EDUCATION
Cardinal Souraphiel calls for peace and forgiveness in Ethiopia
January 11, 2022 1:43 pm
Share
(CGOL)In his Christmas message issued on January 6, the head of the Ethiopian Bishops’ Conference asks the faithfull to ask God for the gift of forgiveness and peace in the country, where civil war has recently entered its second year.
Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, C.M., Archbishop Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
As Ethiopia continues to face war resulting in a serious humanitarian crisis, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel of Addis Ababa has urged Ethiopians to shun pride, anger and hatred that hinder peace in the country.
In his Message for Christmas, which the Oriental Churches celebrated on January 7, the head of the Ethiopian Catholic Church called on all the faithful to avoid evil and to ask God for “the gift of forgiveness and peace” through prayer: “We persevere in prayer because peace and happiness are found in prayer. When we do, we fear God and turn away from all evil. We are all a family”, he says.
Praying for peace
“We need to avoid the spirit of pride, hatred and anger that can break the chains of peace by begging the Lord to graciously grant us peace, even though peace is being violated and war is being waged in our country”, the message continues.
To overcome pride and hatred the Ethiopian Cardinal stresses that “humility, gentleness and patience” are needed: “Only in this way can we truly love one another. So let us return to Him with all our heart, that we may walk together in the spirit of forgiveness”, he writes.
Supporting the suffering
The message further calls on the faithful in Ethiopia to “share the suffering and sorrow of those who have endured war, the traumatized and those suffering from moral breakdown, the displaced and injured, and those that have lost their parents and families”.
The bishops’ support
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) announced recently it would raise US$2 million, with the aid of Church partners, local Catholic Institutions and Catholic faithful, to support people enduring the consequences of the war. The announcement was made in the final message of its recent Plenary Assembly which was focused on the armed conflict.
Over 2 million displaced
War erupted on November 4, 2020, following an attack against federal military bases by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed promised a swift victory, but the fighting has escalated into a widespread conflict involving ethnic-based militias as well as Eritrean armed forces. Over 2 million people have been displaced as a result of the civil war and famine has been officially declared in the region.
Vatican news
Most view
3
4
Same item
(CGOL) O Trinity, we bless you because from all eternity you have chosen Mary to be the mother of the...
(CGOL) Taking care of the elderly, sick and infirm is always a difficult job, even a burden for many people....
(CGOL) A priest in Guinea-Bissau has received death threats after he posted critical comments about President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on...
(CGOL) Argentina – The northern Argentine city of Ingeniero Juarez, in the province of Formosa, is known for being hot...
(CGOL) A Christian with a mature conscience, in moral discernment, needs to understand the various aspects of the matter rather...
(CGOL) The Bishops of the United States respond to reports of increasing incidents of church vandalism and fires, and urge...
(CGOL) After nearly a decade of being caught in the middle of Syria’s bloody civil war, Christians in the country...
(CGOL) Ohio - One month after a major pan-African summit wrapped up in Nigeria, Ugandan missionary priest Father Ruffino Ezama...
(CGOL) Đức Hồng Y Luis Antonio Tagle của Manila đã đọc một bài giảng trong một thánh lễ trước khi...
(CGOL) In the Gospel (Luke 7:28), Jesus said to the crowd: "There is no one greater among men born of...
(CGOL)In his Christmas message issued on January 6, the head of the Ethiopian Bishops' Conference asks the faithfull to ask...
(CGOL) During his installation in the capital Lomé, Togo’s newest archbishop called on presidential candidates to be “servants of the...
(CGOL) With the start of the new year, a seasoned Philadelphia musician is taking on a new challenge as director...
(CGOL) Most Christians would agree it is wrong to hate someone, but it is also wrong to be indifferent, which...
(CGOL) British Cardinal Vincent Nichols is calling on the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson to allow Ukrainian refugees “to...
(CGOL) Hailed in early news reports for its opening of top Vatican leadership roles to any baptized lay person, including...
(CGOL) A Ukrainian priest described escaping from his bombed-out parish in Mariupol and said he still hopes some Catholics will...
(CGOL) Testifying against legislation that would codify a right to an abortion into Colorado law, Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver...
(CGOL) In 2014, I published a list of ‘100 Best Catholic Movies.’ Below I have arranged the list not by...
