A WORD FROM AFRICA
James Fitzsimons SJ
Reflections on the Pope's Apostleship of Prayer Intentions
Archbishop Renato Martino was until recently the voice of the Vatican at the Unit ed Nations. Now he heads the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace. So he speaks with authority about the ne ed s of Africa . In May, at Benin in West Africa , he echo ed Pope John Paul when he declar ed that what Africa ne ed s is not pity, but solidarity and Justice. In each nation of Africa , and between nations, conflict must yield to reconciliation and, to achieve this, gre ed must give way to generosity in a Just sharing of the resources which Africa possesses in abundance.
But the ne ed for conversion is not confin ed to Africa in our prayer, we have to share the vision of the Pope. For him, every human person is precious and, at the same time, the whole world is one family of nations, cultures, continents. Talking, also in May, of the dangers of globalization, he propos ed ‘a new constitutional organisation of the human family.' The solidarity that is offer ed to Africa has to be that with which family members support one of their own, so that all may grow as one to maturity, nurturing and guiding one another with love and respect.
So we pray with Pope John Paul in the months coming up to his Silver Jubilee that the develop ed world may use its advanc ed skills wisely and generously for the good of all, seeking the common good which is the only sure road to peace, and that the young people of the world may grow in their witness to that unity for which Christ pray ed , so that, gift ed with his peace, they may know themselves on every continent as brothers and sisters sharing the family of the children of Sod.
Archbishop Renato Martino was until recently the voice of the Vatican at the Unit ed Nations. Now he heads the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace. So he speaks with authority about the ne ed s of Africa . In May, at Benin in West Africa , he echo ed Pope John Paul when he declar ed that what Africa ne ed s is not pity, but solidarity and Justice. In each nation of Africa , and between nations, conflict must yield to reconciliation and, to achieve this, gre ed must give way to generosity in a Just sharing of the resources which Africa possesses in abundance.
But the ne ed for conversion is not confin ed to Africa in our prayer, we have to share the vision of the Pope. For him, every human person is precious and, at the same time, the whole world is one family of nations, cultures, continents. Talking, also in May, of the dangers of globalization, he propos ed ‘a new constitutional organisation of the human family.' The solidarity that is offer ed to Africa has to be that with which family members support one of their own, so that all may grow as one to maturity, nurturing and guiding one another with love and respect.
So we pray with Pope John Paul in the months coming up to his Silver Jubilee that the develop ed world may use its advanc ed skills wisely and generously for the good of all, seeking the common good which is the only sure road to peace, and that the young people of the world may grow in their witness to that unity for which Christ pray ed , so that, gift ed with his peace, they may know themselves on every continent as brothers and sisters sharing the family of the children of Sod.