by
Archbishop (now Cardinal) Jan Schotte,
Secretary General of the Vatican office for Synods
Most Holy Father,
Venerable Brothers
in the Episcopate
My dear Brothers and
Sisters in Christ,
The General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops has the pleasant duty of reporting on the preparations for this Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. On 6 January 1989, the Solemnity of Epiphany, on which day the Church celebrates the gift of the universality of her mission and recalls her duty to bring the Light of Christ to all peoples, the Holy Father announced "an initiative of great importance for the spread of the Gospel" (1). Attentive to requests from African Bishops, priests, theologians and leaders of the laity to foster a pastoral solidarity on the entire continent of Africa and the neighbouring islands, the Holy Father proposed to convene a Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. In doing this, His Holiness was convinced that the Special Assembly would be "a kairos, a special moment of grace in which God manifests his salvation" and he invited the whole Church to accept fully this time of grace. The theme of the synod, it was felt would be: "the Church in Africa towards the Third Millennium"; its central task would be the promotion of evangelisation in the new circumstances of African towards, and beyond, the year 2000. The synod would therefore seek ways to bring the Good News to Africa with renewed vigour and to offer salvation and healing for the ills.
For the five years since the announcement, the entire Church in Africa has been in synod, walking together, reflecting and preparing together the initiatives which have now been confided to this assembly. The long-awaited moment has come, in union with and under Peter, to examine the challenges, discern appropriate responses and outline the goals and objectives towards which the Church will tend on the African continent.
We begin this synod in a spirit of thanksgiving to God for the lives and witness of the pioneer missionaries in Africa and Madagascar. We thank the Lord for the unprecedented progress of the Church, for the many dynamic apostolic movements, and for that lay involvement in the mission of the Church, which are characteristic of the Church in Africa. The Church in Africa is also marked by generosity in the gift of self to God and humanity. Although foreign missionaries still number about 50% of all apostolic workers, the number and proportion of African vocations is steadily increasing, as can be seen from the following statistics of the pastoral work force in the 426 ecclesiastical circumscriptions of Africa as of the end of 1991 (2):
BISHOPS:
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PRIESTS:
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SEMINARIANS:
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SISTERS (3):
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There were:
| Permanent deacons |
290
|
| Brothers |
6,073
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| Catechists |
246,114
|
| Lay Missionaries |
1,392
|
| Parishes |
9,189
|
| Mission stations |
68,754
|
Although the Catholic population continues to grow, the percentage of Catholics showed a drop from 13.93% in 1989 to 13.85% in 1991. As the Holy Father said in his Encyclical, Redemptoris Missio, "the mission of Christ the Redeemer which is entrusted to the Church is still very far from completion this mission is still only beginning" (4) on the African continent. There are still many peoples who have scarcely heard the message of the gospel; the many neophytes need continued pastoral care to keep growing in the faith and carrying out the ministry of service to men and women in the Africa of the 90s which is burdened with many ills. When in 1969 Paul VI said in Kampala (Uganda): "By now, you Africans are missionaries to yourselves.. in other words, you Africans must now continue upon the continent the building up of the Church", (5) he was acknowledging and encouraging a movement which had started in the Church in Africa. It is the task of this synod to bring this movement a stage further in answer to the needs of the peoples of Africa towards the Third Millennium.
This report will be divided into the following parts.
1. Background to the Announcement of the Synod.
2. The Word of the ante-Preparatory Commission.
3. The Work of the Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops for the Special Assembly for Africa.
4. Further Preparation of the Synod
5. Membership of the Synod
6.Obituary and Tribute to Past Members of the Council.
Conclusion.
1. BACKGROUND TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SYNOD
The idea of a meeting, in some form, of African Bishops to discuss evangelisation in Africa goes back to the period of the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council. The Council was a powerful instrument of collegiality, an inspiring expression of the affective and effective communion of the world episcopate. It led bishops everywhere to seek to increase their common solicitude for the Church and to give it structures at national, regional and continental levels. It was in this climate that on 11 October 1962 the bishops of Africa and Madagascar present at the Council decided to institute a General Secretariat which would serve to co-ordinate their views for presentation to the Council as a common point of view. These beginnings of co-operation among African bishops later flowered in the birth of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (S.E.C.A.M.) during the visit of Paul VI to Kampala, Uganda in 1969, the first visit to Africa of a Pope in modern times. S.E.C.A.M. has held a Plenary Assembly every three years since then, assemblies which have rendered an important service to the Church in Africa and Madagascar.
The Seventh General Assembly of S.E.C.A.M. at Kinshasa (Zaire) in 1984 discussed the question of an African Council. Arriving at no decision, it referred the matter to the Episcopal Conferences for further study. Three years later the Assembly at Lagos (Nigeria) took up the matter and considered the responses of the various Conferences. It found no agreement on any course of action. The same happened with a separate consultation of all the bishops of Africa and Madagascar in 1985 by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. By the initiative of the Holy Father, the idea of a meeting of the bishops of Africa has seen the light of day in the form of this Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Holy Father, we are all grateful to you for giving us this opportunity to meet in the context of your pastoral solicitude for Africa.
Mention must also be
made of African theologians and leaders of the faithful who since the early
sixties have expressed the desire for a concentration of African bishops,
and who have performed the ecclesial function of aiding in the maturation
of the process of discernment leading to this synod.
2. THE ANTE-PREPARATORY COMMISSION
A month before the announcement of the synod, on 6 December 1988, the Holy Father summoned the President of S.E.C.A.M., the Presidents of the nine regional Conferences in Africa and Madagascar, the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and the General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops to a meeting in the Library of the Pontifical Apartments. The attendance was as follows:
His Eminence, Josef Card. Tomko, Perfect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples;
His Eminence, Christian Card. Wiyghan Tumi, Vice-President of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (S.E.C.A.M.) and President of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of the Congo, Central African Republic, Chad and Cameroon (A.C.E.C.C.T.C.);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Jan P. Schotte C.I.C.M., General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops;
His Excellency, Most Rev. John Kodwo Amissah, Archbishop of Cape Coast (Ghana), President of the Association of the Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa (A.E.C.A.W.A.), since departed;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Henri Teissier, Archbishop of Algiers (Algeria), President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (C.E.R.N.A.);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Jaime Pedro Gonçalves, Archbishop of Beira (Mozambique), President of the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (I.M.B.I.S.A.);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Bernard Agré, Bishop of man (Ivory Coast), President of the Regional Conference of Francophone West Africa (C.E.R.A.O.);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka, Bishop of Jos (Nigeria), President of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (S.E.C.A.M.);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Faustus Ngabu, Bishop of Goma (Zaire), President of the Association of the Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (A.C.E.A.C.);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Dennis Harold de Jong, Bishop of Ndola (Zambia), President of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (A.M.E.C.E.A.);
Invited but absent for compelling reasons was:
His Beatitude, Stéphanos II Ghattas C.M., Patriarch of Coptic Alexandria and President of the Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy of Egypt (A.H.C.E.).
As to Madagascar, its separate representation would begin later, with the first meeting of the Council.
The meeting heard of the inconclusive consultations, the persistent desire for a meeting of the bishops of Africa in some form and the rejection of a "Council" by the majority. It was therefore decided to convene a Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, to be announced on the Feast of Epiphany of the following year. The members present would form the Ante-Preparatory Commission. The theme would be evangelisation in the African context. Some of the concerns which emerged at this meeting were the family, Christian marriage in the African context, quality formation for pastoral agents, autonomy in finances and personnel, inculturation, Islam and the Sects, evangelisation and human promotion in Africa today, international solidarity with Africa.
Immediately after the announcement of the synod on 6 January 1989, the Ante-Preparatory Commission held in First Meeting from 7-9 January 1989. It was at this meeting that the Holy Father gave the theme as The Church in Africa and her Evangelising Mission Towards the Year 2000, "You Shall be My Witnesses" (Acts 1:8). Hence the topic of evangelisation, emphasised so often by the Holy Father in his African visits, emerged at the unifying theme. Initial evangelisation is still urgent in many parts of Africa, and continued evangelisation of the faithful is a task for all the particular Churches. Possible adaptations to the Norms of Participation were discussed. A circular letter was written to all Episcopal Conferences.
The Second Meeting
of
the Commission, 1-3 March 1989, heard a report on the very positive reactions
all over Africa to the announcement by the Holy Father. More concerns emerged,
namely, youth and women, interior conversion and the conversion of structures,
unity and communion. There was initial discussion of the different phases
of the synod process and the criteria for participation.
3. THE COUNCIL OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS.
After this second meeting, the Holy Father concluded that preliminary exploration of all the different aspects of the Special Assembly for Africa could be terminated. On 20 June 1989 he established the Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops for the Special Assembly for Africa. It included the members of the Ante-Preparatory Commission and, as new members:
His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Albert J. Tsiahoana, Archbishop of Antsiranana, President of the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar.
Six African bishops were appointed as permanent members of the Council. They were the following:
His Excellency, Most Rev. Paul Verdzekov, Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon)
His Excellency, Most Rev. Stephen Naidoo, Archbishop of Cape Town (South Africa) of blessed memory;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Anthony Mayala, Archbishop of Mwanza (Tanzania);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Laurent Pasinya Mosengwo, Archbishop of Kisangani (Zaire)
His Excellency, Most Rev. Joseph P. Willigers, Bishop of Jinja (Uganda);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Johns Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Bishop of Ilorin and later Bishop of Abuja (Nigeria).
The Presidents of the regional conferences were to retain membership of the Council only during their term of office as president.
The newly constituted Council held its First Meeting from 21-23 June 1989. It worked in five commissions to prepare the Lineamenta, a commission for each of the five sub-themes. It was agreed that the Lineamenta should draw from the wealth of available documentation both from the Holy See and from the African Episcopate. All aspects were to have as the point of reference the biblical quotation, "You shall be my Witnesses" Acts 1:8).
The Second Meeting of the Council from 14-16 December 1989 finalised work on the Lineamenta. The untimely death, on 1 July, of His Excellency, Most Rev. Stephen Naidoo, Archbishop of Cape Town (South Africa) made a new appointment of the Council necessary. To fill this vacant position the Holy Father appointed:
His Excellency, Most Rev. Wilfred Fox Napier, Bishop of Kokstad, later Archbishop of Durban (South Africa)
Three regional presidents reached the end of their terms of office as president and were replaced on the Council by:
His Excellency, Most Rev. Joachim NDayen, Archbishop of Bangui (Central African Republic) for A.E.C.C.A.R.;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Michael Kpakala Francis, Archbishop of Monrovia (Liberia) for A.E.C.A.W.A.;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Nicodemus Kirima, Bishop of Nyeri (Kenya) for A.M.E.C.E.A.
As the expressed wish of the Holy Father the Lineamenta, in the three official languages of S.E.C.A.M. (English, French and Portuguese) was publicly released on African soil by me on 25 July 1990 during the IX General Assembly of S.E.C.A.M. at Lomé (Togo). Soon translations, of the entire text or parts of it, were prepared by bishops or other publishers in Arabic, Swahili, Malgache, Spanish, Italian . The Lineamenta began with a brief survey of the history of the Catholic Church in Africa and of the different stages of evangelisation describing its missionary dimension, its challenges and the needs at the present moment. part II presented the five sub-themes as tasks facing the Church in Africa in the coming century. They were: Proclamation of the Good News, Inculturation, Dialogue, Justice and Peace, and the Means of Social Communication.
Again at the expressed wish of the Holy Father, the Third Meeting of the Council took place on African soil from 8-10 September 1990 at Yamoussoukro, Ivory coast. Oral presentations were made to the Holy Father on the work done so far. The Council planned the further involvement of the particular Churches. An important element in the preparations was the "crusade of prayer": a prayer was composed by the members of the Council to be recited by all members of the Church in Africa from the beginning of Advent 1990 until the close of the synod.
For the Fourth Meeting of the Council, from 15 to 18 January 1991, a new member replaced His Excellency, Most Rev. Faustus Ngabu, Bishop of Goma (Zaire) whose term as president of a regional conference had ended. The new member was:
His Excellency, Most Rev. Evariste Ngoyagoye, Bishop of Bubanza (Burundi), President of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (A.C.E.A.C.).
The Council heard reports on the positive reception of the Lineamenta. It then considered the criteria for participation at the synod to be recommended to the Holy Father. Among these was a recommendation that, given the competence of many Curial Offices on the African continent, all dicastery heads of the Curia be considered as ex officio members of the synod.
The Fifth Meeting of the Council was from 25 to 27 March 1992. Because of the election of new presidents of regional conferences, two prelates replaced their counterparts on the membership of the Council. They were:
His Excellency, Most Rev. Anselme Titianma Sanon, Bishop of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), President of the Regional Conference of Francophone West Africa (C.E.R.A.O.);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Patrick Chakaipa, Archbishop of Harare (Zimbabwe), President of the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (I.M.B.I.S.A.).
The Council considered the Responses to the Lineamenta and began work on the preparation of the Instrumentum laboris with the help of five experts from Africa, who were:
His Excellency, Most Rev. Youssef Ibrahim Sarraf, Bishop of Cairo of the Chaldeans (Egypt);
Rev. Paul Nkazi Balembo Buetubela, Rector of the Catholic Faculty of Kinshasa (Zaire);
Rev. P. Ezequiel Gwembe, Professor at the Major Seminary and at the University of Maputo (Mozambique);
Rev. Joseph Kamugisha, Rector of Kipalapala Major Seminary (Tanzania);
Rev. P. James Chukwuma Okoye, Assistant to the Superior General of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost.
There was some discussion of the date and place of the synod for possible recommendations to the Holy Father. It was proposed that Auditiones could be held depending on the needs of the Fathers of the synod.
For the second time the Council was to meet on African soil, from 9 to 12 June 1992, in Luanda (Angola) for its Sixth Meeting which fell during a pastoral visit of the Holy Father in that country. There were presentations before His Holiness in Luanda Cathedral of the work accomplished for the Second Draft of the Instrumentum laboris. After expressing itself on necessary revisions, the Council left the redaction of the final text in the hands of a restricted group of three Episcopal members of the Council (one for each of the official languages of S.E.C.A.M.) and two of the theologians. These met in Rome at the end of September 1992 and prepared the text for publication. They were:
His Excellency, Most Rev. Paul Verdzekov, Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Jaime Pedro Gonçalves, Archbishop of Beira (Mozambique);
His Excellency, Most Rev. Anselme Titianma Sanon, Bishop of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso);
Rev. Paul Nkazi Balembo Buetubela, Rector of the Catholic Faculty of Kinshasa (Zaire), and
Rev. James Chukwuma Okoye, Assistant to the Superior General of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, who also acted as secretary of the working group and later joined the General Secretariat.
The Council had discussed the possible dates and place of the synod in at least two meetings. A report of these meetings was given to the Holy Father who initiated a series of consultations on the matter. Finally on 26 January 1993, he summoned all African Cardinals to the Vatican to hear them on the issue. It was in this "African Consistory", having considered the exigencies of the synod itself, the need for freedom from undue pressures, the current socio-political situation of many African nations, the desired presence of the Holy Father at all the sessions of the synod that, following the opinions expressed, the Holy Father decided to hold the work sessions in the Vatican, but to have a celebratory phase with his participation in some places on the continent of Africa at a later date.
With its Seventh Meeting which took place in Kampala, Uganda from 9 to 12 February 1993, the third on African soil, the Council had now met in each of the three major language spheres of the Church in Africa. The meeting, placed within a pastoral visit of the Holy Father to that country, was especially important in many ways. The Holy Father chose to open the meeting on the soil hallowed by the memory of the Forty Martyrs of the faith, in the very Cathedral of Rubaga where in July 1969 Paul VI inaugurated S.E.C.A.M. and made the famous statement, "By now, you Africans are missionaries to yourselves". (6) In publishing the Instrumentum laboris he announced that the working phase of the synod would open in the Vatican on 10 April 1994, the Sunday after Easter, and that the celebration phase, with his participation, would take place in various places in Africa some time after that.
The Instrumentum laboris has an Introduction and two Parts. The Introduction places the Special Assembly within the context of the synod institution and the synodal process. Part I treats the Assemblys central and unifying theme of evangelisation. It presents the fundamental theological and ecclesial concepts in the matter and describes the relation of the theme of evangelisation to the fives tasks: proclamation, inculturation, dialogue, justice and peace, and the means of social communication. Part II presents a synthesis of the responses from the Episcopal Conferences in relation to the five tasks of evangelisation. Each chapter indicates some common expectations and proposals voiced in the responses of the bishops.
Together with the Lineamenta, the Instrumentum laboris offers to the synod Fathers and the Church in Africa a solid documentation in preparation of the work of the present assembly, which has already proven to be a useful instrument for all bishops, priests and laity in Africa and elsewhere as well.
The Eighth Meeting of the Council, from 23 to 25 June 1993, welcomed two new Presidents of regional conferences who had replaced their counterparts. The new members were:
His Excellency, Most Rev. Jean-Guy Rakotondravahatra, Bishop of Ihosy, President of the Madagascar Episcopal Conference, and
His Excellency, Most Rev. Basile Mvé Engone, Bishop of Oyem (Gabon), President of the Association of the Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (A.C.E.R.A.C.),
On the occasion of this meeting of the Council, the Holy Father appointed three Presidents-Delegate for the synod, two Special Secretaries, a General Rapporteur and his Associate, and the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Commission for the Message and the Commission for Information. All were in attendance at the meeting:
His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Arinze, President, Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue: President-Delegate;
His Eminence, Wiyghan Cardinal Tumi, Archbishop of Douala (Cameroon), President of the Symposium of Episcopal conferences of Africa and Madagascar (S.E.C.A.M.): President-Delegate;
His Eminence, Paulos Cardinal Tzadua, Archbishop of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia): President-Delegate;
His Eminence Hyacinthe Cardinal Thiandoum, Archbishop of Dakar (Senegal): Rapporteur General.
His Excellency, Most Rev. John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Bishop of Abuja (Nigeria): Associate Rapporteur General;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Jaime Pedro Gonçalves, Archbishop of Beira (Mozambique): Special Secretary;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Robert Sarah, Archbishop of Conakry (Guinea): Special Secretary;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Wilfred Fox Napier, Archbishop of Durban (South Africa): President, Commission for Information;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Raphael Mwanaa Nzeki Ndingi, Biahop of Nakuru (Kenya): Vice-President, Commission for Information;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Paul Verdzekov, Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon): President, Commission for the Message;
His Excellency, Most Rev. Ngabu, Bishop of Goma (Zaire): Vice-President, Commission for the Message.
Collegial collaboration, which has been the hallmark of all the preparations for the synod, was continued in the discussion of points for the Relatio ante disceptationem. During a meeting with Monsignor Marini, of the Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, the importance of African expressions in the liturgies with the Holy Father during the synod was emphasised. Agreement was reached on the calendar of the synod.
Consequently, a working group was established, under the guidance of Mons. Marini and composed of theologians, liturgists and experts in African liturgical chant and expression. It was the opinion of this group that the pontifical liturgy be followed for the opening and closing mass, enriched with African chants from different regions and languages in Africa, and with gestures and expressions borrowed from African rites (for example, the Coptic, Ethiopic, Roman Rite for Zaire, etc.). The African communities in Rome offered their enthusiastic collaboration.
4. FURTHER PREPARATION OF THE SYNOD
Appointments to functions in a synod take effect at the beginning of that synod and lapse at the end of it. However, because of the special circumstances of the Synod for Africa, it was decided important to engage some of the future Synod Fathers in the further preparations before the synod itself. Hence the three Presidents-Delegate and the General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops met in the offices of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops on 5 October 1993 and issued a Letter to all the Bishops of Africa and Madagascar (7). This Letter outlined the history of the preparations for the synod, the issues at play and the circumstances surrounding the decision to hold the working session of the synod in the Vatican and the celebratory phase, with the participation of His Holiness, in various places in Africa. On 7 October 1993 the President and Vice-President of the Commission for Information equally met with the General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops and the various Information Services of the Holy See, the Sala Stampa, the Vatican Radio and the Vatican Information Service (V.I.S.). From this meeting also emanated a Letter to All Bishops in Africa concerning the possibilities for information on the synod and soliciting co-operation in the involvement of the appropriate local media and personnel. The Rapporteurs and the Special Secretaries met in the offices of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops from 13 to 14 October 1993, and again from 14 to 16 February 1994, to prepare the Relatio ante disceptationem, In the week preceding the opening of the synod, meetings took place with the assistants of the Secretariat and with the Press officers.
5. MEMBERSHIP OF THE SYNOD
Early in 1993, the Holy Father approved the Special Norms for Participation at the Special Assembly which allowed a very wide African participation. Members ex officio were to be:
- all African Cardinals
- the Patriarch of Alexandria
- all heads of the Roman Dicasteries
- the General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops
- the Presidents of national and international Episcopal Conferences in office by the date of the opening of the synod
- the Presidents of the regional association of Episcopal Conferences in Africa
- the President and Vice-Presidents of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (S.E.C.A.M.)
Members by election were to be:
- one for every four bishops or fraction thereof from the national Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar
- one bishops for every nation from international Episcopal Conferences; however Conferences in this category which have four bishops or more are to elect one for every four bishops;
- the Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy of Egypt will elect members according to the norms for national Episcopal Conferences;
- the Union of Superiors General will elect 8 members from Institutes of Consecrated
Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in such manner that at least 2 shall be Superiors General, and 6 Major Superiors from Africa.
For each synod it is usual that there be members by pontifical appointment who do not exceed 15% of the total membership.
For this synod His Holiness appointed 37 members. We have in our minds auditores and auditrices nominated by the Holy Father from all levels of Church life. They share with the bishops concern for the good of the Church in Africa and Madagascar, and will bring to bear in the group discussion the particular graces given them by the Lord.
They are:
| diocesan priests .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
5
|
| priests religious .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
3
|
| Brothers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
5
|
| Sisters .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
12
|
| Lay Faithful (men) .. .. .. .. .. .. |
13
|
| Lay Faithful (women) .. .. .. .. |
8
|
The Holy Father also appointed 20 experts to help the Rapporteurs and the Special Secretaries in their work..
"Fraternal Delegates" were invited: the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran World Federation and the All-Africa Conference of Churches.
The above data appear schematically as follows:
1) Members by office
| African Cardinals .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
14
|
| The Patriarch of Alexander .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . |
1
|
| The Heads of the Roman Dicasteries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
4
|
| The General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops .. .. .. .. .. .. |
1
|
| The Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
33
|
| The Presidents of the regional Association of Episcopal Conferences.. |
7
|
| The President and Vice-Presidents of S.E.C.A.M. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
3
|
|
|
83
|
(The real figure is
77 since some personalities appear under different categories)
2) Members by election
| National and International Episcopal Conference .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
122
|
| Union of Superiors General .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
8
|
|
|
130
|
3) Members by Papal
appointment
| Cardinals .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. |
3
|
| Bishops .. .. .. .. .. .. . |
20
|
| Prelates .. .. .. .. .. .. . |
1
|
| Diocesan Priests .. .. .. .. .. .. |
6
|
| Religious Priests .. .. .. .. .. .. |
7
|
|
|
37
|
4) Experts..................................20
5) Auditores and Auditrices ...........46
6) Fraternal Delegates............7
The participation of
the Episcopal Conferences, broken down into member Conferences, appears
as follows:
MEMBERS ELECTED
BY THE EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES
| 1. Angola and Sâo Tome .. |
5
|
| 2. Benin Republic . |
2
|
| 3. Burkina Faso, Niger .. . |
4
|
| 4. Burundi |
2
|
| 5. Cameroon .. |
6
|
| 6. Central African Republic |
2
|
| 7. Chad . |
2
|
| 8. Congo |
2
|
| 9. Egypt (Assembly of the Hierarchy) .. |
4
|
| 10. Ethiopian-Eritrea . |
3
|
| 11. Gabon .. |
1
|
| 12. Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone . |
3
|
| 13. Ghana |
3
|
| 14. Guinea .. |
1
|
| 15. Equatorial Guinea . |
1
|
| 16. Ivory Coast |
3
|
| 17. Kenya |
4
|
| 18. Lesotho |
2
|
| 19. Madagascar .. |
5
|
| 20. Malawi . |
2
|
| 21. Mali .. |
2
|
| 22. Mozambique |
3
|
| 23. Nigeria .. |
10
|
| 24. North Africa Libya, Algeria, Morocco, South Western Sahara, Tunisia |
4
|
| 25. Rwanda .. |
3
|
| 26. Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Capo Verde |
4
|
| 27. South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland .. |
9
|
| 28. Sudan . |
3
|
| 29. Tanzania . |
8
|
| 30. Togo .. |
1
|
| 31. Uganda .. |
5
|
| 32. Zaire .. |
11
|
| 33. Zambia ... |
2
|
| 34. Zimbabwe .. |
2
|
|
|
124
|
(The real figure is 122 because of various)
(Because of the particular situation of Somalia and Djibouti, the Prelates of these countries were appointed members by the Holy Father)
From the above, it is seen that the total participation at this Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops is 315, as follows:
MEMBERS
| Members . |
77
|
| Members by election .. |
130
|
| Members by Papal appointment . |
37
|
|
|
244
|
AUDITORES/AUDITRICES
AND EXPERTS
| Auditores and Auditrices .. |
46
|
| Experts ... |
20
|
|
|
66
|
FRATERNAL DELEGATES ..7
GRAND TOTAL
...317
6. PROMOTING PARTICIPATION: THE SYNOD PROCESS AND THE PARTICULAR CHURCHES
When the Holy Father spoke to the members of the Council on 23 June 1989, he insisted on the involvement of all the levels of the Church saying:
"If this is prepared well, it will be able to involve all levels of the Christian community: individuals, small communities, parishes, dioceses, local, national and international bodies" (8).
The Holy Father has constantly drawn attention to the preparation of this synodal assembly, especially in the course of his pastoral visits to African countries Ad Limina visits of the African Episcopate, at the presentation of credentials by newly appointed Ambassadors from African States, and recently during Lent at the Sunday Angelus Prayer. Thus many appeals went out to solicit the collaboration of all the faithful in the preparation of the Synod for Africa
Bearing this in mind, the General Secretary saw to it that Press Releases were issued after every meeting of the Council and on all the significant stages of the process. Press conferences were held on the occasion of the publication of the Lineamenta at Lomé (Togo) on 24 July 1990 and of the Instrumentum laboris on 9 February 1993 at Kampala (Uganda).
A summary of the deliberations of each meeting of the Council was sent as a Circular Letter to the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar. The same information was sent as well to all the Episcopal Conferences of the entire Church. During the five year period of preparation the members of the Council sent one Appeal and two Letters to every bishop on the continent. In addition, after their meeting on 5 October 1993, the Presidents-Delegate with the General Secretary sent a Letter to all the bishops of Africa on the process of preparation so far and seized the opportunity to explain certain matters, particularly the choice of the Vatican as the venue for the working session of the synod. On 25 October 1993 the President and Vice President of the Commission for Information also sent a Letter to all African Bishops concerning the possibilities for information on the synod, on the universal and local levels, and soliciting the active involvement of the local media and personnel.
As already mentioned, it was the wish of the Holy Father that the Council should hold some of its meetings on African soil and within certain celebrations of the particular Churches. There were three such meetings, one meeting in each of the three language spheres of Africa: Yamoussoukro (francophone), Luanda (lusophone) and Kampala (anglophone).
To facilitate the diffusion of the documents of the synod, the General Secretariat offered very easy copyright conditions for the reprints, namely, to send two samples of every reprint to the offices of the General Secretariat. Many Conferences and Dioceses availed themselves of this opportunity. There were reprints in many countries. Some translated the documents into the vernacular, for example, into Swahili, Arabic, Malgache . Some Conferences applied didactic tools by serialising the documents or re-printing them, chapter by chapter, with aids for study and reflection. Some Catholic bookshops reprinted them for direct sale to the public. Publications, conferences and symposia on the themes of the synod were organised by various Episcopal Conferences, Institutes of Theology and Seminaries, Associations of Institutes of Consecrated Life, dioceses, some important journals and periodicals, individuals bishops and theologians. The General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops and some members of the staff responded to requests for conferences from many groups. These conferences and symposia were not restricted to Africa; the entire Church has rightly shown great interest in this Assembly.
I was able to report
in the Preface to the Instrumentum laboris, as follows: "the interest
generated by the announcement of His Holiness of a Synod for Africa is
shown by the percentage of responses, so far the highest ever recorded
for a Synod. Of the 34 Episcopal Conferences in Africa and Madagascar,
fully 31 sent in responses; the remaining three were under very difficult
circumstances at the time. Many particular Churches used the Lineamenta
for
the mobilisation of the Christian faithful, such that the synod can be
said to have already begun to bear fruit in the increased awareness and
involvement of the entire Christian faithful in Africa". A comparison with
other synods will better show the scale of participation at the synod for
Africa by listing the percentage of responses received to the Questionnaire
of the Lineamenta:
| 1974 Evangelisation .. | 75,38% |
| 1977 Catechesis | 67,18% |
| 1980 Family . | 50,37% |
| 1983 Reconciliation and Penance . | 42,75% |
| 1987 Lay Faithful . | 59,85% |
| 1990 Priestly Formation | 63,94% |
| 1994 Consecrated Life .. | 64,00% |
| 1991Special Assembly for Europe | 82,61% |
| 1994 Special Assembly for Africa | 94,00% |
Popular participation was, of course, greater in some dioceses and Conferences than in others, yet it can be said that during the five years of the preparation of this synod the whole of Africa has been in synod, reflecting together and discerning the priorities for evangelisation in the coming century. We are grateful to God for the results already evident in Christian life and practice on the continent, and we invoke the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit on the conclusions of this Assembly.
7. OBITUARY AND TRIBUTE TO THE PAST MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
We would like to remember the past members of the Council who have already gone to their reward. They are:
His Excellency, Most Rev. John Kodwo Amissah, Archbishop of Cape Coast (Ghana), and His Excellency, Most Rev. Stephen Naidoo, Archbishop of Cape Town (South Africa). May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
In the same breath I render homage and thanks to Their Excellencies, who as members of the Council, collaborated with us at various stages in the preparation of this Assembly, and who willingly gave of their time, labours and expertise. The particular Churches of Africa and Madagascar owe them a debt of gratitude. May the Lord accept their labours as a fragrant sacrifice for the success of this holy Assembly.
The staff of the General Secretariat have in the last few years been working simultaneously at four synods. Without their diligence, our labours would not have gone very far. We offer them sincere thanks.
CONCLUSION
At the end of this presentation, I should like once more to focus on the theme of the synod: the mission of evangelisation in the new circumstances of Africa. As Fathers of the synod, we bear a heavy responsibility for the course of the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the integral salvation of millions of people on the continent of Africa and in Madagascar. But we are confident, "not that we are sufficient of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, our sufficiency is from God who has qualified us to be ministers" (2 Cor. 3:5) of his Good New3s. By the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are confident that this synod will renew the face of the Church in Africa. A Church thus renewed will be able to serve God and humanity better, leading men and women to the springs of living water. May the Good News spread and be rooted in every part of Africa! May Christians renewed in their faith in Jesus, our Saviour, continue to make a significant contribution to the integral welfare of African society.
Holy Father, we humbly
express our thanks to you.
+Jan P. Schotte
C.I.C.M.
Titular Archbishop
of Silli
General Secretary
of the Synod of Bishops
_____________________________
ENDNOTES:
(1) John Paul II, Angelus, 2 (6.1.1989): LOsservatore Romano: 7-8 January 1989, p.1.
(2) Excerpt otherwise indicated the sources are Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 1991 and International Fides Service, 2 October 1993.
(3) The source for the number of indigenous Sisters is the Secretariat of the International Union of Superiors General.
(4) John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Redemptoris missio, 1: AAS LXXXIII (1991), 249.
(5) Paul VI, Discourse to the Bishops of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (S.E.C.A.M.), 31 July 1969, Kampala (Uganda): AAS LX! (1969) 575.
(6) Id.
(7) LOsservatore Romano: 28 November 1993, p.8.
