It might well appear to some of the Bishops from Africa participating in this Special Assembly that for their particular Churches - many of which are relatively young - the promotion of Christian Unity is not to be considered as one of the priorities of their pastoral action, or that at best it be placed low on the list of such priorities, since they have, first and foremost, to build up and strengthen in their identity the your Christian community.

I believe, on the contrary, that this Synod must pay very special attention to the search for Christian unity. The Church in Africa today is not only influenced by other continents, but is exerting an ever-increasing influence on the Universal Church. Its priorities should be those of the Universal Church, with of course particular application to the local situations.

On several occasions Pope John Paul II has declared that ecumenism is to be considered a pastoral priority of his Pontificate for all the Church. He has not only made this declaration, but he continues in his pastoral mission here in Rome and on his visits to other countries to promote this great work of Christian unity by word and in deed. This is of course fully in tune with the decisions of the Second Vatican Council and with the recently published Codes of Canon Law.

A particular Church then, whatever its present condition and state of development, cannot neglect to play its own role in promoting Christian unity, for this is not something optional, but an essential element in the Church's evangelising mission, "so that the world may believe".

There is however a further consideration that I should like to place before the Father of this Synod, namely, that the Church in Africa could be called upon to have special place in this work which has become for the whole Church a pastoral priority. The ecumenical movement, in its beginnings, was to a large extent inspired by the missionary experience of Africa. There is good reason to believe that the future of this movement throughout the world will depend to a large degree on the Africa Churches' commitment to promoting ecumenism.

Together the Christian communities in Africa can have an enormous influence on the future of the continent, together they will be stronger in resisting the aggressive attack of the Sects and of Islam.

I hope that this Synod will give much thought to the ecumenical challenge which the Churches in Africa have to face. It may be useful to examine well the field in which those Churches have to work. There are movements and sects with whom we cannot really hope to foster ecumenical relations. There are others that we may win over by careful and charitable contacts. In no. 61 of the Lineamenta we read that "in general, there is need to promote ecumenism more vigorously in Africa" and for the presence in this connection of "at least a minimum of structures". On March 25^th, 1993, His Holiness Pope John Paul II placed at the disposal of all the Bishops in the world an up-to-date Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism. This document which has been approved by His Holiness and confirmed by his authority - anything to the contrary notwithstanding -, is meant to offer a doctrinal basis and to provide secure guidelines for the ecumenical commitment of the Catholic Church. This document should be of help to you in your deliberations. I recommend it to each of you for your reflection, but above all for your action in promoting the unity of Christians in Africa.

Original text: English
 

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