SECAM et les évêques allemands partagent les conclusions de la réunion d'une semaine à Madagascar

SECAM et les évêques allemands partagent les conclusions de la réunion d'une semaine à Madagascar

CANAA || Par le Père Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 04 juin 2018

Les représentants de la Conférence épiscopale allemande et ceux du Symposium des Conférences épiscopales d'Afrique et de Madagascar (SECAM) ont partagé leurs points de vue sur leur rencontre d'une semaine (22-27 mai 2018), qui s'est déroulée à Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Dans un message à la fin de leur rencontre, les chefs de l'Église ont partagé comment, au cours de leur rencontre, ils avaient « appris davantage sur le développement dans les temps modernes et surtout sur ce que la Doctrine sociale catholique enseigne sur le développement humain intégral », soulignant le thème de leur rencontre.

« Nous avons partagé des expériences personnelles et une compréhension du développement humain intégral et, en particulier, de sa pertinence inséparable pour la mission d'évangélisation de l'Église », ont poursuivi les évêques dans leur message collectif envoyé à la CANAA.

« Dans nos discussions, nous ne pouvions que convenir qu'en tant qu'Eglise, tant en Afrique qu'en Allemagne, l'Esprit Saint ouvre les yeux sur le fait que nous avons encore beaucoup à faire dans notre mission d'évangélisation », ont déclaré les dirigeants de l'Eglise.

Voici le texte intégral du message collectif des évêques, qui comprend sept résolutions.

MESSAGE DE LA HUITIÈME RÉUNION ALLEMAGNE-AFRICAINE DES BISHOPS.

(Antananarivo, 22-27 mai 2018.)

Bonjour. La grâce et la paix de notre Seigneur et Sauveur Jésus-Christ soient avec vous tous. Chers frères et sœurs et vous tous, hommes et femmes de bonne volonté, du 22 au 27 mai 2018, nous, représentants de la Conférence épiscopale allemande et du Symposium des Conférences épiscopales d'Afrique et de Madagascar (SECAM) nous sommes réunis à Antananarivo, la capitale de la République de Madagascar. C'est la huitième réunion de cet organe à la recherche d'une plus grande communion et collaboration au sein de nos Eglises locales, qui a commencé dans les années 1980 afin de partager connaissances et expériences et de mieux servir la mission d'évangélisation confiée à l'Église par Notre-Seigneur et Sauveur Jésus-Christ (voir Mt 28,18-20).

Le thème de cette réunion était : Développement humain intégral, nécessité par les développements socioculturels (certains positifs et d'autres négatifs) de la sécularisation et de la mondialisation que traverse le monde de nos jours, et également inspiré par la doctrine sociale catholique de nos papes au cours des cinquante dernières années, en particulier Populorum Progressio de 1967 par le bienheureux Pape Paul VI, dans lequel il a donné une définition critique du développement, par le Pape Benoît XVI, Caritas en véritable 2009 et la récente Encyclique Laudato Si de 2015 par le Pape François.

En tant qu'Evêques, nous avons pris le temps de prier et de solliciter la grâce divine de célébrer quotidiennement la Sainte Eucharistie, dont une mémorable fut la Messe d'ouverture avec les évêques de la Conférence épiscopale de Madagascar à la paroisse Saint François Xavier, Antananarivo, et la participation du Peuple de Dieu. Nous profitons de nouveau de cette occasion pour féliciter Son Éminence Désir TSARAHAZANA, Archevêque de Toamasina, pour son élévation en tant que Cardinal.

Au cours de notre rencontre, nous avons eu le privilège d'avoir une audience avec le Président de la République de Madagascar, Son Excellence Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA à la présidence, et de l'informer de notre présence et de notre but à Madagascar. Il a à son tour partagé avec nous quelques points de vue sur notre thème et son pays. Nous avons également pris le temps de visiter certains sites du pays pour voir la beauté de la création de Dieu et de nous familiariser avec certains des défis du développement du peuple.

In our meeting, we learned more about development in modern times and most especially what the Catholic Social Doctrine teaches about “Integral Human Development”. We shared personal experiences and understanding of integral human development and, especially, its inseparable relevance to the Church’s mission of evangelization. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ came that humanity may have life and have it to the full (see Jn. 10:10). We are grateful to God for this moment of grace, and we hereby share some of our deliberations, reflections and resolutions with you, dear People of God in our local Churches of Germany and Africa, and with all men and women of goodwill all over the world.

Integral Human Development in the Evangelization Mission of the Church: In the Church’s Social Doctrine, Blessed Paul VI, in Populorum Progressio taught that: “Development cannot be limited to mere economic growth alone. In order to be authentic, it must be complete: integral, that is, it has to promote the good of every person and of the whole person”.

In order to be complete and integral, human development must ensure the total well-being of the person, of every person and of every human society. It must involve the sustained growth of every one, ensuring that he/she enjoys just and peaceful relationships in a thriving environment of cultural, political, economic, social and spiritual wholeness among others. This wholeness should also include the wellbeing of his/her family, society and nature. In fact, it must also guarantee respect for the sacredness of human life, the dignity of every person and the integrity of creation, which Pope Francis calls “our common home” in Laudato Si’.

We are very convinced that as Bishops of Germany and Africa sent by Christ to bring the Good News of salvation to all peoples until the end of the earth (see Mt. 28:18-20), we must renew our missionary zeal working for integral human development as an indispensable part of our mandate, and so we invite you all our clergy and religious, lay women and men, youth and children, professionals in all sectors of human endeavor and socio-political and traditional leadership to contribute to this work of bringing to all persons the fullness of life that Christ came to accomplish.

In our discussions, we could not but agree that as Church, both in Africa and in Germany, the Holy Spirit is opening our eyes to the fact that we still have a lot to do in our mission of evangelization. Just a casual look at the situation in Africa and what stares us in the face is poverty and misery and disease and despair in the midst of God’s plentiful gifts of human and natural resources; these are ills caused by human greed and corruption, injustices of all kinds and violence and fratricidal wars, etc. The situation of Europe also leaves us also worried at the dearth of spiritual values, excessive materialism and consumerism, individualism, little or no of respect for the life and rights of the unborn, of the aged and the infirm, etc. All of these evils, be they in Africa or in Europe, all point to the fact that as Church we still have a lot to do in our evangelization mission.

It is not simply the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ to all, but also the work of deepening our Christian formation and the formation of consciences of our political and socio-economic leaders, as well as the offering of true witness of our faith in Christ Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of all men and women, believers or otherwise.

Evangelization should lead all to understand and develop their lives of relationships with God, with their fellow women and men, and with creation. This work of building relationship demands that we work with all women and men of good will in order to create a new and better world for all to have the chance to develop their talents to the best of their capabilities, and to bring these to serve every body, living and even yet unborn.

Resolutions: The following aspects for the promotion of integral human development are of particular relevance to our resolutions:

1. We renew our commitment to work for a more just world together with all women and men of good will. All human beings have the right to live a decent life. Their basic needs must be ensured, such as access to adequate nutrition, drinking water, education and medical support. All have a right to equal access to markets, humane working conditions and basic social services as well as the opportunity to participate in political decision-making and implementation.

2. This social and economical path of development of humanity needs to respect the ecological limitations of our planet earth, our common home. Without an effective control of the climate change, the opportunities for the poor and poor countries in particular would be drastically reduced. Pope Francis is calling on us urgently to hear the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (LS 48)!

3. Obstacles to integral development can be found within individual countries as well as on the international scene. We speak up for a more just global order especially regarding international trade that offers the same opportunities to all countries and peoples.

4. Integral development can only be successful when discrimination of people, especially of women is eradicated. The empowerment of all women worldwide and in all fields of society is a necessary pre-condition for the development of every single person and of the whole of humanity.

5. As the Church in Africa and in Europe, we commit ourselves to ensure that our evangelization mission and work are inseparably tied to the demands of integral human development: No evangelization without efforts of development! The aims of integral human development should resonate within all aspect of Church life – in liturgical issues, in our catechism, education, welfare and social work. In our universities, faculties of theology and philosophy, seminaries and Catholic schools, we will promote the teaching of Catholic Social Doctrine in order to enable the priests, religious and lay people to promote integral human development of all persons, always and everywhere.

6. We resolve to be advocates of integral human development in our own countries as well as on the international scene even more effectively and more convincingly than before. The Church is a global institution, a global player, offering opportunities that need to be used resolutely – with priority to the well being of the poor and the integrity of creation.

7. We undertake to continue this dialogue and cooperation and communion between the Church in Africa and in Germany. SECAM and the German Bishops’ Conference will elaborate a follow-up programme to our Antananarivo encounter in order to realize our common vision and our concrete proposals in the Church and society. The Church agencies in Germany and their counterparts in Africa (SECAM) will be involved in this process and will engage the necesary scientific and professional capacities on both sides. Moreover, we are looking forward to the next meeting of the African and German Bishops for still more fruitful dialogue and exchange towards greater ecclesial collaboration and communion.

We are thankful for the fraternal communion and greater understanding with each other and as representatives of our local Churches. At this meeting in Antananarivo, we have become more aware of the unique wealth and unique opportunities that characterize our Church, universal and global. We are a global community and communion of learning, prayer and solidarity, sent to be witnesses of faith, hope and love to the whole world. By so doing, we are serving the integral development of every person and of the whole human person.

While entrusting this our messge to the maternal solicitude of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, we say: “To God be the glory, great things he has done! Greater things he will do for all his children!”

Signé :

His Excellency Archbishop Gabriel MBILINGI

Archevêque de Lubango, Angola

Président du SECAM.

His Eminence Reinhard Cardinal MARX

Archbishop of Munich-Freising, Germany

President of the German Bishops’ Conference.

Sunday, May 27, 2018.