
and Lhose who have no volce and ln Lhe name of Lhe respecL and solldarlLy LhaL Lhey deserve
she asks LhaL lnLernaLlonal agencles and nongovernmenLal organlzaLlons commlL Lhemselves
Lo compleLe Lransparency" ln Lhelr work142

lv ulalogue and communlon among bellevers

88 As many soclal movemenLs lndlcaLe peace ln Afrlca as elsewhere ls condlLloned by
lnLerrellglous relaLlons Pence lL ls lmporLanL for Lhe Church Lo promoLe dlalogue as a splrlLual
dlsposlLlon so LhaL bellevers may learn Lo work LogeLher for example ln assoclaLlons for [usLlce
and peace ln a splrlL of LrusL and muLual help lamllles musL be educaLed ln aLLenLlve llsLenlng
fraLernlLy and respecL wlLhouL fear of Lhe oLher143 Cne Lhlng only ls necessary (cf Lk 1042)
and capable of quenchlng every human person's LhlrsL for eLernlLy and all humanlLy's deslre for
unlLy love and conLemplaLlon of hlm before whom SalnL AugusLlne crled ouL LLernal 1ruLh
Lrue Love beloved LLernlLy!"144

A Lcumenlcal dlalogue and Lhe challenge of new rellglous movemenLs

89 8y lnvlLlng Lo Lhe Synodal Assembly our fellow ChrlsLlans CrLhodox CopLlc CrLhodox
LuLheran Angllcan MeLhodlsL and ln parLlcular Pls Pollness Abuna aulos aLrlarch of Lhe
1ewahedo CrLhodox Church of LLhlopla one of Lhe mosL anclenL ChrlsLlan communlLles of Lhe
Afrlcan conLlnenL l wanLed Lo make clear LhaL Lhe paLh Lo reconclllaLlon musL flrsL pass
Lhrough Lhe communlon of ChrlsL's dlsclples A dlvlded ChrlsLlanlLy remalns a scandal slnce lL
de facLo conLradlcLs Lhe wlll of Lhe ulvlne MasLer (cf !n 1721) Lcumenlcal dlalogue Lherefore
seeks Lo dlrecL our common [ourney Lowards ChrlsLlan unlLy as we llsLen asslduously Lo Lhe
word of Cod falLhful Lo fraLernal communlon Lhe breaklng of bread and Lhe prayers (cf AcLs
242) l call upon Lhe whole eccleslal famlly parLlcular Churches lnsLlLuLes of consecraLed llfe
as well as lay movemenLs and assoclaLlons Lo pursue Lhls paLh wlLh ever greaLer
deLermlnaLlon ln Lhe splrlL of and on Lhe basls of Lhe guldellnes glven ln Lhe Lcumenlcal
ulrecLory and Lhrough Lhe varlous exlsLlng ecumenlcal assoclaLlons l also ask LhaL new ones be
seL up wherever Lhls could serve as an ald for mlsslon 1ogeLher leL us underLake works of
charlLy and proLecL our rellglous paLrlmonles Lhrough whlch ChrlsL's dlsclples flnd Lhe splrlLual
sLrengLh LhaL Lhey need for bulldlng up Lhe human famlly!143

90 ln recenL decades Lhe Church ln Afrlca has been asklng lLself a greaL many quesLlons abouL
Lhe emergence and growLh of nonCaLhollc communlLles someLlmes known as Afrlcan
lndependenL Churches lrequenLly an offshooL of LradlLlonal ChrlsLlan Churches and eccleslal
communlLles Lhey adopL elemenLs of LradlLlonal Afrlcan culLures 1hese groups have recenLly
made an appearance ln Lhe ecumenlcal fleld 1he asLors of Lhe CaLhollc Church wlll have Lo
Lake lnLo accounL Lhls new phenomenon affecLlng Lhe promoLlon of ChrlsLlan unlLy ln Afrlca
and Lhey wlll consequenLly have Lo flnd a response sulLed Lo Lhe conLexL for Lhe sake of deeper
evangellzaLlon as a way of effecLlvely communlcaLlng ChrlsL's LruLh Lo Lhe people of Afrlca

91 varlous syncreLlsLlc movemenLs and secLs have sprung up ln Afrlca ln recenL decades
SomeLlmes lL ls hard Lo dlscern wheLher Lhey are of auLhenLlcally ChrlsLlan lnsplraLlon or
wheLher Lhey are slmply Lhe frulL of sudden lnfaLuaLlon wlLh a leader clalmlng Lo have
excepLlonal glfLs 1helr nomenclaLure and vocabulary easlly glve rlse Lo confuslon and Lhey can
lead people ln good falLh asLray 1hese many secLs Lake advanLage of an lncompleLe soclal
lnfrasLrucLure Lhe eroslon of LradlLlonal famlly solldarlLy and lnadequaLe caLechesls ln order Lo
explolL people's credullLy and Lhey offer a rellglous veneer Lo a varleLy of heLerodox non
ChrlsLlan bellefs 1hey shaLLer Lhe peace of couples and famllles Lhrough false prophecles and
vlslons 1hey even seduce pollLlcal leaders 1he Church's Lheology and pasLoral care musL
deLermlne Lhe causes of Lhls phenomenon noL only ln order Lo sLem Lhe haemorrhage of Lhe
falLhful from Lhe parlshes Lo Lhe secLs buL also ln order Lo lay Lhe foundaLlons of a sulLable
pasLoral response Lo Lhe aLLracLlon LhaL Lhese movemenLs and secLs exerL Cnce agaln Lhls
polnLs Lo Lhe need for a profound evangellzaLlon of Lhe Afrlcan soul
8 lnLerrellglous dlalogue

1 1radlLlonal Afrlcan rellglons

92 1he Church llves dally alongslde Lhe followers of LradlLlonal Afrlcan rellglons WlLh Lhelr
reference Lo ancesLors and Lo a form of medlaLlon beLween man and lmmanence Lhese
rellglons are Lhe culLural and splrlLual soll from whlch mosL ChrlsLlan converLs sprlng and wlLh
whlch Lhey conLlnue Lo have dally conLacL lL ls worLh slngllng ouL knowledgeable lndlvldual
converLs who could provlde Lhe Church wlLh guldance ln galnlng a deeper and more accuraLe
knowledge of Lhe LradlLlons Lhe culLure and Lhe LradlLlonal rellglons 1hls would make lL easler
Lo ldenLlfy polnLs of real dlvergence lL would also help Lo clarlfy Lhe vlLal dlsLlncLlon beLween
culLure and culL and Lo dlscard Lhose maglcal elemenLs whlch cause dlvlslon and ruln for
famllles and socleLles ln Lhls regard Lhe Second vaLlcan Councll LaughL LhaL Lhe Church urges
her sons and daughLers Lo enLer wlLh prudence and charlLy lnLo dlscusslon and collaboraLlon
wlLh members of oLher rellglons LeL ChrlsLlans whlle wlLnesslng Lo Lhelr own falLh and way of
llfe acknowledge preserve and encourage Lhe splrlLual and moral LruLhs found among non
ChrlsLlans LogeLher wlLh Lhelr llfe and culLure"146 lL would help Lo manlfesL Lhe Lreasures of
Lhe Church's sacramenLal llfe and splrlLuallLy ln all Lhelr depLh and Lo pass Lhem on more
effecLlvely ln caLechesls lf Lhe Church were Lo carry ouL a Lheologlcal sLudy of Lhose elemenLs
of Lhe LradlLlonal Afrlcan culLures ln conformlLy wlLh ChrlsL's Leachlng

93 WlLchcrafL whlch ls based on Lhe LradlLlonal rellglons ls currenLly experlenclng a cerLaln
revlval Cld fears are resurfaclng and creaLlng paralyzlng bonds of sub[ecLlon AnxleLy over
healLh wellbelng chlldren Lhe cllmaLe and proLecLlon from evll splrlLs aL Llmes lead people Lo
have recourse Lo pracLlces of LradlLlonal Afrlcan rellglons LhaL are lncompaLlble wlLh ChrlsLlan
Leachlng 1he problem of dual afflllaLlon" Lo ChrlsLlanlLy and Lo Lhe LradlLlonal Afrlcan
rellglons remalns a challenge 1hrough profound caLechesls and lnculLuraLlon Lhe Church ln
Afrlca needs Lo help people Lo dlscover Lhe fullness of Cospel values lL ls lmporLanL Lo
deLermlne Lhe profound meanlng of Lhese pracLlces of wlLchcrafL by ldenLlfylng Lhe many
Lheologlcal soclal and pasLoral lmpllcaLlons of Lhls scourge

2 lslam

94 1he Synod laLhers hlghllghLed Lhe complexlLy of Lhe Musllm presence on Lhe Afrlcan
conLlnenL ln some counLrles good relaLlons exlsL beLween ChrlsLlans and Musllms ln oLhers
Lhe local ChrlsLlans are merely secondclass clLlzens and CaLhollcs from abroad rellglous and
lay have dlfflculLy obLalnlng vlsas and resldence permlLs ln some Lhere ls lnsufflclenL
dlsLlncLlon beLween Lhe rellglous and pollLlcal spheres whlle ln oLhers flnally Lhere ls a cllmaLe
of hosLlllLy l call upon Lhe Church ln every slLuaLlon Lo perslsL ln esLeem for Musllms who
worshlp Cod who ls one llvlng and subslsLenL merclful and almlghLy Lhe creaLor of heaven
and earLh who has also spoken Lo humanlLy"147 lf all of us who belleve ln Cod deslre Lo
promoLe reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace we musL work LogeLher Lo banlsh every form of
dlscrlmlnaLlon lnLolerance and rellglous fundamenLallsm ln her soclal aposLolaLe Lhe Church
does noL make rellglous dlsLlncLlons She comes Lo Lhe help of Lhose ln need be Lhey ChrlsLlan
Musllm or anlmlsL ln Lhls way she bears wlLness Lo Lhe love of Cod creaLor of all and she
lnvlLes Lhe followers of oLher rellglons Lo demonsLraLe respecL and Lo pracLlse reclproclLy ln a
splrlL of esLeem l ask Lhe whole Church Lhrough paLlenL dlalogue wlLh Musllms Lo seek
[urldlcal and pracLlcal recognlLlon of rellglous freedom so LhaL every clLlzen ln Afrlca may en[oy
noL only Lhe rlghL Lo choose hls rellglon freely148 and Lo engage ln worshlp buL also Lhe rlghL
Lo freedom of consclence149 8ellglous freedom ls Lhe road Lo peace130

C 8ecomlng Lhe salL of Lhe earLh" and Lhe llghL of Lhe world"

93 lor her mlsslon of evangellzaLlon Lhe Church ln Afrlca draws upon several sources sacred
ScrlpLure 1radlLlon and Lhe sacramenLal llfe As a greaL many Synod laLhers remarked Lhe
Church's mlnlsLry bullds effecLlvely upon Lhe CaLechlsm of Lhe CaLhollc Church Moreover Lhe
Compendlum of Lhe Soclal uocLrlne of Lhe Church ls a gulde Lo Lhe Church's mlsslon as MoLher
and 1eacher" ln Lhe world and ln socleLy and ls Lherefore a pasLoral Lool of Lhe flrsL rank131
ChrlsLlans who draw nourlshmenL from Lhe auLhenLlc source ChrlsL are Lransformed by hlm
lnLo Lhe llghL of Lhe world" (ML 314) and Lhey LransmlL Lhe one who ls hlmself Lhe LlghL of
Lhe world" (!n 812) 1helr knowledge musL be shaped by charlLy knowledge ln facL lf lL
asplres Lo be wlsdom capable of dlrecLlng man ln Lhe llghL of hls flrsL beglnnlngs and hls flnal
ends musL be 'seasoned' wlLh Lhe 'salL' of charlLy"132

96 ln order Lo accompllsh Lhe Lask LhaL we are called Lo carry ouL leL us make our own Lhe
exhorLaLlon of SalnL aul SLand Lherefore havlng glrded your lolns wlLh LruLh and havlng puL
on Lhe breasLplaLe of rlghLeousness and havlng shod your feeL wlLh Lhe equlpmenL of Lhe
Cospel of peace besldes all Lhese Laklng Lhe shleld of falLh wlLh whlch you can quench all Lhe
flamlng darLs of Lhe evll one And Lake Lhe helmeL of salvaLlon and Lhe sword of Lhe SplrlL
whlch ls Lhe word of Cod ray aL all Llmes ln Lhe SplrlL wlLh all prayer and suppllcaLlon" (Lph
61418)

arL Lwo

1C LACP lS ClvLn
1PL MAnllLS1A1lCn Cl 1PL Sl8l1 lC8 1PL CCMMCn CCCu"
(1 Cor 127)

97 1he guldellnes for mlsslon LhaL l have [usL lndlcaLed wlll only become a reallLy lf Lhe Church
acLs on Lhe one hand under Lhe guldance of Lhe Poly SplrlL and on Lhe oLher as a slngle body
Lo use Lhe lmage of SalnL aul who presenLs Lhese Lwo condlLlons ln an lnLegraLed way ln
Afrlca marked as lL ls by conLrasLs Lhe Church musL clearly polnL ouL Lhe paLh Lowards ChrlsL
She musL show how Lo llve ln LoLal fldellLy Lo ChrlsL !esus Lhe unlLy ln dlverslLy LaughL by Lhe
AposLle now Lhere are varleLles of glfLs buL Lhe same SplrlL and Lhere are varleLles of servlce
buL Lhe same Lord and Lhere are varleLles of worklng buL lL ls Lhe same Cod who lnsplres Lhem
all ln every one 1o each ls glven Lhe manlfesLaLlon of Lhe SplrlL for Lhe common good" (1 Cor
1247) 8y exhorLlng each member of Lhe Church famlly Lo be Lhe salL of Lhe earLh" and Lhe
llghL of Lhe world" (ML 31314) l wlsh Lo sLress LhaL ln belng so" Lhey should acL Lhrough Lhe
SplrlL for Lhe common good Cne can never be a ChrlsLlan alone 1he glfLs glven by Lhe Lord Lo
each blshops prlesLs deacons and rellglous caLechlsLs and lay people musL all conLrlbuLe Lo
harmony communlon and peace ln Lhe Church herself and ln socleLy

98 We are all very famlllar wlLh Lhe eplsode of Lhe paralyLlc who was broughL Lo !esus Lo be
cured (cf Mk 2112) lor us Loday Lhls man represenLs all our broLhers and slsLers ln Afrlca and
elsewhere who are paralyzed ln dlfferenL ways and sadly ofLen ln greaL dlsLress ln Lhe llghL of
Lhe challenges LhaL l have descrlbed brlefly drawlng on Lhe commenLs of Lhe Synod laLhers leL
us reflecL on Lhe aLLlLude of Lhose who carry Lhe paralyLlc Pe hlmself cannoL come close Lo
!esus wlLhouL Lhe asslsLance of Lhose four people of falLh who braved Lhe physlcal obsLacle of
Lhe crowd as a slgn of Lhelr solldarlLy and Lhelr compleLe LrusL ln !esus ChrlsL saw Lhelr falLh"
Pe Lhen removes Lhe splrlLual obsLacle when he says Lo Lhe paralysed man ?our slns are
forglven" Pe removes whaL prevenLs Lhe man from rlslng 1hls example lnvlLes us Lo grow ln
falLh and ln Lurn Lo show solldarlLy and creaLlvlLy ln rellevlng Lhose who bear heavy burdens
Lhus openlng Lhem Lo Lhe fullness of llfe ln ChrlsL (cf ML 1128) 8efore Lhe obsLacles boLh
physlcal and splrlLual LhaL sLand before us leL us moblllze Lhe splrlLual energles and Lhe
maLerlal resources of Lhe whole body whlch ls Lhe Church convlnced LhaL ChrlsL wlll acL
Lhrough Lhe Poly SplrlL ln each of her members

ChapLer l

1PL MLM8L8S Cl 1PL CPu8CP

99 uear sons and daughLers of Lhe Church especlally you Lhe beloved falLhful of Afrlca Lhe
love of Cod has blessed you ln so many ways and has made you capable of acLlng as Lhe salL of
Lhe earLh All of you as members of Lhe Church should be aware LhaL peace and [usLlce come
flrsL from Lhe reconclllaLlon of each human belng wlLh hlmself and wlLh Cod ChrlsL hlmself ls
Lhe one Lrue rlnce of eace" Pls blrLh ls Lhe pledge of Lhe messlanlc peace proclalmed by Lhe
propheLs (cf ls 936 3719 Mlc 34 Lph 21417) 1hls peace does noL come from ourselves
buL from Cod lL ls Lhe messlanlc glfL par excellence 1hls peace leads us Lo Lhe [usLlce of Lhe
klngdom whlch ls Lo be soughL ln season and ouL of season ln all LhaL we do (cf ML 633) so
LhaL ln everyLhlng glory may be glven Lo Cod (cf ML 316) We know LhaL Lhe [usL person ls
falLhful Lo Cod's law because he has been converLed (cf Lk 137 1814) 1hls new falLhfulness
has been broughL by ChrlsL so as Lo make us blameless and lnnocenL" (cf hll 213)

l 8lshops

100 uear broLher blshops Lhe hollness Lo whlch Lhe blshop ls called requlres Lhe exerclse of
Lhe vlrLues ln Lhe flrsL place of Lhe Lheologlcal vlrLues and Lhe exerclse of Lhe evangellcal
counsels133 ?our own hollness musL be ouLsLandlng Lo Lhe beneflL of Lhose enLrusLed Lo
your pasLoral care Lhose whom you musL serve ?our llfe of prayer wlll nourlsh your aposLolaLe
from wlLhln 1he blshop musL be someone ln love wlLh ChrlsL 1he moral auLhorlLy and Lhe
presLlge LhaL uphold Lhe exerclse of your [urldlcal power can only come from Lhe hollness of
your llfe

101 SalnL Cyprlan of CarLhage ln Lhe mlddle of Lhe Lhlrd cenLury sLaLed 1he Church resLs on
Lhe blshops and all her conducL follows Lhe dlrecLlon of Lhose same rulers"134 Communlon
unlLy and cooperaLlon wlLh Lhe presbyLeraLe wlll be a safeguard agalnsL Lhe seeds of dlvlslon
and wlll asslsL you ln llsLenlng LogeLher Lo Lhe Poly SplrlL Pe wlll lead you on Lhe rlghL paLh (cf
s 223) Love and respecL your prlesLs! 1hey are esLeemed coworkers ln your eplscopal
mlnlsLry lmlLaLe ChrlsL! Pe creaLed around hlmself a clrcle of frlendshlp fraLernal affecLlon and
communlon whlch he drew from Lhe depLhs of Lhe 1rlnlLarlan mysLery l lnvlLe you Lo Lake
conLlnuous care Lo help your prlesLs Lo llve ln lnLlmaLe communlon wlLh ChrlsL 1helr splrlLual
llfe ls Lhe foundaLlon of Lhelr aposLollc llfe LxhorL Lhem genLly Lo dally prayer Lo Lhe worLhy
celebraLlon of Lhe sacramenLs especlally Lhose of Lhe LucharlsL and 8econclllaLlon as SalnL
lrancls de Sales dld for hls prlesLs ?our prlesLs need your affecLlon your encouragemenL and
your concern"133

102 8e one wlLh Lhe Successor of eLer LogeLher wlLh your prlesLs and all Lhe falLhful uo noL
wasLe your human and pasLoral energles ln Lhe valn search for answers Lo quesLlons whlch are
noL of your dlrecL compeLence or ln Lhe LwlsLs and Lurns of a naLlonallsm LhaL can easlly bllnd
lL ls easler Lo follow Lhls ldol or Lo absoluLlze Afrlcan culLure Lhan Lo follow Lhe demands of
ChrlsL Such ldols are llluslons Lven more Lhey are a LempLaLlon LhaL bellevlng LhaL human
efforLs alone can brlng Lhe klngdom of eLernal happlness Lo earLh

103 ?our flrsL duLy ls Lo brlng Lhe good news of salvaLlon Lo all and Lo offer Lhe falLhful a
caLechesls whlch leads Lhem Lo a deeper knowledge of !esus ChrlsL See Lo lL LhaL laypeople
acqulre a genulne awareness of Lhelr eccleslal mlsslon and encourage Lhem Lo engage ln lL wlLh
responslblllLy always seeklng Lhe common good 1he permanenL formaLlon programmes
offered Lo lay people and above all Lo pollLlcal or economlc leaders musL lnslsL on converslon
as a necessary condlLlon for Lhe LransformaLlon of Lhe world lL ls flLLlng LhaL Lhey should begln
wlLh prayer and conLlnue wlLh a caLechesls LhaL wlll lead Lo concreLe acLlon 1he creaLlon of
sLrucLures lf Lruly needed wlll come laLer slnce Lhey can never replace Lhe power of prayer!

104 uear broLher blshops followlng ln Lhe fooLsLeps of ChrlsL Lhe Cood Shepherd be good
pasLors and servanLs of Lhe flock enLrusLed Lo your care exemplary ln llfe and conducL 1he
good admlnlsLraLlon of your dloceses requlres your presence 1o make your message credlble
see Lo lL LhaL your dloceses become models ln Lhe conducL of personnel ln Lransparency and
good flnanclal managemenL uo noL heslLaLe Lo seek help from experLs ln audlLlng so as Lo glve
example Lo Lhe falLhful and Lo socleLy aL large romoLe Lhe good funcLlonlng of Lhe eccleslal
bodles provlded for by Church law on Lhe dlocesan and parochlal level 1o you ln Lhe flrsL place
belongs Lhe Lask of seeklng unlLy [usLlce and peace slnce you have Lhe responslblllLy for Lhe
local Churches

103 1he Synod recalled LhaL Lhe Church ls a communlon LhaL glves rlse Lo an organlc pasLoral
solldarlLy 1he blshops ln communlon wlLh Lhe 8lshop of 8ome are Lhe flrsL promoLers of
communlon and cooperaLlon ln Lhe Church's aposLolaLe"136 1he naLlonal and reglonal
8lshops' Conferences are charged wlLh Lhe mlsslon of consolldaLlng LhaL eccleslal communlon
and promoLlng Lhls pasLoral solldarlLy

106 ln order Lo ensure greaLer vlslblllLy coherence and effecLlveness Lo Lhe Church's pasLoral
acLlvlLy ln socleLy Lhe Synod felL Lhe need for greaLer solldarlLy ln acLlon aL all levels lL would
be good for reglonal and naLlonal 8lshops' Conferences as well as Lhe Assembly of Lhe CaLhollc
Plerarchy of LgypL (ACPL) Lo renew Lhelr commlLmenL Lo colleglal solldarlLy137 racLlcally
speaklng Lhls enLalls parLlclpaLlon ln Lhe acLlvlLles of Lhese sLrucLures wlLh regard Lo boLh
personnel and flnances ln Lhls way Lhe Church wlll bear wlLness Lo Lhe unlLy for whlch ChrlsL
prayed (cf !n 172021)

107 l also conslder lL lmporLanL for Lhe blshops Lo help supporL effecLlvely and affecLlvely Lhe
Symposlum of 8lshops' Conferences of Afrlca and Madagascar (SLCAM) as a conLlnenLal
sLrucLure of solldarlLy and eccleslal communlon138 Llkewlse good relaLlons should be
malnLalned wlLh Lhe ConfederaLlon of Conferences of Ma[or Superlors of Afrlca and
Madagascar (CCMSAM) wlLh Lhe AssoclaLlons of CaLhollc unlverslLles and oLher conLlnenLal
eccleslal sLrucLures

ll rlesLs

108 As close and lndlspensable coworkers of Lhe blshop prlesLs139 are charged wlLh
carrylng ouL Lhe work of evangellzaLlon 1he Second Assembly of Lhe Synod for Afrlca Look place
durlng Lhe year LhaL l dedlcaLed Lo Lhe prlesLhood appeallng ln a speclal way for growLh ln
hollness uear prlesLs remember LhaL your wlLness Lo llvlng LogeLher ln peace over eLhnlc and
raclal llnes can Louch hearLs160 1he call Lo hollness blds us become pasLors accordlng Lo Lhe
hearL of Cod161 feedlng our flock wlLh [usLlce (cf Lz 3416) 1o yleld Lo Lhe LempLaLlon of
becomlng pollLlcal leaders162 or soclal agenLs would be Lo beLray your prlesLly mlsslon and Lo
do a dlsservlce Lo socleLy whlch expecLs of you propheLlc words and deeds As SalnL Cyprlan
puL lL ln hls own day 1hose who bear Lhe honour of Lhe dlvlne prlesLhood should lend Lhelr
mlnlsLry only Lo Lhe servlce of Lhe alLar and glve Lhelr Llme Lo prayer alone"163

109 8y devoLlng yourselves Lo Lhose whom Lhe Lord enLrusLs Lo you for Lhelr formaLlon ln
ChrlsLlan vlrLues and Lhelr growLh ln hollness you noL only wln Lhem Lo Lhe cause of ChrlsL buL
also make Lhem proLagonlsLs of a renewed Afrlcan socleLy Clven Lhe complex slLuaLlons LhaL
you encounLer l ask you Lo deepen your llfe of prayer and your ongolng lnLellecLual and
splrlLual formaLlon 8ecome ever more famlllar wlLh sacred ScrlpLure Lhe word of Cod whlch
you dally medlLaLe upon and explaln Lo Lhe falLhful Crow ln your knowledge of Lhe CaLechlsm
Lhe documenLs of Lhe maglsLerlum and Lhe Church's soclal docLrlne ?ou wlll Lhen be capable of
formlng Lhe members of Lhe ChrlsLlan communlLy for whom you are lmmedlaLely responslble
so LhaL Lhey can become auLhenLlc dlsclples and wlLnesses of ChrlsL

110 Llve obedlence Lo your dlocesan blshop ln slmpllclLy humlllLy and flllal love CuL of
respecL for Lhe Cne who has loved us lL ls proper LhaL we obey wlLhouL hypocrlsy for lL ls noL
Lhe blshop whom we see LhaL we are decelvlng buL Lhe Cne who ls unseen ln Lhls case lL ls noL
a maLLer of Lhe flesh buL of Cod who knows whaL ls hldden"164 ln Lhe conLexL of Lhe ongolng
formaLlon of clergy l conslder lL lmporLanL Lo reread and medlLaLe on such documenLs as Lhe
conclllar uecree on Lhe MlnlsLry and Llfe of rlesLs resbyLerorum Crdlnls Lhe 1992 osL
Synodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon asLores uabo vobls Lhe 1994 ulrecLory on Lhe MlnlsLry and Llfe
of rlesLs and Lhe 2002 lnsLrucLlon 1he rlesL asLor and Culde of Lhe arlsh CommunlLy

111 8ulld up Lhe ChrlsLlan communlLles by your example llvlng ln LruLh and [oy your prlesLly
commlLmenLs cellbacy ln chasLlLy and deLachmenL from maLerlal possesslons When llved ln
maLurlLy and peace Lhese slgns so consonanL wlLh Lhe llfesLyle of !esus express LoLal and
excluslve glfL of self Lo ChrlsL Lo Lhe Church and Lo Lhe klngdom of Cod"163 uevoLe
yourselves lnLensely Lo puLLlng lnLo pracLlce Lhe dlocesan pasLoral plan for reconclllaLlon
[usLlce and peace especlally Lhrough Lhe celebraLlon of Lhe sacramenLs of enance and Lhe
LucharlsL caLechesls Lhe formaLlon of lay people and ongolng dlalogue wlLh Lhose holdlng
poslLlons of responslblllLy ln socleLy Lvery prlesL should feel happy Lo serve Lhe Church
112 lollowlng ChrlsL on Lhe paLh of Lhe prlesLhood enLalls maklng declslons lL ls noL always
easy Lo llve up Lo Lhese 1he evangellcal commlLmenLs codlfled Lhrough Lhe cenLurles by Lhe
Leachlng of Lhe maglsLerlum appear radlcal Lo Lhe eyes of Lhe world lL ls someLlmes dlfflculL Lo
follow Lhem yeL noL lmposslble ChrlsL Lells us LhaL we cannoL serve Lwo masLers (cf ML 624)
Pe ls clearly speaklng of money Lhe worldly Lreasure LhaL can capLlvaLe our hearLs (cf Lk
1234) buL he ls also speaklng of Lhe counLless oLher goods we possess such as our llfe our
famlly our educaLlon our personal relaLlonshlps 1hese are all lmporLanL and flne goods whlch
are consLlLuLlve of our persons 8uL ChrlsL asks Lhose whom he calls Lo abandon Lhemselves
compleLely Lo dlvlne rovldence Pe demands a radlcal declslon (cf ML 71314) whlch we
someLlmes flnd dlfflculL Lo undersLand and llve ouL ?eL lf Cod ls our real Lreasure LhaL pearl of
greaL prlce whlch musL be acqulred aL any cosL even LhaL of greaL sacrlflces (cf ML 134346)
Lhen we wanL our hearLs and our bodles our mlnds and our LhoughLs Lo be for hlm alone 1hls
acL of falLh enables us Lo see everyLhlng LhaL appears lmporLanL Lo us ln a dlfferenL llghL and
Lo experlence our relaLlonshlp wlLh our bodles and our relaLlonshlps ln famlly or among
frlends ln Lhe llghL of Cod's call and of whaL lL demands ln Lhe servlce of Lhe Church 1hls calls
for deep reflecLlon 1haL reflecLlon should begln ln Lhe semlnary and conLlnue LhroughouL our
prlesLly llves ChrlsL Lells us by way of encouragemenL for he knows Lhe sLrengLhs and
weaknesses of our hearLs SLrlve flrsL for Lhe klngdom of Cod and lLs rlghLeousness and all
Lhese Lhlngs wlll be glven Lo you as well" (ML 633)

lll Mlsslonarles

113 nonAfrlcan mlsslonarles respondlng generously Lo Lhe Lord's call wlLh ardenL aposLollc
zeal came Lo share Lhe [oy of revelaLlon lollowlng ln Lhelr fooLsLeps Afrlcans are Loday
mlsslonarles on oLher conLlnenLs Pow can we fall here Lo pay Lhem speclal LrlbuLe? 1he
mlsslonarles who came Lo Afrlca prlesLs men and women rellglous and lay people bullL
churches schools and dlspensarles and dld much Lo shape Lhe face of Loday's Afrlcan culLure
buL above all Lhey bullL up Lhe 8ody of ChrlsL and enrlched Lhe Lord's dwelllng place 1hey knew
well how Lo share Lhe salL of Lhe word and spread Lhe llghL of Lhe sacramenLs MosL of all Lhey
gave Lo Afrlca Lhelr mosL preclous Lreasure !esus ChrlsL 1hanks Lo Lhem numerous LradlLlonal
culLures were freed from ancesLral fears and from unclean splrlLs (cf ML 101) lrom Lhe good
seed LhaL Lhey sowed (cf ML 1324) arose many Afrlcan salnLs who sLlll serve as models and
oughL Lo lnsplre us all Lhe more lL would be proflLable Lo renew and promoLe devoLlon Lo Lhese
salnLs 1helr commlLmenL Lo Lhe cause of Lhe Cospel was aL Llmes shown ln a herolc manner
even aL Lhe cosL of Lhelr llves Cnce agaln Lhe words of 1erLulllan proved Lrue Lhe blood of
marLyrs ls Lhe seed of ChrlsLlans"166 l glve Lhanks Lo Cod for all Lhese holy men and women
slgns of Lhe vlLallLy of Lhe Church ln Afrlca

114 l encourage Lhe asLors of Lhe local Churches Lo recognlze among servanLs of Lhe Cospel ln
Afrlca Lhose who could be canonlzed accordlng Lo Lhe norms of Lhe Church noL only ln order Lo
lncrease Lhe number of Afrlcan salnLs buL also Lo obLaln new lnLercessors ln heaven Lo
accompany Lhe Church on her pllgrlm [ourney and Lo plead before Cod for Lhe Afrlcan
conLlnenL l enLrusL Lo Cur Lady of Afrlca and Lo Lhe salnLs of Lhls beloved conLlnenL Lhe Church
LhaL dwells Lhere

lv ermanenL deacons

113 1he grandeur of Lhe call recelved by permanenL deacons deserves Lo be emphaslzed ln
fldellLy Lo Lhelr ageold mlsslon l lnvlLe Lhem Lo work wlLh humlllLy and ln close cooperaLlon
wlLh Lhe blshops167 l ask Lhem affecLlonaLely Lo conLlnue offerlng whaL ChrlsL Leaches us ln
Lhe Cospel rlgour ln work well done168 moral sLrengLh ln respecL for values honesLy
LruLhfulness Lhe [oy of addlng one's sLone Lo Lhe bulldlng of Church and socleLy Lhe proLecLlon
of naLure a sense of Lhe common good AsslsL Afrlcan socleLy aL every level Lo encourage
responslblllLy on Lhe parL of men who are husbands and faLhers respecL for women who are
equal Lo men ln dlgnlLy and concern for chlldren lefL Lo fend for Lhemselves wlLhouL educaLlon

116 uo noL fall Lo pay parLlcular aLLenLlon Lo Lhose who are lll menLally or physlcally169
Lhose who are frall and Lhe poor of your communlLles LeL your charlLy be lmaglnaLlve! ln Lhe
pasLoral acLlvlLy of parlshes remember LhaL a healLhy splrlLuallLy allows Lhe SplrlL of ChrlsL Lo
free Lhe human person Lo acL effecLlvely ln socleLy 8lshops wlll Lake care Lo ensure your
ongolng formaLlon so LhaL lL can conLrlbuLe Lo Lhe exerclse of your mlnlsLry170 Llke SalnL
SLephen SalnL Lawrence and SalnL vlncenL deacons and marLyrs seek Lo recognlze and
encounLer ChrlsL ln Lhe LucharlsL and ln Lhe poor 1hls servlce of Lhe alLar and of charlLy wlll
make you look forward Lo encounLerlng Lhe Lord presenL on Lhe alLar and ln Lhe poor ?ou wlll
Lhen be capable of glvlng your llfe for hlm even Lo deaLh

v ConsecraLed persons

117 1hrough Lhe vows of chasLlLy poverLy and obedlence Lhe llfe of consecraLed persons
becomes a propheLlc wlLness Pence Lhey can be examples ln Lhe area of reconclllaLlon [usLlce
and peace even ln clrcumsLances marked by greaL Lenslon171 CommunlLy llfe shows us LhaL
lL ls posslble Lo llve as broLhers and slsLers and Lo be unlLed even when comlng from dlfferenL
eLhnlc or raclal backgrounds (cf s 1331) lL can and musL enable people Lo see and belleve
LhaL Loday ln Afrlca Lhose men and women who follow ChrlsL !esus flnd ln hlm Lhe secreL of
llvlng happlly LogeLher muLual love and fraLernal communlon sLrengLhened dally by Lhe
LucharlsL and Lhe LlLurgy of Lhe Pours

118 uear consecraLed persons may you conLlnue Lo llve your charlsm wlLh Lruly aposLollc zeal
ln Lhe dlfferenL flelds lndlcaLed by your founders or foundresses! 1hus you wlll be all Lhe more
vlgllanL ln keeplng your lamps allghL! ?our founders and foundresses wanLed Lo follow ChrlsL
Lruly and respond Lo hls call 1he dlfferenL good works LhaL came abouL as a resulL are gems
LhaL adorn Lhe Church172 ?ou musL Lherefore carry Lhem on by followlng as falLhfully as
posslble Lhe charlsm of your founders Lhelr ldeas and Lhelr vlslon Pere l would llke Lo
emphaslze Lhe lmporLanL role of consecraLed persons ln Lhe llfe of Lhe Church and ln her
mlsslonary endeavour 1hey are a necessary and preclous ald Lo Lhe Church's pasLoral acLlvlLy
buL also a manlfesLaLlon of Lhe deepesL naLure of our ChrlsLlan vocaLlon173 lor Lhls reason l
lnvlLe you dear consecraLed persons Lo conLlnue ln close communlon wlLh Lhe local Church
and wlLh lLs head Lhe blshop l also lnvlLe you Lo sLrengLhen your communlon wlLh Lhe 8lshop
of 8ome

119 Afrlca ls Lhe cradle of Lhe ChrlsLlan conLemplaLlve llfe resenL from earllesL Llmes ln norLh
Afrlca especlally ln LgypL and LLhlopla lL Look rooL ln subSaharan Afrlca durlng Lhe lasL
cenLury May Lhe Lord bless Lhe men and women who have declded Lo follow hlm
uncondlLlonally! 1helr hldden llfe ls llke leaven ln Lhe dough 1helr consLanL prayer wlll susLaln
Lhe aposLollc efforLs of Lhe blshops prlesLs oLher consecraLed persons caLechlsLs and of Lhe
enLlre Church

120 1he meeLlngs of Lhe dlfferenL naLlonal Conferences of Ma[or Superlors and Lhose of
CCMSAM help pool your reflecLlons and resources noL only ln order Lo pursue Lhe goals of Lhe
varlous lnsLlLuLes whlle preservlng Lhelr auLonomy characLer and lndlvldual splrlL buL also Lo
help deal wlLh common concerns ln a cllmaLe of fraLernlLy and solldarlLy lL ls flLLlng Lo fosLer an
eccleslal splrlL based on a sound coordlnaLlon and proper cooperaLlon wlLh Lhe 8lshops'
Conferences

vl Semlnarlans

121 1he Synod laLhers gave parLlcular aLLenLlon Lo semlnarlans WlLhouL neglecLlng Lheologlcal
and splrlLual formaLlon whlch are obvlously prlmary Lhey emphaslzed Lhe lmporLance of Lhe
psychologlcal and human growLh of each candldaLe luLure prlesLs musL develop a correcL
undersLandlng of Lhelr own culLure whlle noL belng locked wlLhln Lhelr own eLhnlc and culLural
llmlLs174 1hey musL become ever more deeply rooLed ln Cospel values so as Lo sLrengLhen
Lhelr commlLmenL ln falLhfulness and devoLlon Lo ChrlsL 1he frulLfulness of Lhelr fuLure mlsslon
wlll greaLly depend on Lhelr profound unlon wlLh ChrlsL on Lhe quallLy of Lhelr llfe of prayer and
Lhelr lnLerlor llfe and on Lhe human splrlLual and moral values asslmllaLed durlng Lhelr Llme of
formaLlon May all semlnarlans become men of Cod who seek and pracLlse rlghLeousness
godllness falLh love sLeadfasLness genLleness" (1 1lm 611)

122 Semlnarlans musL learn Lo llve ln communlLy ln such a way LhaL Lhe common llfe may
laLer lead Lo an auLhenLlc experlence of Lhe prlesLhood as close prlesLly fraLernlLy"173 1he
semlnary sLaff and formaLors wlll work LogeLher followlng Lhe blshops' lndlcaLlons Lo
guaranLee an lnLegral formaLlon of Lhe semlnarlans enLrusLed Lo Lhem ln selecLlng candldaLes
careful dlscernmenL and quallLy guldance musL be ensured so LhaL Lhose admlLLed Lo Lhe
prlesLhood wlll be Lrue dlsclples of ChrlsL and auLhenLlc servanLs of Lhe Church Care should be
Laken Lo lnlLlaLe Lhem ln Lhe unllmlLed rlchness of Lhe Church's blbllcal Lheologlcal splrlLual
llLurglcal moral and [urldlcal paLrlmony

123 AL Lhe concluslon of Lhe ?ear for rlesLs ln !une 2010 l wroLe a leLLer Lo semlnarlans176
ln whlch l dealL wlLh Lhe ldenLlLy splrlLuallLy and aposLolaLe of Lhe prlesL l hearLlly recommend
LhaL each semlnarlan read and medlLaLe on Lhls brlef documenL dlrecLed Lo hlm personally
formaLors wlll make Lhe LexL readlly avallable 1he semlnary represenLs a Llme of preparaLlon
for Lhe prlesLhood a Llme of sLudy lL ls a Llme of dlscernmenL formaLlon and human and
splrlLual developmenL May semlnarlans use wlsely Lhls Llme whlch ls provlded for Lhem Lo bulld
up Lhe splrlLual and human resources from whlch Lhey wlll draw LhroughouL Lhelr prlesLly llfe

124 uear semlnarlans be aposLles of Lhe young people of your own generaLlon by lnvlLlng
Lhem Lo follow ChrlsL ln Lhe prlesLly llfe uo noL be afrald! 1he prayer of many people
accompanles and susLalns you (cf ML 93738)

vll CaLechlsLs

123 CaLechlsLs are lnvaluable pasLoral agenLs ln Lhe mlsslon of evangellzaLlon 1helr role was
very lmporLanL durlng Lhe flrsL evangellzaLlon Lhe preparaLlon of caLechumens and Lhe
dlrecLlon and supporL of communlLles ln a naLural way Lhey broughL abouL a successful
lnculLuraLlon LhaL has produced marvellous frulLs (cf Mk 420) CaLechlsLs have allowed Lhelr
'llghL Lo shlne before men' (ML 316) because seelng Lhe good LhaL Lhey do whole populaLlons
were able Lo glve glory Lo our laLher ln heaven lndeed Afrlcans have evangellzed
Afrlcans"177 1hls role so lmporLanL ln Lhe pasL remalns essenLlal for Lhe presenL and Lhe
fuLure of Lhe Church l Lhank Lhem for Lhelr love of Lhe Church

126 l urge blshops and prlesLs Lo be concerned for Lhe human lnLellecLual docLrlnal moral
splrlLual and pasLoral formaLlon of caLechlsLs 1hey should pay greaL aLLenLlon Lo Lhe llvlng
condlLlons of caLechlsLs178 ln order Lo ensure Lhelr dlgnlLy nor should Lhey overlook Lhelr
leglLlmaLe maLerlal needs slnce Lhe falLhful worker ln Lhe Lord's vlneyard has a rlghL Lo a [usL
recompense (cf ML 20116) whlle awalLlng Lhelr due from Lhe Lord for he alone ls [usL and
knows our hearLs

127 uear caLechlsLs remember LhaL for many communlLles you are Lhe flrsL embodlmenL of
Lhe zealous dlsclple and a model of ChrlsLlan llfe l encourage you Lo proclalm by your example
LhaL famlly llfe merlLs greaL esLeem LhaL a ChrlsLlan upbrlnglng prepares young people Lo llve ln
socleLy as persons who are honesL and LrusLworLhy ln Lhelr deallngs wlLh oLhers 8e welcomlng
Lo all wlLhouL dlscrlmlnaLlon rlch and poor naLlve and forelgn CaLhollc and nonCaLhollc (cf
!as 21) uo noL show parLlallLy (cf AcLs 1034 8om 211 Cal 26 Lph 69) 8y your own
asslmllaLlon of sacred ScrlpLure and Lhe Leachlngs of Lhe maglsLerlum you wlll be able Lo offer
solld caLechesls gulde prayer groups and propose lecLlo dlvlna Lo Lhe communlLles ln your care
?our acLlvlLy wlll Lhen become conslsLenL perseverlng and a source of lnsplraLlon As l
graLefully evoke Lhe glorlous memorles of your predecessors l saluLe all of you and l encourage
you Lo Loll Loday wlLh Lhe same selflessness Lhe same aposLollc courage and Lhe same falLh 8y
sLrlvlng Lo be falLhful Lo your mlsslon you wlll conLrlbuLe noL only Lo your own hollness buL
also ln an effecLlve way Lo bulldlng up Lhe 8ody of ChrlsL Lhe Church

vlll Lay people

128 1hrough her lay members Lhe Church ls presenL and acLlve ln Lhe world Lay people have
an lmporLanL role Lo play ln Lhe Church and ln socleLy 1o enable Lhem properly Lo Lake up Lhls
role lL ls flLLlng LhaL cenLres of blbllcal splrlLual llLurglcal and pasLoral formaLlon be organlzed
ln Lhe dloceses lL ls my hearLfelL deslre LhaL lay people wlLh responslblllLy ln Lhe pollLlcal
economlc and soclal flelds be equlpped wlLh a solld knowledge of Lhe Church's soclal docLrlne
whlch can provlde Lhem wlLh prlnclples for acLlng ln conformlLy wlLh Lhe Cospel Lay men and
women ln facL are ambassadors of ChrlsL" (2 Cor 320) ln Lhe publlc sphere ln Lhe hearL of
Lhe world!179 1helr ChrlsLlan wlLness wlll be credlble only lf Lhey are compeLenL and honesL
professlonal people

129 Lay men and women are called above all Lo hollness a hollness whlch ls Lo be llved ln Lhe
world uear members of Lhe falLhful culLlvaLe your lnLerlor llfe and your relaLlonshlp wlLh Cod
so LhaL Lhe Poly SplrlL may enllghLen you ln all clrcumsLances ln order Lo ensure LhaL Lhe
human person and Lhe common good remaln effecLlvely aL Lhe cenLre of all human pollLlcal
economlc or soclal acLlvlLy deepen your unlon wlLh ChrlsL so as Lo know and love hlm by
devoLlng Llme Lo Cod ln prayer and ln Lhe recepLlon of Lhe sacramenLs Allow yourselves Lo be
enllghLened and lnsLrucLed by Cod and by hls word

130 l would llke Lo dwell agaln on Lhe dlsLlncLlve feaLure of a ChrlsLlan's professlonal llfe ln a
word lL means bearlng wlLness Lo ChrlsL ln Lhe world by showlng Lhrough your example LhaL
work can be a very poslLlve seLLlng for personal developmenL and noL prlmarlly a means of
maklng proflL ?our work enables you Lo parLlclpaLe ln Lhe work of creaLlon and Lo serve your
broLhers and slsLers AcLlng ln Lhls way you wlll be Lhe salL of Lhe earLh" and Lhe llghL of Lhe
world" as Lhe Lord asks of us ln dally llfe puL lnLo pracLlce Lhe preferenLlal opLlon for Lhe poor
whaLever your poslLlon ln socleLy ln accordance wlLh Lhe splrlL of Lhe 8eaLlLudes (cf ML 33
12) so as Lo see ln Lhem Lhe face of !esus who calls you Lo serve hlm (cf ML 233146)

131 lL can be helpful for you Lo form assoclaLlons ln order Lo conLlnue shaplng your ChrlsLlan
consclence and supporLlng one anoLher ln Lhe sLruggle for [usLlce and peace 1he Small
ChrlsLlan CommunlLles (SCCs) and Lhe new communlLles"180 are fundamenLal sLrucLures for
fannlng Lhe flame of your 8apLlsm 8rlng your areas of compeLence Lo Lhe llfe and acLlvlLy of
Lhe CaLhollc unlverslLles whlch conLlnue Lo grow followlng Lhe recommendaLlons of Lhe
AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca181 l also encourage you Lo have an acLlve and
courageous presence ln Lhe areas of pollLlcal llfe culLure Lhe arLs Lhe medla and varlous
assoclaLlons uo noL be heslLanL or ashamed abouL Lhls presence buL be proud of lL and
consclous of Lhe valuable conLrlbuLlon lL can offer Lo Lhe common good!

ChapLer ll

MA!C8 A8LAS Cl 1PL ACS1CLA1L

132 1he Lord has enLrusLed us wlLh a speclflc mlsslon and he has noL lefL us wlLhouL Lhe means
of accompllshlng lL noL only has he granLed each of us personal glfLs for Lhe bulldlng up of hls
8ody whlch ls Lhe Church buL he has also granLed Lhe whole eccleslal communlLy parLlcular
glfLs whlch enable lL Lo carry ouL lLs mlsslon Pls supreme glfL ls Lhe Poly SplrlL 1hrough Lhe
SplrlL we form one 8ody and only ln Lhe power of Lhe Poly SplrlL can we dlscover whaL ls rlghL
and Lhen do lL"182 CerLaln means are needed lf we are Lo acL yeL Lhese remaln lnsufflclenL
unless Cod hlmself dlsposes us Lo cooperaLe ln hls work of reconclllaLlon Lhrough our ablllLy Lo
Lhlnk Lo speak Lo llsLen and Lo acL"183 1hanks Lo Lhe Poly SplrlL we become Lruly Lhe salL
of Lhe earLh" and Lhe llghL of Lhe world" (ML 31314)

l 1he Church as Lhe presence of ChrlsL

133 1he Church ls ln ChrlsL a sacramenL a slgn and lnsLrumenL LhaL ls of communlon wlLh
Cod and of Lhe unlLy of Lhe enLlre human race"184 As Lhe communlLy of ChrlsL's dlsclples we
are able Lo make vlslble and share Lhe love of Cod Love ls Lhe llghL and ln Lhe end Lhe only
llghL LhaL can always lllumlnaLe a world grown dlm and granL us Lhe courage needed Lo keep
llvlng and worklng"183 1hls ls clearly seen ln Lhe unlversal Church ln dloceses and parlshes
ln Lhe SCCs186 ln movemenLs and assoclaLlons and even ln Lhe ChrlsLlan famlly lLself whlch
ls called Lo be a 'domesLlc church' a place of falLh of prayer and of lovlng concern for Lhe Lrue
and endurlng good of each of lLs members"187 a communlLy whlch llves Lhe slgn of
peace188 1ogeLher wlLh Lhe parlsh Lhe SCCs and Lhe movemenLs and assoclaLlons can be
helpful places for accepLlng and llvlng Lhe glfL of reconclllaLlon offered by ChrlsL our peace Lach
member of Lhe communlLy musL become a guardlan and hosL" Lo Lhe oLher Lhls ls Lhe
meanlng of Lhe slgn of peace ln Lhe celebraLlon of Lhe LucharlsL189

ll 1he world of educaLlon

134 CaLhollc schools are a preclous resource for learnlng from chlldhood how Lo creaLe bonds
of peace and harmony ln socleLy slnce Lhey Lraln chlldren ln Lhe Afrlcan values LhaL are Laken
up by Lhose of Lhe Cospel l encourage blshops and lnsLlLuLes of consecraLed persons Lo enable
chlldren of Lhe proper age Lo recelve schoollng Lhls ls a maLLer of [usLlce for each chlld and
lndeed Lhe fuLure of Afrlca depends on lL ChrlsLlans and young people ln parLlcular should
sLudy Lhe educaLlonal sclences wlLh a vlew Lo passlng down knowledge full of LruLh noL mere
knowhow buL genulne knowledge of llfe lnsplred by a ChrlsLlan consclousness shaped by Lhe
Church's soclal docLrlne lL wlll also be flLLlng Lo ensure LhaL personnel ln Lhe Church's
educaLlonal lnsLlLuLlons and lndeed all Church personnel recelve [usL remuneraLlon ln order Lo
sLrengLhen Lhe Church's credlblllLy

133 Clven Lhe greaL fermenL of peoples culLures and rellglons whlch marks our age CaLhollc
unlverslLles and academlc lnsLlLuLlons play an essenLlal role ln Lhe paLlenL rlgorous and humble
search for Lhe llghL whlch comes from 1ruLh Cnly a LruLh capable of Lranscendlng human
sLandards of measure condlLloned by Lhelr own llmlLaLlons brlngs peace Lo lndlvlduals and
reconclllaLlon Lo socleLles lor Lhls reason lL would help Lo esLabllsh new CaLhollc unlverslLles
wherever Lhese do noL yeL exlsL uear broLhers and slsLers ln CaLhollc unlverslLles and academlc
lnsLlLuLlons lL falls Lo you on Lhe one hand Lo shape Lhe mlnds and hearLs of Lhe younger
generaLlon ln Lhe llghL of Lhe Cospel and on Lhe oLher Lo help Afrlcan socleLles beLLer Lo
undersLand Lhe challenges confronLlng Lhem Loday by provldlng Afrlca Lhrough your research
and analyses wlLh Lhe llghL she needs

136 1he mlsslon whlch Lhe AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca enLrusLed Lo CaLhollc
lnsLlLuLlons of hlgher educaLlon ls as perLlnenL as ever ln lL my blessed predecessor wroLe 1he
CaLhollc unlverslLles and Plgher lnsLlLuLes ln Afrlca have a promlnenL role Lo play ln Lhe
proclamaLlon of Lhe salvlflc Word of Cod 1hey are a slgn of Lhe growLh of Lhe Church lnsofar as
Lhelr research lnLegraLes Lhe LruLhs and experlences of Lhe falLh and helps Lo lnLernallze Lhem
1hey serve Lhe Church by provldlng Lralned personnel by sLudylng lmporLanL Lheologlcal and
soclal quesLlons for Lhe beneflL of Lhe Church by developlng an Afrlcan Lheology by promoLlng
Lhe work of lnculLuraLlon by publlshlng books and publlclzlng CaLhollc LruLh by underLaklng
asslgnmenLs glven by Lhe blshops and by conLrlbuLlng Lo Lhe sclenLlflc sLudy of culLures
CaLhollc culLural cenLres offer Lo Lhe Church Lhe posslblllLy of presence and acLlon ln Lhe fleld of
culLural exchange 1hey consLlLuLe ln effecL publlc forums whlch allow Lhe Church Lo make
wldely known ln creaLlve dlalogue ChrlsLlan convlcLlons abouL man woman famlly work
economy socleLy pollLlcs lnLernaLlonal llfe Lhe envlronmenL 1hus Lhey are places of llsLenlng
respecL and Lolerance"190 8lshops wlll Lake care LhaL Lhese lnsLlLuLlons of hlgher educaLlon
malnLaln Lhelr CaLhollc ldenLlLy by always movlng ln dlrecLlons falLhful Lo Lhe Leachlng of Lhe
Church's maglsLerlum
137 ln order Lo make a solld and proper conLrlbuLlon Lo Afrlcan socleLy lL ls lndlspensable LhaL
sLudenLs be LaughL Lhe Church's soclal docLrlne 1hls wlll help Lhe Church ln Afrlca serenely Lo
prepare a pasLoral plan whlch speaks Lo Lhe hearL of Afrlcans and enables Lhem Lo be
reconclled Lo Lhemselves by followlng ChrlsL Cnce agaln lL ls up Lo blshops Lo supporL a
pasLoral ouLreach Lo Lhe llfe of Lhe lnLellecL and reason so as Lo fosLer a hablL of raLlonal
dlalogue and crlLlcal analysls wlLhln socleLy and ln Lhe Church As l sald ln ?aounde erhaps
Lhls cenLury wlll permlL by Cod's grace Lhe reblrLh on your conLlnenL albelL surely ln a new
and dlfferenL form of Lhe presLlglous School of Alexandrla Why should we noL hope LhaL lL
could furnlsh Loday's Afrlcans and Lhe unlversal Church wlLh greaL Lheologlans and splrlLual
masLers who could conLrlbuLe Lo Lhe sancLlflcaLlon of Lhe lnhablLanLs of Lhls conLlnenL and of
Lhe whole Church?"191

138 lL ls good LhaL blshops supporL chaplalncles wlLhln Lhe Church's unlverslLles and schools
and esLabllsh Lhem ln Lhelr publlc counLerparLs 1he chapel wlll be as lL were Lhe hearL of
Lhose lnsLlLuLlons lL wlll enable sLudenLs Lo encounLer Cod and Lo sLand ln hls slghL lL wlll also
allow Lhe chaplaln who should be carefully selecLed for hls prlesLly vlrLues Lo exerclse hls
pasLoral mlnlsLry of Leachlng and sancLlflcaLlon

lll 1he world of healLh care

139 1he Church has always been concerned wlLh healLh She follows Lhe example of ChrlsL
hlmself who proclalmed Lhe word and healed Lhe slck and Lhen gave hls dlsclples Lhe same
auLhorlLy Lo heal every dlsease and every lnflrmlLy" (ML 101 cf 1433 Mk 132 34 613 33)
1hrough her healLh care lnsLlLuLlons Lhe Church conLlnues Lo show Lhls same concern for Lhe
slck and for all who suffer As Lhe Synod laLhers sLressed Lhe Church ls resoluLely engaged ln
Lhe flghL agalnsL lnflrmlLles dlsease and Lhe greaL pandemlcs192

140 1he Church's healLh care lnsLlLuLlons and all Lhelr personnel should sLrlve Lo see ln each
slck person a sufferlng member of ChrlsL's 8ody ulfflculLles of every klnd rlse up along Lhe way
Lhe growlng numbers of Lhe slck lnadequaLe maLerlal and flnanclal resources Lhe wlLhdrawal
of supporL by organlzaLlons whlch had helped you for years and are now abandonlng you aL
Llmes all Lhls can glve you Lhe lmpresslon LhaL your work produces no Langlble resulLs uear
healLhcare workers brlng !esus' compasslonaLe love Lo Lhose who suffer! 8e paLlenL sLand flrm
and do noL lose hearL! As far as pandemlcs are concerned whlle flnanclal and maLerlal
resources remaln lndlspensable seek also consLanLly Lo form and lnform people especlally Lhe
young193

141 PealLh care lnsLlLuLlons need Lo be managed ln compllance wlLh Lhe Church's eLhlcal
norms provldlng servlces whlch conform Lo her Leachlng and are excluslvely prollfe 1hey musL
noL become a source of enrlchmenL for a few 1he managemenL of granL monles musL alm aL
Lransparency and prlmarlly serve Lhe good of Lhe slck llnally each healLh care lnsLlLuLlon oughL
Lo have a chapel Lhe presence of whlch wlll remlnd all who work Lhere (managemenL sLaff
physlclans and nurses) as well as Lhe slck Lhemselves LhaL Cod alone ls Lhe Lord of llfe and
deaLh lL would also be flLLlng Lo lncrease Lo Lhe exLenL posslble Lhe number of smaller
dlspensarles whlch provlde local care and emergency ald

lv 1he world of lnformaLlon Lechnology and communlcaLlons

142 1he AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca saw Lhe modern medla noL only as means of
communlcaLlon buL Lhemselves a world Lo be evangellzed194 1he medla should sLand aL Lhe
servlce of an auLhenLlc communlcaLlon whlch ls a prlorlLy ln Afrlca slnce Lhey are a slgnlflcanL
force for Lhe developmenL of Lhe conLlnenL193 and for evangellzaLlon 1he medla can make
an lmporLanL conLrlbuLlon Lowards Lhe growLh ln communlon of Lhe human famlly and Lhe
eLhos of socleLy when Lhey are used Lo promoLe unlversal parLlclpaLlon ln Lhe common search
for whaL ls [usL"196

143 Lveryone knows LhaL Lhe new lnformaLlon Lechnologles are capable of belng powerful
lnsLrumenLs for unlLy and peace buL also for desLrucLlon and dlvlslon lrom a moral sLandpolnL
Lhey can offer elLher a servlce or a dlsservlce propagaLe LruLh as well as falsehood propose
whaL ls base as well as whaL ls beauLlful 1he flood of news or nonnews Lo say noLhlng of
lmages can be lnformaLlve buL also powerfully manlpulaLlve lnformaLlon can readlly become
dlslnformaLlon and formaLlon deformaLlon 1he medla can be a force for auLhenLlc
humanlzaLlon buL [usL as easlly prove dehumanlzlng

144 1he medla can avold Lhls danger lf Lhey are geared Lowards a vlslon of Lhe person and Lhe
common good LhaL reflecLs Lruly unlversal values !usL because soclal communlcaLlons lncrease
Lhe posslblllLles of lnLerconnecLlon and Lhe dlssemlnaLlon of ldeas lL does noL follow LhaL Lhey
promoLe freedom or lnLernaLlonallze developmenL and democracy for all 1o achleve goals of
Lhls klnd Lhey need Lo focus on promoLlng Lhe dlgnlLy of persons and peoples Lhey need Lo be
clearly lnsplred by charlLy and placed aL Lhe servlce of LruLh of Lhe good and of naLural and
supernaLural fraLernlLy"197

143 1he Church needs Lo be lncreaslngly presenL ln Lhe medla so as Lo make Lhem noL only a
Lool for Lhe spread of Lhe Cospel buL also for educaLlng Lhe Afrlcan peoples Lo reconclllaLlon ln
LruLh and Lhe promoLlon of [usLlce and peace A solld formaLlon ln eLhlcs and LruLhfulness wlll
help [ournallsLs Lo avold Lhe aLLracLlon of Lhe sensaLlonal as well as Lhe LempLaLlon Lo
manlpulaLe lnformaLlon and Lo make easy money ChrlsLlan [ournallsLs should noL be afrald Lo
show Lhelr falLh! 1hey should be proud of lL! 1he presence and acLlvlLy of compeLenL lay falLhful
ln Lhe world of publlc and prlvaLe communlcaLlons should also be encouraged Llke leaven ln
Lhe dough Lhey wlll conLlnue Lo LesLlfy Lo Lhe poslLlve and consLrucLlve conLrlbuLlon whlch Lhe
Leachlng of ChrlsL and hls Church makes Lo Lhe world

146 ln Lhls way Lhe declslon of Lhe llrsL Speclal Assembly for Afrlca Lo conslder
communlcaLlons as a ma[or axls of evangellzaLlon has proved frulLful for Lhe developmenL of
CaLhollc medla lL would perhaps also be sulLable Lo coordlnaLe exlsLlng sLrucLures as ls already
belng done ln cerLaln areas Such an lmprovemenL ln Lhe use of medla wlll conLrlbuLe Lo a
greaLer promoLlon of Lhe values upheld aL Lhe Synod peace [usLlce and reconclllaLlon ln
Afrlca198 and wlll enable Lhe conLlnenL Lo share ln Lhe presenL developmenL of Lhe world
ChapLer lll

S1Anu u 1AkL ?Cu8 MA1
Anu WALk!"

(!n 38)

l !esus' Leachlng aL Lhe pool of 8eLhzaLha

147 uear broLher blshops dear sons and daughLers of Afrlca afLer havlng revlewed Lhe
prlnclpal acLlons and some of Lhe means whlch Lhe Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of
8lshops proposed for carrylng ouL Lhe Church's mlsslon l would llke Lo reLurn Lo cerLaln polnLs
Lo whlch l have already alluded

148 1he flfLh chapLer of SalnL !ohn's Cospel presenLs a sLrlklng scene Lhe pool of 8eLhzaLha
wlLh lLs flve porLlcoes ln whlch lay many lnvallds bllnd lame and paralyzed" (v 3) 1hls ls Lhe
seLLlng for Lhe heallng abouL Lo Lake place Cne man was Lhere who had been lll for LhlrLy
elghL years" (v 3) buL had no one Lo puL hlm lnLo Lhe pool 1hen !esus walks lnLo hls llfe
LveryLhlng changes as soon as !esus says Lo hlm SLand up Lake your maL and walk!" (v 8) AL
once" Lhe evangellsL Lells us Lhe man was healed" (v 9) Pe no longer needed Lhe waLer of
Lhe pool

149 8y accepLlng !esus Afrlca can recelve lncomparably effecLlve and deep heallng Lcholng
Lhe AposLle eLer ln Lhe AcLs of Lhe AposLles (36) l repeaL whaL Afrlca needs mosL ls nelLher
gold nor sllver she wanLs Lo sLand up llke Lhe man aL Lhe pool of 8eLhzaLha she wanLs Lo have
confldence ln herself and ln her dlgnlLy as a people loved by her Cod lL ls Lhls encounLer wlLh
!esus whlch Lhe Church musL offer Lo brulsed and wounded hearLs yearnlng for reconclllaLlon
and peace and LhlrsLlng for [usLlce We musL provlde and proclalm Lhe word of ChrlsL whlch
heals seLs free and reconclles

ll 1he word of Cod and Lhe sacramenLs

A 1he sacred ScrlpLures

130 Accordlng Lo SalnL !erome lgnorance of Lhe ScrlpLures ls lgnorance of ChrlsL"199
8eadlng and medlLaLlng on Lhe word of Cod noL only glves us Lhe surpasslng value of knowlng
ChrlsL !esus" (hll 38) buL also rooLs us more deeply ln ChrlsL and guldes our servlce of
reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace 1he celebraLlon of Lhe LucharlsL whose flrsL parL ls Lhe LlLurgy
of Lhe Word ls lLs source and summlL lor Lhls reason l recommend LhaL Lhe blbllcal aposLolaLe
be promoLed ln each ChrlsLlan communlLy ln Lhe famlly and ln Lhe eccleslal movemenLs

131 Lach member of ChrlsL's falLhful should grow accusLomed Lo readlng Lhe 8lble dally! An
aLLenLlve readlng of Lhe recenL AposLollc LxhorLaLlon verbum uomlnl can provlde some useful
pasLoral lndlcaLlons Care should be Laken Lo lnlLlaLe Lhe falLhful lnLo Lhe anclenL and frulLful
LradlLlon of lecLlo dlvlna 1he word of Cod can lead Lo Lhe knowledge of !esus ChrlsL and brlng
abouL converslons whlch produce reconclllaLlon slnce lL ls able Lo slfL Lhe LhoughLs and
lnLenLlons of Lhe hearL" (Peb 412) 1he Synod laLhers encouraged ChrlsLlan parlsh
communlLles SCCs famllles and assoclaLlons and eccleslal movemenLs Lo seL aslde Llmes for
sharlng Lhe word of Cod200 ln Lhls way Lhey wlll lncreaslngly become places where Cod's
word whlch bullds up Lhe communlLy of ChrlsL's dlsclples ls read medlLaLed on and
celebraLed 1hls word consLanLly enllvens fraLernal communlon (cf 1 eL 12223)

8 1he LucharlsL

132 1he mosL effecLlve means for bulldlng a reconclled [usL and peaceful socleLy ls a llfe of
profound communlon wlLh Cod and wlLh oLhers 1he Lable of Lhe Lord gaLhers LogeLher men
and women of dlfferenL orlglns culLures races languages and eLhnlc groups 1hanks Lo Lhe
8ody and 8lood of ChrlsL Lhey become Lruly one ln Lhe eucharlsLlc ChrlsL Lhey become blood
relaLlons and Lhus Lrue broLhers and slsLers Lhanks Lo Lhe word and Lo Lhe 8ody and 8lood of
Lhe same !esus ChrlsL 1hls bond of fraLernlLy ls sLronger Lhan LhaL of human famllles Lhan LhaL
of our Lrlbes lor Lhose whom he foreknew he also predesLlned Lo be conformed Lo Lhe lmage
of hls Son ln order LhaL he mlghL be Lhe flrsLborn among many breLhren" (8om 829) 1he
example of !esus enables Lhem Lo love one anoLher and Lo glve Lhelr llves for one anoLher slnce
Lhe love by whlch one ls loved ls meanL Lo be shared ln deed and ln LruLh201 ConsequenLly
Lhe communlLy celebraLlon of Sunday Lhe Lord's uay and holydays of obllgaLlon ls
lndlspensable

133 l do noL lnLend Lo presenL here a Lheologlcal LreaLlse on Lhe LucharlsL ln Lhe osLSynodal
AposLollc LxhorLaLlon SacramenLum CarlLaLls l had Lraced some of lLs maln llnes Pere l exhorL
Lhe whole Church ln Afrlca Lo show parLlcular care for Lhe celebraLlon of Lhe LucharlsL
memorlal of Lhe sacrlflce of ChrlsL !esus slgn of unlLy and bond of charlLy paschal banqueL and
pledge of eLernal llfe 1he LucharlsL should be celebraLed wlLh dlgnlLy and beauLy ln
compllance wlLh Lhe esLabllshed norms LucharlsLlc adoraLlon lndlvldually and ln communlLy
wlll lead Lo a deeper appreclaLlon of Lhls greaL mysLery Along Lhese llnes a conLlnenLal
LucharlsLlc Congress could be celebraLed 1hls would bolsLer Lhe efforL of ChrlsLlans Lo LesLlfy Lo
Lhe fundamenLal values of communlon ln every Afrlcan socleLy202

134 1o ensure respecL for Lhe eucharlsLlc mysLery Lhe Synod laLhers recalled LhaL churches
and chapels are sacred places Lo be used solely for llLurglcal celebraLlons avoldlng Lo Lhe
exLenL posslble LhaL Lhey become slmply places for soclallzlng or culLural spaces 1here ls a
need Lo sLress Lhelr prlmary funcLlon whlch ls LhaL of belng a prlvlleged place of encounLer
beLween Cod and hls people beLween Cod and hls falLhful creaLure 1here ls also a need Lo
ensure LhaL Lhe archlLecLure of Lhese sacred edlflces ls worLhy of Lhe mysLery Lhey celebraLe
and ln conformlLy wlLh eccleslasLlcal leglslaLlon and local sLyle 1hey should be bullL under Lhe
responslblllLy of Lhe blshops afLer Lhe oplnlon of persons compeLenL ln llLurgy and archlLecLure
has been heard May lL be sald upon enLerlng Lhem Surely Lhe Lord ls ln Lhls place 1hls ls
none oLher Lhan Lhe house of Cod and Lhls ls Lhe gaLe of heaven" (Cen 281617)! 1hey wlll
also fulfll Lhelr purpose lf Lhey help Lhe communlLy reborn ln Lhe LucharlsL and Lhe oLher
sacramenLs Lo prolong Lhe celebraLlon ln Lhe llfe of socleLy by perpeLuaLlng Lhe example of
ChrlsL hlmself (cf !n 1313)203 1hls eucharlsLlc conslsLency"204 challenges every ChrlsLlan
consclence (cf 1 Cor 111722)

C 8econclllaLlon

133 1o help Afrlcan socleLles heal Lhe wounds of dlvlslon and haLred Lhe Synod laLhers urged
Lhe Church Lo remember LhaL she bears wlLhln herself Lhe same wounds and paln Pence she
Loo needs Lhe Lord's heallng so LhaL she can credlbly bear wlLness LhaL Lhe sacramenL of
8econclllaLlon blnds up and heals wounded hearLs 1hls sacramenL mends Lhe broken bonds
beLween lndlvlduals and Cod and resLores bonds wlLhln socleLy lL also Lralns our hearLs and
our splrlLs Lo llve ln unlLy of splrlL sympaLhy love for one anoLher a Lender hearL and a
humble mlnd" (1 eL 38)

136 Pere l would recall Lhe lmporLance of lndlvldual confesslon whlch no oLher acL of
reconclllaLlon or any parallLurgy can replace l encourage all Lhe Church's falLhful clergy
consecraLed persons and lalLy Lo resLore Lo lLs Lrue place Lhe sacramenL of 8econclllaLlon ln lLs
Lwofold dlmenslon personal and communlLarlan203 CommunlLles lacklng prlesLs because of
greaL dlsLances or for any oLher reason can experlence Lhe eccleslal characLer of enance and
8econclllaLlon Lhrough nonsacramenLal forms ln Lhls way ChrlsLlans ln lrregular slLuaLlons can
also share ln Lhe Church's penlLenLlal [ourney As Lhe Synod laLhers polnLed ouL Lhe non
sacramenLal form of enance can be consldered a means of preparlng Lhe falLhful for a frulLful
recepLlon of Lhe sacramenL206 buL lL can never become a regular norm much less a
subsLlLuLe for Lhe sacramenL lLself l warmly encourage prlesLs Lo experlence Lhls sacramenL ln
Lhelr own llves and Lo make Lhemselves readlly avallable for lLs celebraLlon

137 ln order Lo encourage reconclllaLlon ln communlLles l hearLlly recommend as dld Lhe
Synod laLhers LhaL each counLry celebraLe yearly a day or week of reconclllaLlon parLlcularly
durlng AdvenL or LenL"207 SLCAM wlll be able Lo help brlng Lhls abouL and ln accord wlLh Lhe
Poly See promoLe a conLlnenLwlde ?ear of 8econclllaLlon Lo beg of Cod speclal forglveness for
all Lhe evlls and ln[urles muLually lnfllcLed ln Afrlca and for Lhe reconclllaLlon of persons and
groups who have been hurL ln Lhe Church and ln Lhe whole of socleLy208 1hls would be an
exLraordlnary !ubllee ?ear durlng whlch Lhe Church ln Afrlca and ln Lhe nelghbourlng lslands
glves Lhanks wlLh Lhe unlversal Church and lmplores Lhe glfLs of Lhe Poly SplrlL"209 especlally
Lhe glfL of reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace

138 lor Lhese celebraLlons lL would be helpful Lo follow Lhe advlce of Lhe Synod laLhers May
Lhe memory of Lhe greaL wlLnesses who gave Lhelr llves ln servlce of Lhe Cospel and Lhe
common good or for Lhe defence of LruLh and human rlghLs be kepL allve and falLhfully
recalled"210 lor Lhe salnLs are Lhe Lrue sLars of our llfe Lhose who have llved good llves
1hey are llghLs of hope CerLalnly !esus ChrlsL ls Lhe Lrue llghL Lhe sun LhaL has rlsen above all
Lhe shadows of hlsLory 8uL Lo reach hlm we also need llghLs close by people who shlne wlLh
hls llghL and so gulde us along our way"211

lll 1he new evangellzaLlon

139 8efore concludlng Lhls documenL l would llke Lo reLurn once more Lo Lhe Lask faclng Lhe
Church ln Afrlca commlLmenL Lo evangellzaLlon Lo Lhe mlsslo ad genLes and Lo Lhe new
evangellzaLlon so LhaL Lhe feaLures of Lhe Afrlcan conLlnenL wlll lncreaslngly be modelled on
Lhe ever Llmely Leachlng of ChrlsL Lhe Lrue llghL of Lhe world" and Lhe auLhenLlc salL of Lhe
earLh"

A 8earers of ChrlsL Lhe llghL of Lhe world"

160 1he urgenL work of evangellzaLlon ls carrled ouL ln dlfferenL ways ln accordance wlLh Lhe
dlverse slLuaLlons of each counLry ln lLs preclse sense evangellzaLlon ls Lhe mlsslo ad genLes
dlrecLed Lo Lhose who do noL know ChrlsL ln a wlder sense lL ls used Lo descrlbe ordlnary
pasLoral work whlle Lhe phrase 'new evangellzaLlon' deslgnaLes pasLoral ouLreach Lo Lhose who
no longer pracLlse Lhe ChrlsLlan falLh"212 Cnly an evangellzaLlon lnsplred by Lhe power of Lhe
Poly SplrlL can become Lhe new law of Lhe Cospel" and bear splrlLual frulL213 1he hearL of
all evangellzlng acLlvlLy ls Lhe proclamaLlon of Lhe person of !esus Lhe lncarnaLe Word of Cod
(cf !n 114) who dled and rose agaln and ls ever presenL ln Lhe communlLy of Lhe falLhful hls
Church (cf ML 2820) 1hls ls a presslng Lask noL only for Afrlca buL for Lhe whole world slnce
Lhe mlsslon whlch ChrlsL Lhe 8edeemer enLrusLed Lo hls Church ls noL yeL fully accompllshed

161 1he Cospel of !esus ChrlsL Lhe Son of Cod" (Mk 11) ls Lhe sure paLh Lo an encounLer wlLh
Lhe person of Lhe Lord !esus Searchlng Lhe ScrlpLures enables us lncreaslngly Lo dlscover Lhe
Lrue face of !esus Lhe revelaLlon of Cod Lhe laLher (cf !n 1243) and hls savlng work
8edlscoverlng Lhe cenLrallLy of Lhe dlvlne word ln Lhe ChrlsLlan llfe leads us Lo appreclaLe anew
Lhe deepesL meanlng of Lhe forceful appeal of ope !ohn aul ll Lo pursue Lhe mlsslo ad genLes
and vlgorously Lo embark upon Lhe new evangellzaLlon"214

162 Led by Lhe Poly SplrlL Lhe Church ln Afrlca musL proclalm Lhe mysLery of salvaLlon by
llvlng lL Lo Lhose who have noL yeL learned of lL 1he Poly SplrlL whom ChrlsLlans recelved ln
8apLlsm ls Lhe flre of love lmpelllng us Lo Lhe work of evangellzaLlon AfLer enLecosL Lhe
dlsclples fllled wlLh Lhe Poly SplrlL" (AcLs 24) wenL forLh from Lhe upper 8oom where Lhey
had Laken refuge ouL of fear and proclalmed Lhe Cood news of !esus ChrlsL 1he enLecosL
evenL enables us beLLer Lo undersLand Lhe mlsslon of ChrlsLlans as Lhe llghL of Lhe world" and
Lhe salL of Lhe earLh" on Lhe Afrlcan conLlnenL lL ls Lhe properLy of llghL Lo be dlffused and Lo
shlne on our many broLhers and slsLers who are sLlll ln darkness 1he mlsslo ad genLes calls for
commlLmenL on Lhe parL of all Afrlca's ChrlsLlans lmpelled by Lhe SplrlL Lhey brlng !esus ChrlsL
Lhe llghL of Lhe world" Lo every place on Lhe conLlnenL and Lo all Lhe areas of personal famlly
and soclal llfe 1he Synod laLhers emphaslzed Lhe urgenL need for evangellzaLlon whlch ls Lhe
mlsslon and Lhe Lrue ldenLlLy of Lhe Church"213

8 WlLnesses of Lhe rlsen ChrlsL

163 1oday Loo Lhe Lord !esus exhorLs Lhe ChrlsLlans of Afrlca Lo proclalm ln hls name
repenLance and forglveness of slns Lo all naLlons" (Lk 2447) lor Lhls reason Lhey are called Lo
be wlLnesses of Lhe 8lsen Lord (cf Lk 2448) 1he Synod laLhers lnslsLed LhaL evangellzaLlon
essenLlally conslsLs ln bearlng wlLness Lo ChrlsL ln Lhe power of Lhe SplrlL by one's llfe Lhen by
one's words ln a splrlL of openness and respecLful dlalogue wlLh oLhers whlle holdlng fasL Lo
Lhe values of Lhe Cospel"216 ln Lhe case of Lhe Church ln Afrlca Lhls wlLness needs Lo be aL
Lhe servlce of reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace

164 1he proclamaLlon of Lhe Cospel musL recover Lhe ardour of Lhe beglnnlngs of Lhe
evangellzaLlon of Lhe Afrlcan conLlnenL aLLrlbuLed Lo Lhe evangellsL Mark and carrled on by
counLless salnLs marLyrs confessors and vlrglns"217 1here ls a need graLefully Lo remember
and lmlLaLe Lhe enLhuslasm of so many mlsslonarles who over Lhe course of several cenLurles
sacrlflced Lhelr llves Lo brlng Lhe Cood news Lo Lhelr broLhers and slsLers ln Afrlca ln recenL
years Lhe Church ln dlfferenL counLrles has commemoraLed Lhe hundredLh annlversary of
evangellzaLlon She has rlghLly renewed her commlLmenL Lo brlng Lhe Cospel Lo Lhose who do
noL yeL know Lhe name of !esus ChrlsL

163 lf Lhls efforL ls Lo be more effecLlve Lhe mlsslo ad genLes musL keep pace wlLh Lhe new
evangellzaLlon ln Afrlca Loo slLuaLlons demandlng a new presenLaLlon of Lhe Cospel new ln
lLs ardour meLhods and expresslon"218 are noL rare ln parLlcular Lhe new evangellzaLlon
needs Lo lnLegraLe Lhe lnLellecLual dlmenslon of Lhe falLh lnLo Lhe llvlng experlence of Lhe
encounLer wlLh !esus ChrlsL presenL and aL work ln Lhe eccleslal communlLy 8elng ChrlsLlan ls
born noL of an eLhlcal declslon or a lofLy ldeal buL an encounLer wlLh an evenL a person whlch
glves llfe a new horlzon and a declslve dlrecLlon CaLechesls musL Lherefore lnLegraLe lLs
LheoreLlcal dlmenslon whlch deals wlLh concepLs Lo be learned by hearL and lLs pracLlcal
dlmenslon whlch ls experlenced aL Lhe llLurglcal splrlLual eccleslal culLural and charlLable
levels ln order LhaL Lhe seed of Cod's word once fallen on ferLlle ground can slnk deep rooLs
and grow Lo maLurlLy

166 lor Lhls Lo happen lL ls essenLlal Lo employ new meLhods avallable Lo us Loday WlLh
regard Lo Lhe means of soclal communlcaLlon of whlch l have already spoken l would recall an
observaLlon whlch l recenLly made ln Lhe osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon verbum uomlnl
SalnL 1homas clLlng SalnL AugusLlne lnslsLs LhaL 'Lhe leLLer even LhaL of Lhe Cospel would klll
were Lhere noL Lhe grace of heallng falLh'"219 WlLh Lhls ln mlnd lL should also be consLanLly
kepL ln mlnd LhaL no medlum can nor should replace personal conLacL verbal proclamaLlon and
Lhe wlLness of an auLhenLlc ChrlsLlan llfe Such personal conLacL and verbal proclamaLlon need
Lo express a llvlng falLh whlch engages and Lransforms one's llfe as well as Lhe love of Cod
whlch reaches and Louches everyone [usL as he or she ls

C Mlsslonarles ln Lhe fooLsLeps of ChrlsL

167 1he pllgrlm Church ln Afrlca ls also called Lo conLrlbuLe Lo Lhe new evangellzaLlon ln
secularlzed counLrles whlch once provlded numerous mlsslonarles buL are Loday sadly lacklng ln
vocaLlons Lo Lhe prlesLhood and Lo Lhe consecraLed llfe ln Lhe meanLlme greaL numbers of
Afrlcan men and women have accepLed Lhe lnvlLaLlon of Lhe Lord of Lhe harvesL (cf ML 93738)
Lo work ln hls vlneyard (cf ML 20116) WlLhouL weakenlng Lhe mlsslonary lmpulse ad genLes
ln Lhe dlfferenL counLrles and lndeed on Lhe whole conLlnenL Lhe blshops of Afrlca should
respond generously Lo Lhe requesLs of Lhelr confreres ln counLrles lacklng vocaLlons and asslsL
Lhe falLhful deprlved of prlesLs 1hls form of cooperaLlon whlch should be governed by accords
beLween Lhe sendlng and Lhe recelvlng Churches becomes a concreLe slgn of Lhe frulLfulness of
Lhe mlsslo ad genLes 8lessed by Lhe Lord Lhe Cood Shepherd (cf !n 101118) lL provldes
valuable supporL for Lhe new evangellzaLlon ln counLrles of anclenL ChrlsLlan LradlLlon

168 1he proclamaLlon of Lhe Cood news glves blrLh wlLhln Lhe Church Lo new expresslons
flLLed Lo Lhe needs of our Llmes culLures and expecLaLlons ln Afrlca Loo Lhe Poly SplrlL ls
consLanLly ralslng up men and women who gaLhered ln varlous assoclaLlons movemenLs and
communlLles devoLe Lhelr llves Lo Lhe spread of Lhe Cospel of !esus ChrlsL ln Lhe llghL of SalnL
auls admonlLlon uo noL quench Lhe SplrlL uo noL desplse Lhe words of propheLs buL LesL
everyLhlng hold fasL Lo whaL ls good absLaln from every form of evll" (1 1h 31922) pasLors
have Lhe duLy Lo ensure LhaL Lhese new expresslons of Lhe perennlal frulLfulness of Lhe Cospel
are lnLegraLed lnLo Lhe pasLoral acLlvlLy of parlshes and dloceses

169 uear broLhers and slsLers Lhe Lheme of Lhe Second Speclal Assembly for Afrlca remlnds us
LhaL Lhe new evangellzaLlon ls especlally concerned wlLh Lhe Church's servlce Lo reconclllaLlon
[usLlce and peace 1hus Lhere ls a need Lo welcome Lhe grace of Lhe Poly SplrlL who blds us
be reconclled Lo Cod" (2 Cor 320) All ChrlsLlans are admonlshed Lo be reconclled Lo Cod ln
Lhls way you wlll become agenLs of reconclllaLlon wlLhln Lhe eccleslal and soclal communlLles ln
whlch you llve and work 1he new evangellzaLlon presumes LhaL ChrlsLlans are reconclled wlLh
Cod and wlLh one anoLher lL demands LhaL we be reconclled wlLh our nelghbours and LhaL we
overcome every klnd of barrler lncludlng Lhose arlslng from language culLure and race All of
us are chlldren of one Cod and laLher who makes hls sun rlse on Lhe evll and on Lhe good
and sends raln on Lhe rlghLeous and on Lhe unrlghLeous" (ML 343)

170 Cod wlll bless a reconclled hearL by granLlng lL hls peace ChrlsLlans wlll Lhus become
peacemakers (cf ML 39) Lo Lhe exLenL LhaL grounded ln dlvlne grace Lhey cooperaLe wlLh Lhelr
Maker ln creaLlng and fosLerlng Lhe glfL of peace As reconclled men and women Lhe falLhful
wlll also promoLe [usLlce everywhere especlally ln Afrlcan socleLles dlvlded and LhreaLened by
vlolence and war yeL hungerlng and LhlrsLlng for Lrue [usLlce 1he Lord lnvlLes us SLrlve flrsL
for Lhe klngdom of Cod and hls rlghLeousness and all Lhese Lhlngs wlll be glven Lo you as well"
(ML 633)

171 1he new evangellzaLlon ls an urgenL Lask for ChrlsLlans ln Afrlca because Lhey Loo need Lo
reawaken Lhelr enLhuslasm for belng members of Lhe Church Culded by Lhe SplrlL of Lhe rlsen
Lord Lhey are called Lo llve Lhe Cood news as lndlvlduals ln Lhelr famllles and ln socleLy and Lo
proclalm lL wlLh fresh zeal Lo persons near and far uslng Lhe new meLhods LhaL dlvlne
rovldence has placed aL our dlsposal for lLs spread ln pralslng Cod Lhe laLher for Lhe wonders
whlch he conLlnues Lo work ln hls Church and ln each of her members Lhe falLhful are called Lo
fan lnLo a flame Lhelr ChrlsLlan vocaLlon ln fldellLy Lo Lhe llvlng eccleslal 1radlLlon Cpen Lo Lhe
prompLlng of Lhe Poly SplrlL who conLlnues Lo awaken dlfferenL charlsms ln Lhe Church
ChrlsLlans musL pursue or underLake wlLh deLermlnaLlon Lhe paLh of hollness and Lhus
lncreaslngly become aposLles of reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace
CCnCLuSlCn
1AkL PLA81 8lSL PL lS CALLlnC"
(Mk 1049)

172 uear broLhers and slsLers Lhe flnal word of Lhe Synod was a summons Lo hope addressed
Lo Afrlca 1hls summons wlll be valn unless lL ls rooLed ln Lhe love of Lhe 8lessed 1rlnlLy lrom
Cod Lhe laLher of all we recelve Lhe mlsslon of passlng on Lo Afrlca Lhe love wlLh whlch ChrlsL
Lhe flrsLborn Son has loved us so LhaL our acLlvlLy lmpelled by hls Poly SplrlL may be gulded by
hope and become a source of hope Whlle earnesLly deslrlng Lo help lmplemenL Lhe dlrecLlves
of Lhe Synod on such burnlng lssues as reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace l express my LrusL LhaL
Lheologlans wlll conLlnue Lo probe Lhe depLhs of Lhe LrlnlLarlan mysLery and lLs meanlng for
everyday Afrlcan llfe"220 Slnce Lhe vocaLlon of all men and women ls one we musL noL lose
our zesL for Lhe reconclllaLlon of humanlLy wlLh Cod Lhrough Lhe mysLery of our salvaLlon ln
ChrlsL Cur redempLlon ls Lhe reason for Lhe confldence and Lhe flrmness of our hope by
vlrLue of whlch we can face our presenL Lhe presenL even lf lL ls arduous can be loved and
accepLed lf lL leads Lowards a goal lf we can be sure of Lhls goal and lf Lhls goal ls greaL enough
Lo [usLlfy Lhe efforL of Lhe [ourney"221

173 Cnce more l say CeL up Church ln Afrlca because you are belng called by Lhe heavenly
laLher whom your ancesLors lnvoked as CreaLor even before knowlng hls merclful closeness
revealed ln hls onlybegoLLen Son !esus ChrlsL SeL ouL on Lhe paLh of a new evangellzaLlon wlLh
Lhe courage LhaL comes Lo you from Lhe Poly SplrlL"222

174 LvangellzaLlon Loday Lakes Lhe name of reconclllaLlon an lndlspensable condlLlon for
lnsLllllng ln Afrlca [usLlce among men and women and bulldlng a falr and lasLlng peace LhaL
respecLs each lndlvldual and all peoples a peace LhaL ls open Lo Lhe conLrlbuLlon of all people
of good wlll lrrespecLlve of Lhelr rellglous eLhnlc llngulsLlc culLural and soclal
backgrounds"223 May Lhe enLlre CaLhollc Church accompany wlLh affecLlon her broLhers and
slsLers of Lhe Afrlcan conLlnenL! May Lhe salnLs of Afrlca susLaln Lhem by Lhelr prayer of
lnLercesslon!224

173 May SalnL !oseph Lhe good masLer of hls house who personally knows whaL lL means Lo
conslder aLLenLlvely and hopefully Lhe fuLure paLhs of Lhe famlly and who lovlngly heard us
and ushered us lnLo Lhe Synod lLself"223 proLecL and accompany Lhe Church ln her mlsslon ln
servlce of Afrlca Lhe land where he found refuge and proLecLlon for Lhe Poly lamlly (cf ML
21313)! May Lhe 8lessed vlrgln Mary MoLher of Lhe Word of Cod and Cur Lady of Afrlca
conLlnue Lo accompany Lhe whole Church by her lnLercesslon and her lnvlLaLlon Lo do whaLever
her Son Lells us (cf !n 23)! May Lhe prayers of Mary Cueen of eace whose hearL ls always
lncllned Lo Cod's wlll susLaln every efforL aL converslon may she consolldaLe every lnlLlaLlve of
reconclllaLlon and sLrengLhen every endeavour for peace ln a world whlch hungers and LhlrsLs
for [usLlce (cf ML 36)226

176 uear broLhers and slsLers Lhrough Lhe Second Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of
8lshops Lhe Lord ln hls goodness and mercy urgenLly remlnds you LhaL you are Lhe salL of Lhe
earLh Lhe llghL of Lhe world" (ML 31314) May Lhese words remlnd you of Lhe dlgnlLy of your
calllng as chlldren of Cod and members of Lhe one holy caLhollc and aposLollc Church! 1hls
calllng conslsLs ln radlaLlng ln a world ofLen grown dark Lhe clarlLy of Lhe Cospel and Lhe
splendour of !esus ChrlsL Lhe Lrue llghL whlch enllghLens everyone" (!n 19) ChrlsLlans musL
glve all men and women a deslre for Cod Lhe laLher Lhe [oy of hls creaLlve presence ln Lhe
world 1hey are also called Lo cooperaLe wlLh Lhe grace of Lhe Poly SplrlL so LhaL Lhe mlracle of
enLecosL may spread LhroughouL Lhe conLlnenL of Afrlca and everyone may become ever
more an aposLle of reconclllaLlon [usLlce and peace

177 May Lhe CaLhollc Church ln Afrlca always be one of Lhe splrlLual lungs of humanlLy and
become dally an ever greaLer blesslng for Lhe noble Afrlcan conLlnenL and for Lhe enLlre world

Clven aL Culdah ln 8enln on 19 november ln Lhe year 2011 Lhe sevenLh of my onLlflcaLe



8LnLulC1 xvl


1 !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca (14 SepLember 1993) 1
AAS 88 (1996) 3

2 Cf llrsL Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of 8lshops llnal Message (6 May 1994) 24
23 !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca (14 SepLember 1993) 63
AAS 88 (1996) 3940

3 Cf Second Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of 8lshops roposlLlo 1

4 Cf roposlLlo 2

3 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Members of Lhe Speclal Councll for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of 8lshops
(?aounde 19 March 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 310

6 !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca (14 SepLember 1993) 63
AAS 88 (1996) 3940

7 Cf no 92 AAS 88 (1996) 3738 cf Second vaLlcan Lcumenlcal Councll uogmaLlc
ConsLlLuLlon on Lhe Church Lumen CenLlum 11 uecree on Lhe AposLolaLe of Lhe LalLy
AposLollcam AcLuoslLaLem 11 !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon lamlllarls
ConsorLlo (22 november 1981) 21 AAS 74 (1982) 104106

8 Cf no 63AAS 88 (1996) 3940

9 Culs dlves salveLur 29 C 9 633

10 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Lhe 8oman Curla (21 uecember 2009) AAS 102 (2010) 33

11 no 79 AAS 88 (1996) 31

12 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 1 AAS 101 (2009) 641

13 ld Pomlly aL Lhe Cpenlng Mass of Lhe Second Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of
8lshops (4 CcLober 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 907

14 !ohn aul ll AposLollc LeLLer novo Mlllennlo lneunLe (6 !anuary 2001) 3 AAS 93 (2001)
267

13 lbld 29 AAS 93 (2001) 286

16 Adversus Paereses lv 20 7 C 7 1037

17 roposlLlo 34

18 8enedlcL xvl Pomlly aL Lhe Closlng Mass of Lhe Second Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe
Synod of 8lshops (23 CcLober 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 918

19 roposlLlo 46

20 1welfLh Crdlnary Ceneral Assembly of Lhe Synod of 8lshops llnal Message (24 CcLober
2008) 10

21 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Lhe 8oman Curla (21 uecember 2009) AAS 102 (2010) 33

22 Cf ld Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 39 AAS 101 (2009) 643647

23 ld Address Lo Lhe 8oman Curla (21 uecember 2009) AAS 102 (2010) 33

24 ld Message for Lhe 2008 World uay of eace AAS 100 (2008) 3843

23 ld Address Lo Lhe 8oman Curla (21 uecember 2009) AAS 102 (2010) 37

26 Cf roposlLlo 3

27 8elaLlo anLe dlscepLaLlonem ll a

28 lbld

29 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Lhe 8oman Curla (21 uecember 2009) AAS 102 (2010) 33

30 Cf ld Pomlly aL Lhe Closlng Mass of Lhe Second Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe Synod
of 8lshops (23 CcLober 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 916

31 Cf !ohn aul ll Message for Lhe 1997 World uay of eace 1 AAS 89 (1997) 1

32 roposlLlo 3

33 Cf 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer ueus CarlLas LsL (23 uecember 2003) 28 AAS 98 (2006)
238240

34 Cf roposlLlo 14

33 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 9 AAS 101 (2009) 646
647

36 Cf ld Lncycllcal LeLLer ueus CarlLas LsL (23 uecember 2003) 2829 AAS 98 (2006) 238
240 lnLernaLlonal 1heologlcal Commlsslon SelecL CuesLlons on Lhe 1heology of Cod Lhe
8edeemer (29 november 1994) 1420 Lnchlrldlon vaLlcanum 14 nos 18441830

37 Cf Second vaLlcan Lcumenlcal Councll asLoral ConsLlLuLlon on Lhe Church ln Lhe Modern
World Caudlum eL Spes 40 onLlflcal Councll for !usLlce and eace Compendlum of Lhe Soclal
uocLrlne of Lhe Church 4931

38 Cf SalnL 1homas Aqulnas Summa 1heol llallae q 38 a 1

39 Cf !ohn aul ll Lncycllcal LeLLer CenLeslmus Annus (1 May 1991) 33 AAS 83 (1991) 837

40 CaLechlsm of Lhe CaLhollc Church 1894

41 LlneamenLa 44

42 SalnL AugusLlne ue ClvlLaLe uel xlx 211 L 41 649

43 Cf 8enedlcL xvl Message for LenL 2010 (30 CcLober 2009) lnsegnamenLl v/2 (2009) 434

44 Cf lbld

43 Cf roposlLlo 17

46 Cf 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 6 AAS 101 (2009)
644

47 ld Lncycllcal LeLLer ueus CarlLas LsL (23 uecember 2003) 28 AAS 98 (2006) 240

48 Cf aul vl AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lvangelll nunLlandl (8 uecember 1973) 33 80 AAS 68
(1976) 4142 7374 !ohn aul ll Lncycllcal LeLLer 8edempLorls Mlsslo (7 uecember 1990) 46
AAS 83 (1991) 293

49 Cf llnal Message 36

30 Cf Second vaLlcan Lcumenlcal Councll uogmaLlc ConsLlLuLlon on Lhe Church Lumen
CenLlum 1

31 Cf CongregaLlon for Lhe uocLrlne of Lhe lalLh uocLrlnal noLe on some AspecLs of
LvangellzaLlon (3 uecember 2007) 9 AAS 100 (2008) 497498

32 LlneamenLa 48

33 roposlLlo 43

34 lbld

33 Cf 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Lhe onLlflcal Councll for Lhe LalLy (21 May 2010)
lnsegnamenLl vl/1 (2010) 738

36 Cf Second vaLlcan Lcumenlcal Councll uecree on Lhe Mlsslonary AcLlvlLy of Lhe Church Ad
CenLes 13

37 aul vl AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lvangelll nunLlandl (8 uecember 1973) 22 AAS 68 (1976)
20

38 Cf roposlLlo 9

39 Cf roposlLlo 8

60 Cf nos 2834 AAS 77 (1983) 230273 1hls Leachlng was conflrmed by Lhe AposLollc
LeLLer lssued MoLu proprlo Mlserlcordla uel (2 May 2002) AAS 94 (2002) 432439

61 Cf roposlLlo 7

62 Cf AposLollc LeLLer novo Mlllennlo lneunLe (6 !anuary 2001) 43 AAS 93 (2001) 297

63 lbld

64 lbld

63 Cf roposlLlo 9

66 Cf roposlLlo 33

67 CongregaLlon for Lhe uocLrlne of Lhe lalLh uocLrlnal noLe on some AspecLs of
LvangellzaLlon (3 uecember 2007) 6 AAS 100 (2008) 494

68 Cf aul vl AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lvangelll nunLlandl (8 uecember 1973) 1920 AAS 68
(1976) 1819

69 Cf !ohn aul ll AposLollc LeLLer novo Mlllennlo lneunLe (6 !anuary 2001) 40 AAS 93
(2001) 293

70 Cf roposlLlo 32

71 8enedlcL xvl Second Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of 8lshops MedlLaLlon afLer
Lhe Pour of 1erce (3 CcLober 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 924

72 no 33 AAS 102 (2010) 734733

73 Cf roposlLlo 43

74 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Members of Lhe Speclal Councll for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of 8lshops
(?aounde 19 March 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 313

73 Cf ld osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon SacramenLum CarlLaLls (22 lebruary 2007) 31
AAS 99 (2007) 144

76 CongregaLlon for Lhe uocLrlne of Lhe lalLh LeLLer Lo Lhe 8lshops of Lhe CaLhollc Church on
Lhe CollaboraLlon of Men and Women ln Lhe Church and ln Lhe World (31 May 2004) 13 AAS
96 (2004) 682

77 8enedlcL xvl Message for Lhe 2008 World uay of eace 3 AAS 100 (2008) 3839

78 Cf roposlLlo 38

79 8enedlcL xvl osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon SacramenLum CarlLaLls (22 lebruary
2007) 79 AAS 99 (2007) 163166

80 Cf lbld 73

81 Cf !ohn aul ll AposLollc LeLLer novo Mlllennlo lneunLe (6 !anuary 2001) 38 and 39 AAS
93 (2001) 293294

82 !ohn aul ll AposLollc LxhorLaLlon lamlllarls ConsorLlo 39 AAS 74 (1982) 130131 cf aul
vl AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lvangelll nunLlandl (8 uecember 1973) 71 AAS 68 (1976) 6061

83 !ohn aul ll Pomlly for Lhe !ubllee of Lhe Llderly (17 SepLember 2000) 3 AAS 92 (2000)
876 cf ld LeLLer Lo Lhe Llderly (1 CcLober 1999) AAS 92 (2000) 186204

84 Cf llnal Message 26

83 LplsLula 1 11 L 63 306C

86 Cf !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon lamlllarls ConsorLlo 23 43 AAS 74
(1982) 110111 134133

87 Cf roposlLlo 43

88 Cf llnal Message 26

89 Cf Second vaLlcan Lcumenlcal Councll asLoral ConsLlLuLlon on Lhe Church ln Lhe Modern
World Caudlum eL Spes 67

90 Crlgen ue rlnclplls lv 4 10 SC 268 427

91 !ohn aul ll AposLollc LeLLer Mullerls ulgnlLaLem (13 AugusL 1988) 29 AAS 80 (1988)
1722 cf 8enedlcL xvl MeeLlng wlLh CaLhollc MovemenLs for Lhe romoLlon of Women
(Luanda 22 March 2009) lnsegnamenLl v/1 (2009) 484

92 8enedlcL xvl MeeLlng wlLh CaLhollc MovemenLs for Lhe romoLlon of Women (Luanda 22
March 2009) lnsegnamenLl v/1 (2009) 484

93 Cf roposlLlo 47

94 8enedlcL xvl MeeLlng wlLh CaLhollc MovemenLs for Lhe romoLlon of Women (Luanda 22
March 2009) lnsegnamenLl v/1 (2009) 484

93 Second Crdlnary Ceneral Assembly of Lhe Synod of 8lshops uocumenL !usLlLla ln Mundo
(30 november 1971) 43 AAS 63 (1971) 933 cf !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc
LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca 121 AAS 88 (1996) 7172

96 llnal Message 23

97 8enedlcL xvl Message for Lhe 2010 World uay of eace 11 AAS 102 (2010) 49 cf ld
Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 31 AAS 101 (2009) 687

98 Cf !ohn aul ll AposLollc LeLLer Mullerls ulgnlLaLem (13 AugusL 1988) 31 AAS 80 (1988)
17271729 lu LeLLer Lo Women (29 !une 1993) 12 AAS 87 (1993) 812

99 Cf llnal Message 2728

100 !ohn aul ll AposLollc LeLLer novo Mlllennlo lneunLe (6 !anuary 2001) 9 AAS 93 (2001)
271272

101 no 104 AAS 102 (2010) 772

102 8ule lll 3 cf !ohn aul ll AposLollc LeLLer novo Mlllennlo lneunLe (6 !anuary 2001) 43
AAS 93 (2001) 298299

103 Cf roposlLlo 48

104 Cf 8enedlcL xvl Message for Lhe xxv World ?ouLh uay (22 lebruary 2010) 7 AAS 102
(2010) 233234 ld osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon verbum uomlnl (30 SepLember 2010)
104 AAS 102 (2010) 772773

103 AAS 97 (2003) 712

106 !ohn aul ll Lncycllcal LeLLer Lvangellum vlLae (23 March 1993) 37 AAS 87 (1993) 466

107 1he Synod laLhers referred Lo dlfferenL slLuaLlons lncludlng Lhose lnvolvlng chlldren
kllled before blrLh unwanLed chlldren orphans alblnos sLreeL chlldren abandoned chlldren
chlld soldlers chlld prlsoners chlldren forced lnLo labour chlldren lllLreaLed on accounL of
physlcal or menLal handlcap chlldren sald Lo be wlLches or warlocks chlldren sald Lo be
serpenLs chlldren sold as sex slaves LraumaLlzed chlldren wlLhouL any fuLure prospecLs eLc Cf
roposlLlo 49

108 Cf !ohn aul ll LeLLer Lo Chlldren (13 uecember 1994) lnsegnamenLl xvll/2 (1994) 1077

109 Cf llnal Message 30

110 Lncycllcal LeLLer opulorum rogresslo (26 March 1967) 14 AAS 39 (1967) 264 cf
8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 18 AAS 101 (2009) 633634

111 Cf roposlLlo 20

112 !ohn aul ll Lncycllcal LeLLer Lvangellum vlLae (23 March 1993) 82 AAS 87 (1993) 493

113 Cf roposlLlo 33

114 Cf roposlLlo 32

113 Cf roposlLlo 31

116 Cf llnal Message 31

117 Cf roposlLlo 19

118 Cf 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 21 AAS 101 (2009)
633636

119 Second vaLlcan Lcumenlcal Councll ueclaraLlon on 8ellglous lreedom ulgnlLaLls
Pumanae 13

120 Cf roposlLlones 17 and 29

121 Cf llnal Message 32

122 Cf 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 42 AAS 101 (2009)
677678 cf roposlLlo 13

123 Second Crdlnary Ceneral Assembly of Lhe Synod of 8lshops uocumenL !usLlLla ln Mundo
(30 november 1971) roposlLlon 8a AAS 63 (1971) 941

124 lbld roposlLlons 8b and 8c AAS 63 (1971) 941

123 Cf roposlLlo 22

126 Cf roposlLlo 30

127 Cf CongregaLlon for Lhe uocLrlne of Lhe lalLh uocLrlnal noLe on Some CuesLlons
8egardlng Lhe arLlclpaLlon of CaLhollcs ln ollLlcal Llfe (24 november 2002) AAS 96 (2004)
339370

128 CaLechlsm of Lhe CaLhollc Church 2419

129 Cf roposlLlo 24 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 38 60
67 AAS 101 (2009) 693694 693 700701 CaLechlsm of Lhe CaLhollc Church 1883 1883

130 Cf roposlLlo 23

131 Cf roposlLlo 26

132 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 43 AAS 101 (2009) 679

133 Cf roposlLlo 34

134 lbld

133 Cf roposlLlo 33

136 Cf roposlLlo 34

137 Cf roposlLlo 28

138 Cf 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Members of Lhe Speclal Councll for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of
8lshops (?aounde 19 March 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 310

139 Cf ld Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 62 AAS 101 (2009) 696697

140 lbld 42 AAS 101 (2009) 677

141 lbld 36 AAS 101 (2009) 672

142 lbld 47 AAS 101 (2009) 684 cf roposlLlo 31

143 Cf roposlLlones 10 11 12 13

144 Confesslons vll 10 16 L 32 742

143 Cf roposlLlo 10

146 ueclaraLlon on Lhe 8elaLlon of Lhe Church Lo nonChrlsLlan 8ellglons nosLra AeLaLe 2 cf
roposlLlones 3 and 13

147 Second vaLlcan Lcumenlcal Councll ueclaraLlon on Lhe 8elaLlon of Lhe Church Lo non
ChrlsLlan 8ellglons nosLra AeLaLe 3

148 Cf llnal Message 41

149 Cf roposlLlo 12

130 Cf 8enedlcL xvl Message for Lhe 2011 World uay of eace AAS 103 (2011) 4638

131 Cf roposlLlo 18

132 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 30 AAS 101 (2009) 663

133 CongregaLlon for 8lshops ulrecLory for Lhe asLoral MlnlsLry of 8lshops AposLolorum
Successores (22 lebruary 2004) 3348 Lnchlrldlon vaLlcanum 22 nos 16301676

134 Lp 33 1 L 4 297

133 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Lhe 8lshops of lrance Lourdes (14 SepLember 2008)
lnsegnamenLl lv/2 (2008) 321

136 roposlLlo 3

137 Cf roposlLlo 4

138 Cf lbld

139 Cf roposlLlo 39

160 Cf llnal Message 20

161 Cf roposlLlo 39

162 Cf 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Lhe 8oman Curla (21 uecember 2009) AAS 102 (2010) 33

163 Lp 661 L 4 398

164 SalnL lgnaLlus of AnLloch Ad Magneslos lll 2 ed lx lunk 233

163 8enedlcL xvl osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon SacramenLum CarlLaLls (22 lebruary
2007) 24 AAS 99 (2007) 123

166 ApologeLlcum 3013 L 1 603

167 Cf CongregaLlon for CaLhollc LducaLlon lundamenLal norms for Lhe lormaLlon of
ermanenL ueacons (22 lebruary 1998) 8 Lnchlrldlon vaLlcanum 17 no 167 CongregaLlon
for Lhe Clergy ulrecLory for Lhe MlnlsLry and Llfe of ermanenL ueacons (22 lebruary 1998) 6
8 and 48 Lnchlrldlon vaLlcanum 17 nos 291 294297 376378

168 Cf LlneamenLa 89

169 Cf roposlLlo 30

170 Cf roposlLlo 41

171 Cf roposlLlo 42

172 Cf Second vaLlcan Lcumenlcal Councll uogmaLlc ConsLlLuLlon on Lhe Church Lumen
CenLlum 46

173 Cf ld uecree on Lhe Mlsslonary AcLlvlLy of Lhe Church Ad CenLes 18

174 Cf roposlLlo 40

173 lbld

176 Cf LeLLer Lo Semlnarlans (18 CcLober 2010) L'CsservaLore 8omano (1819 CcLober 2010)
p 12

177 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Members of Lhe Speclal Councll for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of
8lshops (?aounde 19 March 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 311312

178 Cf roposlLlo 44 !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca (14
SepLember 1993) 91 AAS 88 (1996) 37

179 Cf !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon ChrlsLlfldeles Lalcl (30 uecember
1988) 13 and 17 AAS 81 (1989) 413416 and 418421

180 roposlLlo 37

181 no 103 AAS 88 (1996) 6263

182 8enedlcL xvl Second Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of 8lshops MedlLaLlon
durlng 1erce (3 CcLober 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 920

183 lbld

184 Second vaLlcan Lcumenlcal Councll uogmaLlc ConsLlLuLlon on Lhe Church Lumen
CenLlum 1

183 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer ueus CarlLas LsL (23 uecember 2003) 39 AAS 98 (2006)
230

186 Cf roposlLlo 33

187 8enedlcL xvl Pomlly ln nazareLh (14 May 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 480

188 Cf ld osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon SacramenLum CarlLaLls (22 lebruary 2007) 49
AAS 99 (2007) 143

189 Cf roposlLlo 36

190 no 103 AAS 88 (1996) 6263

191 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Members of Lhe Speclal Councll for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of
8lshops (?aounde 19 March 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 312

192 Cf llnal Message 31

193 lbld

194 Cf !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca (14 SepLember
1993) 124 AAS 88 (1996) 7273

193 Cf roposlLlo 36

196 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer CarlLas ln verlLaLe (29 !une 2009) 73 AAS 101 (2009) 703

197 lbld 73 AAS 101 (2009) 704703

198 Cf roposlLlo 36

199 CommenLarlum ln lsalam propheLam rologus L 24 17

200 Cf roposlLlo 46

201 8enedlcL xvl osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon SacramenLum CarlLaLls (22 lebruary
2007) 82 AAS 99 (2007) 168169 ld Lncycllcal LeLLer ueus CarlLas LsL (23 uecember 2003)
14 AAS 98 (2006) 228229

202 Cf roposlLlo 8

203 Cf osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon SacramenLum CarlLaLls (22 lebruary 2007) 31 AAS
99 (2007) 144

204 lbld 83 AAS 99 (2007) 169

203 Cf roposlLlo 3

206 Cf roposlLlo 6 !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon 8econclllaLlo eL
oenlLenLla (2 uecember 1984) 23 AAS 77 (1983) 233233

207 roposlLlo 8

208 Cf lbld

209 lbld

210 roposlLlo 9

211 8enedlcL xvl Lncycllcal LeLLer Spe Salvl (30 november 2007) 49 AAS 99 (2007) 1023

212 CongregaLlon for Lhe uocLrlne of Lhe lalLh uocLrlnal noLe on some AspecLs of
LvangellzaLlon (3 uecember 2007) 12 AAS 100 (2008) 301

213 Cf SalnL 1homas Aqulnas Summa 1heologlae lallae q 106 a 1

214 8enedlcL xvl osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon verbum uomlnl (30 SepLember 2010)
122 AAS 102 (2010) 783

213 roposlLlo 34

216 lbld cf aul vl AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lvangelll nunLlandl (8 uecember 1973) 21 AAS 68
(1976) 1920

217 !ohn aul ll osLSynodal AposLollc LxhorLaLlon Lcclesla ln Afrlca (14 SepLember 1993)
31 AAS 88 (1996) 21

218 ld Address Lo Lhe Members of Lhe LaLln Amerlcan Lplscopal Councll (9 March 1983) AAS
73 (1983) 778

219 Cf no 29 AAS 102 (2010) 708

220 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Lhe Members of Lhe Speclal Councll of Lhe Synod for Afrlca of Lhe
Synod of 8lshops (?aounde 19 March 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 312

221 ld Lncycllcal LeLLer Spe Salvl (30 november 2007) 1 AAS 99 (2007) 983

222 ld Pomlly aL Lhe llnal Mass of Lhe Second Speclal Assembly for Afrlca of Lhe Synod of
8lshops (23 CcLober 2009) AAS 101 (2009) 918

223 lbld

224 Cf lbld

223 8enedlcL xvl Address Lo Lhe 8oman Curla (21 uecember 2009) AAS 102 (2010) 34

226 Cf roposlLlo 37



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